Born: November 2, 1974
From: Hempstead, New York, U.S.
Albert Johnson, better known as âProdigy,â was a member of the rapping duo âMobb Deep.â He belonged to a family of musicians and studied art and design in Manhattan, where he met Kejuan Muchita. The duo started performing as the âPoetical Prophetsâ and later became famous as âMobb Deep.â His friend adopted the stage name âHavoc.â Their studio album, âThe Infamous,â was certified âgold,â which was closely followed by the hit albums âHell on Earthâ and âMurda Muzik.â Their music, which portrayed the dark side of New Yorkâs urban landscape, became popular as hardcore gangsta rap. His first solo album, âH.N.I.C.,â was equally popular. Prodigy faced several criminal charges during his career and served a three-and-a-half-year prison term on charges of illegal gun possession. âMobb Deepâ temporarily split during his prison sentence but reunited when Prodigy was released. He suffered from a blood disorder called sickle-cell anemia since birth, and that caused him extreme bouts of pain that he expressed in his number âYou Can Never Feel My Pain.â He married Ikesha Dudley, with whom he lived for a short duration. He was hospitalized while performing in Las Vegas due to complications from sickle-cell anemia and died at the age of 42. In his short-lived career, Prodigy proved to be a legend of rap.