Rest in peace, Phife Dawg.
Phife Dawg, born Malik Isaac Taylor, has passed away at the age of 45, according to reports.
Chuck Chillout, a DJ on the US radio station Kiss, posted the news to Twitter in the early hours of this morning.
RIP to phife dog of tribe called quest pic.twitter.com/f4t5fvg4WD
— DJ Chuck Chillout (@djchuckchillout) March 23, 2016
Phife Dawg had been suffering from various health issues in recent years, having been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1990.
Other hip-hop legends such as Public Enemy’s Chuck D have been paying tribute to Phife Dawg on social media.
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
A Tribe Called Quest are responsible for some of the most lyrically inventive hip-hop of the last 30 years. Phife Dawg will certainly be missed.
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