The news of Mobb Deep’s Prodigy passing couldn’t have come at more of an ironic time. If you’re well-versed on the iconic hip-hop duo from the 90’s you’d be hip to the fact that Prodigy was suffering from Sickle-Cell Anemia. Just yesterday, we recognized World Sickle Cell Awareness Day. Truthfully, Prodigy is the only person I’ve ever known to have the disease. What a coincidence in occurrences. Even more ironic is 2pac’s famous mention of Prodigy’s disease in one Hip-Hop’s biggest rap feuds which was just brought back to life with the recent release of #AllEyezOnMe, a movie detailing specific moments in the life of Tupac Shakur leading up to his death. “Don’t one of you n****z got sickle cell or somethin?” yells Pac at the end of the song, a song that has probably increased revenue earning since the movie release this past weekend. The lyric was insulting then and is now coming full circle. This, my friend, is the definition of irony.
On a positive note, Prodigy’s death could possibly shed a lot of light on the disease if his life hadn’t already. Sickle-cell is a group of inherited life-lasting red blood cell disorders. The only real way you can support the cause is by giving blood and prayer. However, if you’re like Prodigy and have information and tips to share with other patients, thats gold. In the video below, Prodigy does just that with a young sickle-cell patient.