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(496 posts)Though an official statement had yet to be issued at press-time, Phife began trending on Twitter as leaders from the hip-hop community paid tribute to the late MC.
Questlove Reflects on A Tribe Called Quest's Iconic 'People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm,' 25 Years Later
On hearing the news, Chuck D tweeted, Phife -- Hip Hop & Rap word Warrior, simple as that. Breathed it & lined rhyme into Sport. A true fire Social Narrator my bro."
Phife (born Malik Taylor) had battled with ill health in recent years and underwent a kidney transplant in 2008, following renal failure due to diabetes complications. He went on to become a diabetes advocate and shared his story in the 2012 documentary Beats, Rhymes and Life.
A Tribe Called Quest was formed in the late 1980s by Phife, Q-Tip (born Jonathan Davis), DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jarobi White (who would leave the group at the height of its success). The act signed to Jive Records and released the first album of five studio albums, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, in 1990.
J. Cole Remixes A Tribe Called Quest's 'Can I Kick It?' for 25th Anniversary Reissue
The group would go on to make its mark as one of the most progressive hip-hop acts of its time. And commercial success didn't elude them. ATCQ's 1996 album Beats, Rhymes and Life reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and its followup, The Love Movement from 1998, peaked at No .3 on the chart (another, earlier set, Midnight Marauders, reached No. 8 on the U.S. chart in 1993). They were rewarded in 2005 with a Special Achievement Award at the Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta.
Phife, who had the nicknames "Five Foot Assassin" and "The Five Footer" because of his diminutive height (he stood at 5 ft 3 in), released a solo album, Ventilation: Da LP, in 2000.
His group sporadically reunited over the past decade, including a performance for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last November. The late-night appearance coincided with the 25th anniversary release of the groups iconic debut album featuring remixes helmed by Pharrell, CeeLo Green and J. Cole.
Taken from: Billboard
Number23
(24,544 posts)Dying at 45???!! What in the hell??! Good God, I can barely type right now. What in the STRAIGHT hell??!
I have Low End Theory in my house RIGHT NOW. When one CD dies I get another one. I cannot believe this.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)I would have ended on "What" rather than "Scenario", but I also get how studios have rules and you want to end on your radio song (but "What" is, and I mean this, the best track of the 20th century, IMO). Seriously that album changed so much about how I looked at hip hop in particular and music in general.
A friend of mine who wasn't into hip hop once asked me what hip hop actually is and I lent him Low End Theory, saying that's a longform and excellent answer to that question.
Digital Puppy
(496 posts)Didn't know what the hell was going on when Phife came in at 3:35. Going to miss that 5-foot assassin.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Drink a lot of sodas so they call me Dr. Pepper
I never walk the street thinking it's all about me
Even though deep in my heart, it really could be
That's Phife in a verse.
Kind of Blue
(8,709 posts)wildeyed
(11,243 posts)JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)...and indeed he was!
I had to come out of hiding because I cannot believe this news.
I'm a major ATCQ fan. In fact, the group is my favorite Hip Hop group of all time, with Public Enemy coming in a close second.
2016 has been horrible!!!
I knew Phife had been very sick for years. He leaves a gorgeous wife and kids here on this godforsaken earth.
The world has lost one of the greatest lyricists ever!
Rest In Power!
Kind of Blue
(8,709 posts)I always remember what he said a while ago about denial, "If you don't accept it, it's going to kick your ass."
Rest In Peace.
serbbral
(260 posts)So many great lyricists are dying young.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)"I don't always say the right thing; But, I ALWAYS say what the F@#% I feel"
Phife Dawg - Flawless
I wish I could find some clips of his Battle Raps before ATCQ ... he was flawless and fierce!
The Polack MSgt
(13,189 posts)RIP Phife.
My best wishes to your family and all those suffering your loss in the 1st person.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)I hadn't heard this yet.
ismnotwasm
(41,984 posts)lovemydog
(11,833 posts)Rest in peace Phife.
Kind of Blue
(8,709 posts)on the radio on my way back from the store.
The reporter waiting to start his news report totally forgot and said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm still grooving to the song." It was touching.
Thanks.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)It samples this gorgeous bass groove by Herbie Flowers.
Digital Puppy
(496 posts)Lots of great music that came out of this camp. I appreciate ATCQ greatly as I had never heard this track before. I discovered 'Walk on the Wild Side' very shortly after ATCQ's 'Can I kick it?'.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)I'm just like you in that great music leads me to other great music. For me it was the other way around, I loved Lou and when I heard that ATCK song I couldn't stop listening to it (had the album on cassette tape) and remixes of it. That album led me to the whole trip hop stuff like De La Soul & later Massive Attack.
Kind of Blue
(8,709 posts)the original, a haunting song from childhood, and always always always a pleasure to hear.
Cool to know Lou Reed thought it was "gorgeous." It simply is.
Cracked me, Reed "said it actually suited what the song was about, which was luck, 'cause I had no idea what this song was about" to cute!
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Yet another musical gift they gave me, exposure to that amazing artist (demographically I "should" have been a Lou Reed fan who later found Tribe). My little sister is the same way with M.I.A. and the Clash; she's now a crazy Clash fan after "Paper Planes".
Didn't JayZ sample Can I Kick It? Like 22 Twos or something?
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)I love the Clash and absolutely love Paper Planes and all the remixes of it. Not sure about Jay Z sampling Can I Kick It. I'd bet someone here will know. I'd love to hear it, if anyone can post the video. Like you, I love finding musical connections. As my mom always said, music is the universal language.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Great track, too
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)lovemydog
(11,833 posts)I'm going to listen to it tomorrow.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)I needed that.
Digital Puppy
(496 posts)Digital Puppy
(496 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)That was awesome.