It was one year ago today that Hip-Hop fell into a state of mourning after news surfaced that Mobb Deep’s Prodigy passed away from complications with sickle cell anemia.
The New York-bred MC struggled with the disease for years. He even released a song addressing his battle with sickle cell on his debut album, H.N.I.C., called “You Can Never Feel My Pain.” The track dropped 18 years ago, and was used to explain the effects the arduous disease had on this life since birth.
“Nineteen seventy four/motherf—ker I was born with pain/My moms and my pops pass it down to me/So don’t talk to me about can I feel yours/Cause I ain’t feeling you at all, your pain isn’t pure.”
He even used the single to talk about his addiction to the medicine he needed to get through the day and his recurrent visits to the ER.
“And through the years that pain became my friend; sedated/With morphine as a little kid/I built a tolerance for drugs, addicted to the medicine/Now hospital emergency treat me like a fiend/I rather die sometimes I wish a n—a OD/Begging God for help, only to find/That I’m all by my Godd—n self.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q3V11banDQ
Although Prodigy survived the disease for several decades, his plight with sickle cell came to an end when he became too weak to eat and passed away from an accidental choking involving an egg.
Now, one year after his passing, friends, family and fans are remembering the HNIC with their words, videos and tributes to the late rapper, including Havoc, who’s giving fans an exclusive listen of unreleased Mobb Deep freestyles to honor his partner in rhyme.
Check out how Hip-Hop is paying homage to the cultural heavyweight below.
https://twitter.com/mobbdeephavoc/status/1009332926063042562
RIP to the infamous Prodigy, the realest to ever do it, gone a year but never forgotten.
"I break bread, ribs, $100 dollar bills" is the greatest sentence ever written. pic.twitter.com/VqahqhwasC
— Otto Von Biz Markie (@Passionweiss) June 20, 2018
I know exactly what you would say in almost every situation so when i talk to you i hear the answers in your voice. Miss you thun. PRODIGY FOREVER
— Alchemist Type Beat (@Alchemist) June 20, 2018
Prodigy said my shit was steam and I couldn’t believe it. And Sean P put him on to my shit. Now that they are not here in the flesh they will live through me and my music that’s for sure.
— The King of Living. (@VicSpencer) June 20, 2018
Prodigy and his daughter riding bikes together ❤ pic.twitter.com/yPNPXP5mdo
— analog.lady (@analoglady) June 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/_ValTown_/status/1009463126788595712
Your June Hamildrop:
Boom Goes The Cannon by @MobbDeep.
Rest in peace, Prodigy. Thank you Havoc.https://t.co/hfPdu0jVbh pic.twitter.com/CgDFFHgnF2— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) June 18, 2018
Prodigy's last NYC performance – Hot 97 Summer Jam. pic.twitter.com/MAuibnMHVD
— •UPNORTHTRIPS• (@evboogie) June 20, 2018
R.I.P. Prodigy 🙏
One year ago today.
Ask @PUSHA_T how influential he was… https://t.co/JD0b5Edxex pic.twitter.com/KkLRJXjPDM— Spotify (@Spotify) June 20, 2018
