Rapper Prodigy, one half of the hip hop duo Mobb Deep, had died age 42.
"It is with extreme sadness and disbelief that we confirm the death of our dear friend Albert Johnson, better known to millions of fans as Prodigy of legendary NY rap duo Mobb Deep", his publicist said in a statement.
The exact cause of Prodigy's death has not been determined, but his publicist said he had been hospitalised "a few days ago in Vegas after a Mobb Deep performance for complications caused by a sickle cell anaemia crisis. As most of his fans know, Prodigy battled the disease since birth."
Sickle cell anaemia causes a lack of healthy red blood cells and can cause blood flow blockage.
Prodigy and Havoc formed New York rap duo Mobb Deep. They were best known for hits 'Quiet Storm' and 'Shook Ones', and their 1995 album The Infamous.
The star's birth name is Albert Johnson. He had been performing in Las Vegas as part of a tour with Ghostface Killah, Onylx, KRS-One, and Ice-T .
Newshub.
