a long 25 year battle with Diabetes Type I, it was reported that Phife Dawg, at the age of 45, succumbed to the disease yesterday evening.
Diagnosed in May 1990-a month after ATCQ’s release of their first album People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, it had always been known that Taylor suffered from illness but despite his initial fears, it never showed-the music: he and his talent carried on as never was.
“I thought it was over. I didn’t know everything that I would have to go through: The rights and the wrongs, the dos and the don’ts. I just automatically thought I was done rapping-no more career,” Phife told dLife .
Conquering his initial fear and denial about it, he eventually embraced it as being very much a part of who he was and also gave himself the moniker [that too, he became a.k.a] “The Funky Diabetic.”
RIP to the Funky Diabetic. Sad day today.
— Noah Shebib (@OVO40) March 23, 2016
Although Dawg eventually had undergone dialysis and was the recipient of a kidney transplant (2008), in 2015, he revealed to NPR he was in need of another transplant
In 2012, in the documentary Beats, Rhymes and Life, Phife’s journey is all there.
Kind words were left by many that were with, worked with, and inspired by him.
#ATribeCalledQuest music bangs forever but as human beings Phife Tip ALI Jar are even better. #RestInBeatsPHIFE pic.twitter.com/SdAhvVt8UR
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) 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
https://twitter.com/solangeknowles/status/712636848418529280
🙏🏾 #PhifeDawg rest in paradise
— Yung Rénzél 👑 (@RickRoss) March 23, 2016
Rest in Peace Phife. #Tribe
— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) March 23, 2016
R. I. P. 🌹🙏🏾🕊🕊 my. Dawg. Linden to linden warren g used to bang that before we had a deal ✊🏾🌟💫✨🕊🕊 pic.twitter.com/SUwbl9yhyS
— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) March 23, 2016
Rest in peace legend… #PhifeDawg #ATCQ
— King Push (@PUSHA_T) March 23, 2016
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDSVt6yn4V7/?taken-by=phontigallo
So fucked up to keep hearing sad news about our comrades in our culture…
R.I.P. PHIFE DAWG… #ATCQ LOVE TO TIP, ALI AND JAROBI…— DJ Premier (@REALDJPREMIER) March 23, 2016
Rip PHIFE DAWG A Tribe Called Quest inspired us all ! We will never forget!
— juicy j (@therealjuicyj) March 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/rapsody/status/712522915892355072
https://twitter.com/stro/status/712523197518856192
https://twitter.com/therealelp/status/712524363732553729
I had the great privilege of being label mates with PHIFE during my JIVE Records days. It is an honor to have known him/RIP to a HIPHOP KING
— R.A. the Rugged Man (@RAtheRuggedMan) March 23, 2016
Sad news…..Rest in power #PHIFE 🙏🏻
Thank you for the timeless music you made and the… https://t.co/d1nHgfQHtD— Travis Barker (@travisbarker) March 23, 2016
May Phife dawg rest in peace and blessings to his family..
— little farma (@stylesp) March 23, 2016
See I am not the one, I got more game than Parker Brothers
Phife Dog is on the mic and I'm smooth like Butter . . .Rest In Power my friend— Dante Ross (@DanteRoss) March 23, 2016
Confirmed. rest in peace Phife. Man. I'm out.
— Statik Selektah (@StatikSelekt) March 23, 2016
Phife Di-dog has been, is and always will be in effect. RIP and deep condolences to @JarobiWhite @AliShaheed and @QtipTheAbstract
— Donwill® (@donwill) March 23, 2016
"…ALL THE TIME TIP "@QtipTheAbstract
Love u.
— ErykahBadoula (@fatbellybella) March 23, 2016
On the flip side of things, although, like most groups, the guys had some rough
