Why Are So Many Golden Age Rappers Dying Young?

'Recently, we mourned the loss of Malik Abdul Basit, better known as Malik B, a hip hop artist and one the founding members of the legendary group, The Roots. He was only 47. The exact cause of Malik’s death has yet to be confirmed, but it fits into a troubling pattern of rappers, especially those from the golden age of hip-hop's early days, dying young from illness.  Eazy-E, from N.W.A, died from complications with AIDS at 30; J Dilla died from a heart attack at 32; Prodigy, half of the group Mobb Deep, died from choking and complications with sickle cell anemia at 45; Phife Dawg, from A Tribe Called Quest, died from complications with diabetes at 45; and the list goes on. Dart Adams, a hip-hop journalist and historian, joined The Takeaway to help us understand why so many rappers are dying young and what can be done about it.'