R.I.P. Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest, 1970-2016

by Jesse Locke

March 23, 2016

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The founding member of the legendary hip-hop group has passed away at 45.

Malik Taylor, the rapper better known as Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest, passed away on March 23rd at the age of 45. Alongside his high school classmates Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, the American rapper of Trinidadian descent helped propel the trio to success as one of the most beloved hip-hop groups of all time.

Rolling Stone reports that Taylor’s cause of death has yet to be announced, yet his longtime health issues included a battle with diabetes and a kidney transplant in 2008.

Following A Tribe Called Quest’s string of classic albums, the group broke up and reunited several times but never lost their place in the hip-hop history books. Phife Dawg released his only solo effort Ventilation: Da LP in 2000 and hoped to follow it up with Muttymorphosis, a new autobiographical album set for release this year.

The five-foot assassin acknowledged the addiction to sugar causing his health struggles as far back as his endlessly quotable lyrics of 1991’s “Buggin’ Out.” Styles upon styles upon styles.

Tags: Music, News, a tribe called quest, Obituary, phife dawg

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