Raz-B and his wife Mona Li Thornton have lost their infant son, Astro Monte Thornton. The family confirmed the death through their publicist and spokesperson, David Robinson, in a statement sent to press, describing the loss as unexpected.
The family did not share a cause of death or say when it happened. Neither Raz-B nor Mona Li has addressed it publicly, and their representation asked for privacy on their behalf while they navigate the loss, thanking people in advance for their love and support. The couple’s rep agency, The David Brand, reshared the statement Thursday.
Astro was born in May. Raz-B announced the arrival himself at the time, posting from the hospital as the family waited to welcome him, and shared a family portrait alongside the news. He wrote then that he had always wanted to take a real family picture with his own family and that God had finally made a way. He also thanked his wife for her strength through the pregnancy, calling it one of the greatest blessings he could witness to see her become a mother again.
Raz-B, born De’Mario Monte Thornton, has been in front of audiences since he was a teenager as one quarter of B2K, the group that put out “Uh Huh,” “Bump, Bump, Bump,” and “Girlfriend” and turned into one of the defining acts of early 2000s R&B before splitting in 2004. He has spent the last several years back on the road with the group’s reunion runs, and he was out on the Boys 4 Life Tour during the pregnancy.
Nothing further has been shared, and the family has not indicated whether they plan to say more.
