An official statement is yet to be released by the band or Phife’s family.
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Malik formed A Tribe Called Quest in 1985 with high school friends Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad.
He appeared on all five albums.
A Tribe Called Quest’s last album was 1998’s “The Love Movement”, but the 2011 documentary brought them back together for sporadic live shows. The group’s albums The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders are pieces of hip-hop nostalgia that will never go out of style.
Also called the five foot assassin for his diminutive stature, Phife Dawg’s raspy, acerbic social commentary laced with comic moments, witty punchlines and self confidence has earmarked him as one of his generations most distinctive voices.
“Jermaine Dupri tweeted a group photo, writing, “#RIPPhifeDawg”, and Questlove Instagrammed a pic of the MC with a lengthy caption.
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As part of ATCQ, Taylor’s music catapulted hip-hop to another level. “Every hip hop head was just…stunned HE”. Many of their songs, such as “Bonita Applebum”, “Can I Kick It?“, “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo”, “Scenario”, “Check the Rhime”, “Jazz (We’ve Got)”, “Award Tour” and “Electric Relaxation” are regarded as classics. “I’m sick rite now!!!”
