R.I.P. Phife Dawg
Low End
Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor of the legendary group A Tribe Called Quest passed away yesterday. He was 45. Although no cause of death has been announced, but for years, Phife was battling Type 1 diabetes. Eight years ago, he received a kidney transplant from his wife. Our deepest condolences to his friends and family. In a statement issued by his family:
“We regret to share the news that on Tuesday March 22nd, 2016, Malik has passed away due to complications resulting from diabetes. Malik was our loving husband, father, brother and friend. We love him dearly. How he impacted all our lives will never be forgotten. His love for music and sports was only surpassed by his love of God and family.”
Says his manager:
“While I mourn the loss of my best friend and brother, I also will celebrate his incredible life and contribution to many people’s ears across the world. Even with all his success, I have never met a person as humble as he. He taught me that maintaining a positive attitude and outlook can conquer anything. Now my brother is resting in greatness. I’m honored to have crossed paths with him. Riddim Kidz 4eva.”
Phife’s fellow A Tribe Called Quest member adds:
Our hearts are heavy. We are devastated. This is something we weren’t prepared for although we all know that life is fleeting. It was no secret about his health and his fight. But the fight for his joy and happiness gave him everything he needed. The fight to keep his family happy, his soul happy and those around him happy, gave him complete and unadulterated joy… until he heeded his fathers call.
We love his family his mother, his father, his son, his wife, his nieces, his family here in New York, Atlanta, California and Trinidad.
Thank you for the outpouring of prayers and support from the fans, fellow artists, music outlets, blogs, radio stations, DJ’s, social media and the music community at large. This too is part of his joy and means a lot to him. His family is overwhelmed by the support, well wishes and are thankful. His music and what he’s contributed is seismic and hard to measure. He’s affected us as much as he’s affected all of you. We’re inspired by his daily joy and courage. He wasn’t in pain. He was happy. We take comfort in knowing he will be beside his grandmother.
We ask that you respect our privacy at this time.
photo: walker/getty
Damn.
Rest In Peace
Big props for Phife and Quest as a whole for representing an essential element in hip-hop. Too much of the same is always a bad thing. Keep it funky, flavorful, and uplifting.
The Funky Diabetic. RIP Soldier.
Damn, Rest In Peace.
microphone check- 1,2- what is this ? smdh…….#fduckdiabetes
Hold your head Hip-Hop. Rest in Peace Phife.
RIP in peace. A true legend.
“Buss Off On Your Couch Now You Got Seamans Furniture”.. Had The Crazy Dope One Liners Always…. RIP
Stressed out still one of my all time favorite Tribe songs Enjoy the journey King.
was JUST listening to that in the car on repeat yesterday thinking how much I still love that record and then I wake up to this
I’m Fucked up today losing to many HIPHOP LEGENDS WAY TO QUIK, I thought I’d be so much older SMH…. Rest in Paradice you will live forever through the timeless music you left behind thank you for making a hip-hop heads life a little sweeter.
Tribe FOREVER!!!!
Crazy yo.
I never listened to tribe but I know they were a vital group in hip hop rip
Pick up Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders….Them shits is HARD
Consider it a joy that you haven’t heard it yet. When you do, it’s going to be one of the best presents your ears have ever received.
“Can I kick it? To my Tribe that flows in layers
Right now, Phife is a poem sayer”
Rest in Peace!
U can be a solid dude when u want to be.
#salute
Yesterday he’s saying black people have contributing nothing to the world… Today he’s quoting Phife Dawg. Foh
I understand that dude is a troll. I don’t engage in the bullshit he post regularly. The majority of the time he’s looking for attention. But, once in blue, you can tell that he’s being genuine. So, when I catch it, which I rarely do. I try to shout him out.
R.I.P. Phife
I’m not gonna shout out a bitchass mothafucka ever. He regularly shows you he’s on some genuine bullshit but you wanna salute the rare occasion he aint on it? Again foh
Shut up!
I remember in the late 80’s and through the 90’s hip hop artist had their own style like A Tribe Called Quest, Heavy D, Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, the Fugees, De la Soul. Rappers would rap about having trouble getting girls, the problem in their community, being too short, having a crush on a person, the struggle of being a single mom and so forth. Nowadays mainstream hip hop rappers rap about money and Rolex.
CRICKETS
Fuck off idiot
And those horrible mainstream songs are the only ones you leave positive comments on. Shut the fuck up if you’re not gonna live what you’re talking about.
Lying bastard
Fuck up bitch!
your mama
You remember in the late 80’s. So, you’re 45 just like Phife Dawg then…
Lol. You say that as if it’s a bad thing. Haha
Lemme get this straight, in your eyes, Phife wouldn’t be allowed on RR?
We are only ABLE to type comments on this site because a 40+ year old created it you dumb fuck. LOLOLOL
Easy, tiger.
It’s not a bad thing to be over 40. I listen to Tribe and other “old” rappers.
I wrote my initial reply to Vladimir François based on his previous comments on this blog.
Then I stand corrected at my lack of knowledge regarding the context of which your reply was posted.
The thing is, Vladimir’s mother and I have been in a relationship now for a little over 8 months. Vladimir turned her against me with his lying tongue and she ended it with me. Maybe it wouldn’t have worked out (she did have an affair with RR’s very own Sonic while I was sleeping on the couch), but my heart is still broken over her, and I am STILL very protective over Vladimir being that he was almost my stepson (even though he is at least 15 years older than I).
Again, please accept my apologies, and RIP Phife Dawg!
Apologies accepted.
R.I.P Phife Dawg
#ATCQ
Loool.
R.I.P Phife Dawg.
Negative
Your mom is 76 years old, and your daughter is 16.
Own up to your age, Vladimir. 40 is the new 20. Hehehe!
Negative
Vladimir, please undo the damage you have done and put in a good word for me to your mom, PLEASE VLADIMIR!!!!!!! At least tell her I called yesterday. Come on man. I was almost your stepfather last December, and I may well be again so don’t but the hand that feeds both you AND your mom.
I’m heartbroken man.
if you were my stepfather I’d kill you.
R.I.P Phife, you’ll live forever through the music my g.
Can u stop the BS media for a day and give respect to a guy that indirectly gave you guys a fckn job. You ppl make me sick. Stop the presses and pay homage you bloodsuckers
This one really hurts. Microphone check ,one ,two , what is this?
The five foot assassin with the ruff
neck business !
Too many of our own people dying so young. American diet is a poor diet. Stay Awaaaaay from processed/acidic food.
He said he was addicted to sugar. Literally, it was his drug. Crazy right?
Yeah man sugar kills people!
R.I.P
Rest In Paradise Phife Dawg!!! ATCQ’s music is/was Dope, Timeless & will live on forever!!!
“I bust a nut inside your eye to show you where I come from”
RIP Phife Diggy.
RIP… #PhifeDawg #ATQC #NativeTongues
I still bang this shit screwed and chopped, rip
RIP Phife!!! Good bless your family!!!!
Thank you for Everything you mean to Hip Hop, A Tribe Called Quest Forever. RIP Phife Dawg.
The Legend…… this caught me off guard…. energy is neither created nor destroyed…… Boom !