![Rapper Prodigy was found dead in Las Vegas, and the cause of death remains unclear. [Image via Wikimedia Commons/Lipstar & Fred Production]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/6/20/660x290/b_502x220x82/prodigy-von-mobb-deep-lipstar-fred-production-via-wikimedia-commons_1397361.jpg "Rapper Prodigy was found dead in Las Vegas, and the cause of death remains unclear. [Image via Wikimedia Commons/Lipstar & Fred Production]")
Prodigy was one of a kind. His ability to hype up a crowd was unparalleled in an era when rap was just beginning to take hold of the public imagination. He has been suffering from health problems for some time now, though. On Tuesday, TMZ reported that the Mobb Deep rapper had died. He was just 42 and a cause of death was not immediately known. Fans and peers are now left to remember the legendary emcee.
Prodigy passes away
Before Prodigy died, health issues reportedly began to affect him. He was suffering from sickle cell anemia. According to his publicist, he was hospitalized in Las Vegas, although it's unclear if that's what ultimately killed him.
He leaves behind two children and some iconic Mobb Deep songs.
Rap legends paid homage to Prodigy after news of his passing became public. Nas, who was born in the same city as Prodigy, referred to him as a "king" in an Instagram post. Diddy posted footage of himself rapping with the Mobb Deep legend. Russell Simmons, Lil Wayne, Twista, Maxwell, Nicki Minaj, Ghostface Killah, and even Shaquille O'Neal used social media to mourn the rapper. He also performed with Ghostface Killah, Onyx, KRS-One, and Ice-T in the "Art of Rap" tour, which performed in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Leaving behind a Mobb Deep legacy
Prodigy was born in Hempstead, New York, on November 2, 1974. In 1992, he formed Mobb Deep with Havoc.
Together, they created some of the darkest and hardcore music in hip-hop. "Shook Ones (Part II)" became one of the most famous songs in the world at the time it was released. They sold more than three million records and, at one point, they were worth as much as $10 million.
Success wasn't meant to last forever, though. Prodigy put himself in a number of legal situations, one of which resulted in a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
He also feuded with other rappers from across the country, and even with his music partner after Havoc accused him of having homosexual relations while in prison. Eventually, the two patched things up and Mobb Deep went back on tour in 2013.
While Prodigy passed away at too young of an age, his music and style, alongside his association with Mobb Deep, will be remembered by all.
The rapper's contributions to hip-hop are not as recognizable among the current generation of superstars, but they are there, bubbling just under the surface like a volcano, waiting to erupt and spit hot fire for the masses.
