Malik Abdul Basit (aka Malik B.), a rapper, singer and longtime member of The Roots, died Wednesday. He was 47. The Roots announced Basit's death in a statement on the group's verified Twitter account but did not provide a cause of death.

`We regretfully inform you of the passing of our beloved brother and long time Roots member Malik Abdul Basit,` the statement read. `May he be remembered for his devotion to Islam and innovation as one of the most gifted MCs of all time. We ask that you please respect his family in our time of mourning.`

Basit appeared on the first four albums released by The Roots - Organix (1993), Do You Want More?!!!??! (1995), Illadelph Halflife (1996) and gold disc Things Fall Apart (1999). He performed for years alongside current band members and co-founders Questlove and Black Thought before departing the group to pursue a solo career.

He later returned as a feature artist on The Roots' seventh studio album, 2006's Game Theory, performing on three tracks, including the title track, `In the Music` and `Here I Come.` He also was featured on two of the tracks on The Roots' 2008 album Rising Down, `I Can't Help It` and `Lost Desire`.

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Malik B., rapper and founding member of #TheRoots, has died at 47. The band's official statement is at the link in bio.

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Since leaving The Roots, the flinty-voiced Baset released one independently released solo album `Street Assault,` in 2005, and an EP called `Psychological` in 2006 (both on the F.D.M.E. label), and appeared on fellow Roots alum Dice Raw's `Reclaiming the Dead` album, 2004's `Graymatter` from Maylay Sparks and a collaborative album with Mr. Green, `Unpredictable` in 2015.