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Malik Taylor, a.k.a. Phife Dawg of the legenday native tongue group A Tribe Called Quest has passed away at the age of 45 years young. Phife was born November 20, 1970 and was a native of Queens, N.Y. He met his would be best friend “Q-Tip” at the age of 2, went to school and played sports together before forming A Tribe Called Quest.
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Though an official statement nor cause of death has been released, Taylor had long time health issues while battling diabetes and underwent a kidney transplant in 2008.
Phife was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes back in May of 1990 and mentioned being a “funky diabetic,” confirming his illness on the single “Oh My God” from the album Midnight Marauders.
A Tribe Called Quest, which consisted of MC Q-Tip, MC Phife Dawg, DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jarobi White, who left the group after their first album in 1991, had just celebrated the 25 year anniversary of their 1st album entitled “People’s Instinctive Travels & the Paths of Rhythm.”
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