Remembering Malik B, founding member of The Roots

The Roots members Questlove and Black Thought announced to the public the death of long-time collaborator and co-founder Malik Abdul Basit, AKA Malik B. The 47 year old died on July 29, 2020.  

Malik B came into the spotlight along with his Roots co-founders, Questlove and Black Thought, in the ‘90s hip-hop scene. They rose to emphatic fame after their fourth studio album, Things Fall Apart.  

After the release of Things Fall Apart in ‘98, Malik B left the group, pursuing other collaborations and solo work. However, he returned for a number of tracks on their 2006 album, Game Theory. 

Malik B’s cause of death has not been released, and fellow Roots members ask that the public respect his family and friends’ privacy. They offer their own tributes to their lost member, posting heartfelt words as well as a video honoring the rare talent: 

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