Hip-hop lost a beloved figure on Tuesday afternoon when Queens native Prodigy passed away at age 42. The Mobb Deep legend died after a lifelong battle with sickle cell anemia, leaving fans and peers around the world to mourn his passing.
Amongst his peers, Prodigy's death was felt deeply and immediately. Nearly everyone you could think of, be they rappers, producers, tastemakers, or otherwise, took Prodigy's passing hard. Through his manager, Wu Tang's Raekwon shared his anguish over Prodigy's passing in a teary statement delivered to Complex.
"Right now my energy is all over the place from hearing this disturbing news. I'm hurt, I'm saddened, I'm in shock," he said. "We just sat on the couch at our venue we had recently in Vegas two days ago. Me and Prodigy were real deal friends! We shared so many great conversations about our careers and discussing future endeavors. I'm going to miss my beloved friend, I'm just lost for words. My heart goes out to his entire family, may God bless your soul Prodigy."
A rep for 50 Cent shared a statement from the rapper on Prodigy's passing: "R.I.P to Prodigy you will always be loved, and missed. God Bless you and your family, I'm at a loss of words."
Peers joined him in mourning Prodigy, and immediately took to social media to share tributes to their fallen brother.
RIP Prodigy one of the greatest rappers ever!!!!!
Damn. RiP to the great one Prodigy. Rap game lost a legend the world lost a G. 🙏🏽 to and for his fam. Love. MOBB
RIP PRODIGY 🙏🏾 . HIP HOP LOST ANOTHER LEGEND
Rest In Paradise young Blood @PRODIGYMOBBDEEP can't believe you gone lord we was just chilling !! Hold ya head @mobbdeephavoc pic.twitter.com/tXjogmHIfH
Damn Man. Prodigy dying hurt. Sad for Hip Hop.
REST IN PEACE GOD P.
Heartbroken.
RIP 👑🙏🙏🙏 @PRODIGYMOBBDEEP .. from God we come and to HIM we all shall return .. tomoro not promised , today not promised . Pray 🙏 pic.twitter.com/vKKZa5iup9
Rest in Peace Prodigy from Mobb Deep 🙌🏾
Love and light to the family and friends of Prodigy.
One of Queen’s finest. He will be greatly missed.
The first jam I recorded with @9thwonder back in '99 was built on a Prodigy sample. Respect the architect. RIP. https://t.co/WaVLas2zfN
I'm sick to my stomach, what terrible news to wake up to. RIP Prodigy one of my favourite rappers of all time, can't believe this.
Fuck off! Not Prodigy! 😫
Prodigy was one of the people who raised me lyrically so I'll basically be sad all day..
I can't right now. #PRODIGY
#RIPPRODIGY 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 Mobb Deep is my favorite rap group of all time. Anybody that knows me knows this to be true...
Rip prodigy. God bless his family and all his fans. Mobb forever.
Damn man.... Life is a gift. p was a gift to his fam and the rap world RIP P
Wow another one gone too soon R.I.P. Prodigy from Mobb Deep. Wow SMH. https://t.co/uhCt6L2iPm
Prodigy de Mobb Deep, grand Monsieur du rap... R I P
P! #mobbdeep
I bump Infamous in da whip every other day so even though he's gone in the physical form, he will never die to me. RIP Prodigy of Mobb Deep.
new york and the world just changed. rest in peace Prodigy.
R.I.P #PRODIGY
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/wMsqob89Wi
"Rock you in your face, stab your brain with your nose bone" will forever be the hardest line.
RIP Prodigy.
RIP PRODIGY sleep well king...
Steve Rifkind, founder of Loud Records, also shared his own tribute to Prodigy.
It would be impossible to share all the well-wishes from around the hip-hop world, and that's probably the best tribute of all. Despite warring with damn near everybody during his career—including his partner, Havoc—Prodigy is universally respected by his peers and the people who grabbed the torch from his generation. In a no holds barred industry like rap music, it speaks volumes for a combative rapper like Prodigy to get a grand send off.
Nothing can replace losing him, but Prodigy's loved ones can take solace in the impact he left and the enduring legacy of his music.
