Malik Abdul Basit, as he was actually called, was one of the original members of the influential hip-hop group The Roots. He was part of the band between 1987 and 1999 and appeared on their first four albums - including the commercial breakthrough "Things fall apart", which has sold over a million copies in the United States alone.
Although he left The Roots, he continued to make guest appearances on several of their albums. He also continued to make music on his own.
The Roots founders Questlove and Black Thought have confirmed Malik B's death and expressed their grief in a statement. The cause of death has not been announced.