Prodigy

Birth Name: Albert T’Chaka Johnson

Date of Birth: November 2, 1974

Place of Birth: Hempstead, Long Island, New York, U.S.

Date of Death: June 20, 2017

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Place of Death: Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.

Ethnicity: African-American, as well as small amount of English

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Prodigy was an American rapper, author, and entrepreneur. He was one of hip hop duo Mobb Deep, with Havoc. He was also known as Lord-T (The Golden Child) and H.N.I.C.

He was the son of singers Fatima Collins and Albert Jackson Johnson IV. His mother was a member of 1960s girl group The Crystals. He grew up in Queens, New York City. Prodigy was married to Kiki Johnson, and had two children.

Prodigy’s paternal grandfather was jazz saxophonist Albert J. “Budd” Johnson III (Albert Jackson Johnson III, the son of Albert Jackson “A. J.” Johnson, Jr. and Kate/Katie Peak/Peaks). Prodigy’s grandfather Albert was born in Texas. Prodigy’s great-grandfather Albert was the son of Albert Johnson and Millie Benison. Kate was the daughter of Leason Peaks and Amanda Hall.

Prodigy’s paternal grandmother was dancer Bernice Milbrey (Bernice Virginia Milbrey, the daughter of Charles Henry Milbrey and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Williams). Bernice was born in Virginia. Charles was the son of George Milbrey and Alice Burton. Elizabeth was born in North Carolina, the daughter of John Williams and Dora.

Prodigy’s maternal grandfather was named Charles E. Johnson.

Prodigy’s maternal grandmother was Beatrice/Bernice Alethia Mann (the daughter of Ferdinand Meshack Mann and Josephine Louise “Josie” Shaw). Beatrice was born in New Jersey, to parents from Georgia. Ferdinand was the son of Ferdinand Mann and Mary C. Alxander. Josephine was the daughter of Charles Augustus Shaw, who was born in Florida, and of Anna/Annie Francis White.

Anna’s parents, Prodigy’s great-great-great-grandparents, were Josephine Elizabeth Thomas and The Rev. William J. White (William Jefferson White), who was a minister, educator, and journalist; he founded Harmony Baptist Church in Augusta, and co-founded Augusta Institute, which became Morehouse College, and Clark Atlanta University. William was the son of a white slaveowner, William White, and of a black/mixed-race black slave, Chaney.

In his autobiography, My Infamous Life: The Autobiography of Mobb Deep’s Prodigy, 2011, Prodigy states that his paternal grandparents were of half black and half Cherokee Native American descent. This does not appear to be accurate. All of his traceable ancestors are listed as “black” or “mulatto” on records. Prodigy also referred to his ancestors The Rev. William and Josephine as being of “95% Irish” descent, but it is not clear if this is accurate, either.

Sources:

Prodigy’s maternal great-grandmother, Josephine Louise “Josie” Shaw, on the 1900 U.S. Census –

Genealogy of Prodigy’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Anna/Annie Francis (White) Shaw –