Prodigy, half of rap duo Mobb Deep, dead at 42

Mobb Deep's Prodigy poses for a photo, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016, in New York. The Queens rapper, half the '90s hardcore duo with Havoc, has written a book with journalist Kathy Iandoli called "commissary kitchen: my infamous prison cookbook." (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

NEW YORK (AP) —

Rapper Prodigy, a member of the New York hip-hop duo Mobb Depp, has died. He was 42.

The rapper's publicist said in a statement Tuesday that Prodigy was hospitalized a few days ago in Las Vegas "for complications caused by a sickle cell anemia crisis." Prodigy has battled sickle cell since birth and was in Las Vegas for a performance.

The exact cause of death was not clear, the representative said.

Prodigy was born Albert Johnson in New York. He found success in the '90s with fellow rapper Havoc in Mobb Deep. The duo's hits included "Quiet Storm" with Lil Kim, "Shook Ones (Part II)" and "Hey Luv (Anything)."