Malik B., Founding Member Of The Roots, Has Died Apr 2026

Malik Abdul-Basit , the influential rapper known as and a founding member of the Philadelphia hip-hop group The Roots , died on July 29, 2020 , at the age of 47. While his family and bandmates confirmed his passing, a specific cause of death was not publicly released. Musical Legacy and Contributions

: He met Ahmir " Questlove " Thompson and Tariq " Black Thought " Trotter while attending Millersville University. They initially formed as "Square Roots" in 1992 before moving to London and releasing their debut, Organix , in 1993. Malik B., Founding Member of The Roots, Has Died

Malik B. was a cornerstone of The Roots' early identity, providing a raw, street-oriented balance to Black Thought's lyrical precision. Malik Abdul-Basit , the influential rapper known as

: He was a primary contributor to the group’s first four albums, which are often cited as their most influential jazz-rap works: Organix (1993) !!!??! (1995) Illadelph Halflife (1996) Things Fall Apart (1999) They initially formed as "Square Roots" in 1992