The hip-hop world is reeling from the death of beloved A Tribe Called Quest rapper, Phife Dawg. In the wake of Phife’s tragic passing, ATCQ has just released a statement paying tribute to its fallen MC and co-founder.
“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 father’s 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,” the statement continues. “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,” concludes the A Tribe Called Quest statement. The group posted the tribute to its Facebook page, along with a cover photo memorializing Phife Dawg, who was lovingly known as the “Five Foot Assassin.” The banner reads, “REST IN POWER”.
Phife Dawg, whose real name was Malik Isaac Taylor, succumbed to complications of diabetes on March 23. He was just 45.
One half of A Tribe Called Quest’s lyrical duo (joined by fellow MC Q-Tip and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad), Phife Dawg was instrumental to the success of ATCQ’s five studio albums, including the highly-influential Midnight Marauders and The Low End Theory. His contributions cemented his status as a hip-hop legend, and he will be sorely missed throughout the music community.
