Celebs Mourn the loss of Phife Dawg – R.I.P. Hip-Hop Innovator

This morning Hip-Hop and music as a whole, lost one of our innovators from A Tribe Called Quest; Phife Dawg passed away at age 45, after dealing with a long battle with diabetes. He received a kidney transplant from his wife in 2008.

His family has released the following statement….

“We regret to share the news that on Tuesday March 22nd, 2016, Malik has passed away due to complications resulting from diabetes.

Malik was our loving husband, father, brother and friend. We love him dearly. How he impacted all our lives will never be forgotten. His love for music and sports was only surpassed by his love of God and family.” Dion Liverpool, his manager, adds, “While I mourn the loss of my best friend and brother, I also will celebrate his incredible life and contribution to many people’s ears across the world. Even with all his success, I have never met a person as humble as he. He taught me that maintaining a positive attitude and outlook can conquer anything. Now my brother is resting in greatness. I’m honored to have crossed paths with him. Riddim Kidz 4eva.”
The family asks that their privacy be respected at this difficult time

.”

A Tribe Called Quest paved the way for jazz-influenced Hip-Hop and are legends!
Friends and fans shared tweets about the loss of Phife Dawg today.

One of the masters of Hip Hop, PFIFE DOG has left the building~ Blessings 2 his brothers ALI and QTIP. https://t.co/pP8GE3h0rG via @YouTube

— Dawn Robinson (@dawnrobinson_) March 23, 2016

PFIFE WAS ALWAYS BIGGIN ME UP BUT WHEN WE FINALLY MET IN PERSON, HE WAS SHY LOL! BLESS YOU XO~ https://t.co/pbi9JPzt5j via @YouTube

— Dawn Robinson (@dawnrobinson_) March 23, 2016

RIP Phife Dawg… It's an honor that Phife Dawg mentioned me in God Lives Through A Tribe Called… https://t.co/4cJhRK6o86

— Shanice (@Shaniceonline) March 23, 2016

Our hearts are heavy this am.
Phife Dawg you were integral to a movement that birthed so many of… https://t.co/y2uIXEj0Ek

— Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell) March 23, 2016

"You're full of jokes..but yo your name ain't flex"!! Thank you for my first and only ever shout… https://t.co/1KTt85Ui3g

— Flex Alexander (@FlexAforeal) March 23, 2016

A TRIBE CALLED QUEST RAISED ME …. #ChildHoodFacts

— 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

Phife didawg… #RIP fam love you brother. You left the world with jewels man. My childhood… https://t.co/KRKK7Llw7N

— marlon wayans (@MarlonWayans) March 23, 2016

Hip-hop is living, can’t yank the plug
if you do the result, will end up kind of bugged
Phife Dawg

— Rob da Bank (@RobdaBank) March 23, 2016

A pioneer of hip hop has left us. Rest in peace, Phife

— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) March 23, 2016

Nooooooooo RIP Phife. I heard they just got a deal and was coming back. Yo that’s soooo weak man!!!! They was posed to be on our album

— PRICE (@BOWprice) March 23, 2016

more than just a fly mc who’s 5 foot 3 and very brave, phife is a legend who helped father hip hop’s golden era. RIP pic.twitter.com/4w6zhiRSqp

— kalkutta (@djkalkutta) March 23, 2016

Hearing Phife’s voice will forever remind me of my favourite time in rap music #RIPPHIFE

— Foreign Beggars (@ForeignBeggars) March 23, 2016

#RIPPhife I was one of the lucky ones to have met you and I was “Buggin Out” every time! pic.twitter.com/mSQXxI9oZG

— MelDCole (@meldcole) March 23, 2016

Gonna miss you, my dude! #RIPPhife pic.twitter.com/xkpleB5Qcf

— Z-TRIP (@ztrip) March 23, 2016

Used this gif like 3 times this week too #RIPPhife pic.twitter.com/J2MUxHly66

— BIG GHOST (@BigGhostLtd) March 23, 2016

A Tribe Called Quest His Name is Mutty Ranks https://t.co/AsmDmyf8Uo #RIPPhife

— Open Mike Eagle (@Mike_Eagle) March 23, 2016

My personal testimony as to how timeless ATCQ is is that independently, my 19, 18 and 14 yr old sons listen to Tribe on their own. #RIPPhife

— Old Man Combat (@Combat_Jack) March 23, 2016

a tribe called quest is the greatest rap group of all time. and i would have never thought i had a place in rap if not for them #RIPPhife

— Open Mike Eagle (@Mike_Eagle) March 23, 2016

“Trini gladiator /anti hesitator /Shaheed push the fader / from here to Grenada” ——– #RIPPhife …

— Estelle (@EstelleDarlings) March 23, 2016

“Microphone check 1,2 what is this..?”

The Five Foot Assassin.

ATCQ changed everything…

RIP, Phife Dawg.

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) March 23, 2016

Check out this Phife Dawg Tribute by a WSB-TV Traffic reporter, who drops some A Tribe Called Quest rhymes.

———–

Rest in Power Phife, thank you for sharing your talent with the world.