Prodigy Biography

(Rapper)

Birthday: November 2, 1974 (Scorpio)

Born In: Hempstead, Long Island, New York

Albert Johnson, better known as “Prodigy,” was a member of the rapping duo ‘Mobb Deep.’ 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 ‘Poetical Prophets’ and later became famous as ‘Mobb Deep.’ His friend adopted the stage name “Havoc.” Their studio album, ‘The Infamous,’ was certified “gold,” which was closely followed by the hit albums ‘Hell on Earth’ and ‘Murda Muzik.’ Their music, which portrayed the dark side of New York’s urban landscape, became popular as hardcore gangsta rap. His first solo album, ‘H.N.I.C.,’ 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. ‘Mobb Deep’ 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 ‘You Can Never Feel My Pain.’ 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.
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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Albert Johnson

Died At Age: 42

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Kiki Johnson

father: Albert Budd Johnson Jr.

mother: Fatima Frances Collins

siblings: Greg Johnson

Rappers American Men

Height: 5'6" (168 cm), 5'6" Males

Died on: June 20, 2017

U.S. State: New Yorkers

  • 1

    What is Prodigy's most popular song?

    Prodigy's most popular song is "Firestarter."
  • 2

    When was Prodigy formed?

    Prodigy was formed in 1990, in Braintree, Essex, England.

  • 3

    Who are the members of Prodigy?

    The members of Prodigy are Liam Howlett, Keith Flint, and Maxim.
  • 4

    What genre of music does Prodigy belong to?

    Prodigy belongs to the electronic music genre, specifically known for their fusion of techno, breakbeat, and rave music.
  • 5

    What is Prodigy's most famous album?

    Prodigy's most famous album is "The Fat of the Land," released in 1997.
Childhood & Early Life
Prodigy was born Albert Johnson, on November 2, 1974, in Hempstead, Long Island, New York, US, to Albert Budd Johnson Jr. and Fatima Frances Collins. He was of Ethiopian–Jamaican decent. He had an elder brother named Greg Johnson. Albert suffered from sickle-cell anemia since birth, due to which he suffered from frequent bouts of extreme pain.
His grandparents and parents were musicians. His mother was a member of the group ‘The Crystals,’ and his father was a member of the doo-wop music group called ‘The Chanters’. His grandfather was a jazz artist, and his grandmother owned a dance studio.
He was raised in LeFrak City and attended high school in Manhattan, where he studied art and design. He met Kejuan Muchita, who later became famous as “Havoc,” during his high-school days. They began performing as the ‘Poetical Prophets’ and later adopted the name ‘Mobb Deep.’ Their debut album, ‘Juvenile Hell,’ was released in 1993.
In 1991, at the age of 16, he joined ‘Jive Records’ and made a guest appearance in the song ‘Too Young’ by ‘Hi-Five.’ It was part of the ‘Boyz n the Hood’ soundtrack. He played the saxophone for a while but ultimately settled for rapping.
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Career
In 1995, the duo ‘Mobb Deep’ released their studio album ‘The Infamous,’ which was certified “gold.” Their next studio album, ‘Hell on Earth,’ was released in 1996. This was closely followed by ‘Murda Muzik.’ Their music was so popular that it was heavily pirated and leaked on social media. It portrayed the dark side of New York’s urban landscape. He released his first solo album, ‘H.N.I.C.,’ in November 2000. This was followed by his second solo album, ‘H.N.I.C. Part 2,’ in 2008. The album was released through ‘Voxonic Inc,’ in which he was an equity holder. Meanwhile, he had released the studio albums ‘Infamy,’ ‘Amerikaz Nightmare,’ and ‘Blood Money’ with ‘Mobb Deep.’
After serving a prison term for gun possession, he was featured in a documentary called ‘Rhyme and Punishment,’ which was based on the life of hip-hop artists who had been imprisoned. ‘Mobb Deep’ temporarily split while he was in prison and then reunited after his release from prison. He released the EP ‘The Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson’ with ‘Mobb Deep.’ The EP gave an insight into his personal life.
His second collaboration album with Daniel Alan Maman, also known as “The Alchemist,” was released in 2013. The album was called ‘Albert Einstein.’ The following year, ‘Mobb Deep’ came up with their eighth studio album, ‘The Infamous Mobb Deep.’
He released an untitled EP with ‘BitTorrent’ in 2016, followed by his last solo album, ‘Hegelian Dialectic (The Book of Revelation)’ in 2017.
Major Works
His studio albums are ‘H.N.I.C.’ (2000), ‘H.N.I.C. Pt 2’ (2008), ‘H.N.I.C. 3’ (2012), ‘The Bumpy Johnson Album’ (2012), and ‘Hegelian Dialectic (The Book of Revelation)’ (2017).
His collaboration albums are ‘Return of the Mac’ (2007), ‘Product of the 80’s’ (2008), ‘Albert Einstein’ (2013), and ‘Young Rolling Stonerz’ (2014).
He co-authored his autobiography, ‘My Infamous Life: The Autobiography of Mobb Deep’s Prodigy,’ with Laura Checkoway. It was published by ‘Touchstone Books’ in 2011.
Prodigy appeared in the films ‘Murda Muzik’ (1999), ‘Full Clip’ (2006), ‘Blackout’ (2007), and ‘Rhyme and Punishment’ (2011).
Personal Life
Prodigy faced several criminal charges during his career that include possession of drugs and illegal weapons. He was sentenced to a three-and-a-half-year prison term for gun possession in October 2007, from which he was released in March 2011.
He was disillusioned with rappers while he was serving his sentence and made special reference to rapper Crooked I in a letter, insulting him. His partner, Havoc, wrote derogatory comments about him on social media. However, they settled their differences when Prodigy was released from prison. The duo got back to work with ‘Mobb Deep.’
He suffered from a blood disorder called sickle-cell anemia that affects the oxygen-carrying protein haemoglobin found in red blood cells. He talked about his condition in his song ‘You Can Never Feel My Pain,’ which was part of his debut studio album, ‘H.N.I.C.’
Prodigy dated and later married Ikesha Dudley, with whom he lived for a short duration. He was ultimately hospitalized in Las Vegas due to complications from sickle-cell anemia and died on June 20, 2017, at the age of 42. The cause of his death was said to be accidental choking.
Facts About Prodigy
Prodigy was known for his unique fashion sense, often mixing streetwear with high-end designer pieces to create his own distinctive style.
Prodigy was a talented chef and enjoyed cooking for his friends and family, often experimenting with different flavors and cuisines.
Prodigy was an avid reader and had a deep interest in history and politics, often incorporating these themes into his lyrics and music.
Prodigy had a great sense of humor and loved to joke around with his friends and collaborators, bringing a light-hearted energy to his interactions.
Prodigy was a dedicated father and took great pride in being a positive role model for his children, instilling in them the values of hard work and perseverance.

See the events in life of Prodigy in Chronological Order

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Article Title
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URL
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