Malik B, founding member of The Roots, dead at 47

nypost.com:

tweeted a similar statement.“Mourning my beloved cousin today,” Champion wrote on Twitter. “He was so talented and had a huge heart.

I still remember when he and The Roots were starting out. He’d give me and my dad their cassette tapes to listen to. I miss you already, Mailk. #RIP.”“Heartbroken to hear of the passing of Malik B, one of the greatest MC’s to ever come from this city,” wrote fellow Philly-based rapper Reef The Lost Cauze, whose real name is Sharif T.

Lacey. “He had his troubles for sure, but dude inspired a whole generation of us to touch the mic. Myself included. May he rest peacefully.”The details of his death have not yet been revealed.Malik B left the group in 1999 before The Roots released its fifth album, “Phrenology.”.