Hip-Hop Pays Tribute to A Tribe Called Quest's Phife Dawg
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The legendary group A Tribe Called Quest was one of the greatest teams in hip-hop to ever be assembled.
Sadly Malik Taylor a.k.a Phife Dawg passed away at the age of 45 leaving behind a celebrated legacy of music with A Tribe Called Quest and his own solo ventures.
Rappers have begun paying their respects to Phife Dawg via social media.
"While the cause of death has yet to be announced, Taylor had had health issues for years, undergoing a kidney transplant in 2008 to deal with a longtime battle with diabetes," according to Rolling Stone.
No words can truly capture the effect and influence of Tribe. Thank you Phife. For all the records and the rhymes we memorised #RIPPhifeDawg
-- Zane Lowe (@zanelowe) March 23, 2016
Phife Dawg's talent shined brightly through A Tribe Called Quest hits like "Can I Kick It" and continued on to solo hits like "Flawless." After word of Taylor's death was made public, rappers all over took to social media to pay their respects.
Kendrick Lamar took some time out of his show in Sydney, Australia to pay respects to Phife Dawg and asked the crowd to help him do so as well in a chant (video below).
Swizz Beatz commented that he was sick over the loss of Taylor on Instagram, while Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller shared his shock and remembrance on Twitter.
Miller also stepped into the producer alter ego Larry Fisherman to create a tribute to Phife Dawg titled, "5 Foot Assassin: Larry Fisherman Tribute."
RIP PHIFE DAWG: https://t.co/F1i0hNIkK6
-- Mac (@MacMiller) March 23, 2016
A Tribe Called Quest celebrated their 25th anniversary with a rereleased version of People's Instinctive Travel and the Paths of Rhythm in November of 2015. You can check out some of the tributes and reactions to Phife Dawg's death below.
NOOOO. NOT PHIFE.
-- Mac (@MacMiller) March 23, 2016
RIP PHIFE. DRINKING A DR PEPPER FOR U RIGHT NOW. pic.twitter.com/ClSNcuLR9P
-- Mac (@MacMiller) March 23, 2016
i dont even know what to do right now. this is crazy.
-- Mac (@MacMiller) March 23, 2016
"The height of Mugsy Bogues, complexion of a hockey puck" #RIPPhifeDawg #Legend pic.twitter.com/Plo4zHGrCa
-- Stalley (@Stalley) March 23, 2016
"you see, my aura's positive I don't promote no junk" #RIPPhifeDawg
-- Asher Roth (@asherroth) March 23, 2016
sad news on top of sad news #RIPPhifeDawg
-- Asher Roth (@asherroth) March 23, 2016
"Now let's knock boots like the group H Town!" #RIPPhifeDawg https://t.co/rHLFKD3PQk
-- Bun B (@BunBTrillOG) March 23, 2016
Phife Phorever #RIPPhifeDawg https://t.co/jpg4Y8sHTB
-- Questlove Gomez (@questlove) March 23, 2016
Rest In Power King. #ripphifedawg https://t.co/dgNib4Rdol
-- Fashawn (@fashawn) March 23, 2016
#RIpPhifeDawg legend.
-- OMARION (@1Omarion) March 23, 2016
Damn #RIpPhifeDawg I remember ya'll did the video around the way on Linden Blvd on top of the... https://t.co/02MymMCu90
-- DJ CLUE (@DJCLUE) March 23, 2016
#ripphifedawg hip hop legend #FromATribeCalledQuest on of my favorite hip-hop-groups of all... https://t.co/A8g0xT9v0O
-- THE LOVE KING (@Raheem_DeVaughn) March 23, 2016
#ripphifedawg #FromATribeCalledQuest L E G E N D A R Y 4 E V E R..... @ Queens, New York https://t.co/hGl1SFzgaq
-- THE LOVE KING (@Raheem_DeVaughn) March 23, 2016
#ripphifedawg @ Queens, New York https://t.co/pOJpDROIF6
-- THE LOVE KING (@Raheem_DeVaughn) March 23, 2016
Phife-HipHop & Rap word Warrior, simple as that.Breathed it & lined rhyme into Sport.A true fire Social Narrator my bro #RIBeats ATCQforever
-- Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 23, 2016
Rest In Beats PHIFE ATCQ Forever pic.twitter.com/jwYNU6YLJ8
-- Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 23, 2016
Sad Day In Hip-Hop #RIPPhifeDawg pic.twitter.com/LnD1X7yfAp
-- DJ Pauly D (@DJPaulyD) March 23, 2016