Sunday, March 27, 2016

Remembering Malik 'Phife Dawg' Taylor ...


I'll be the first to admit.  This one hurt.  I got the news around 5am Wednesday morning.  Loss of words then.  Aside from being a fan of his lyrics and sometimes taking his aliases into my own.. i.e. 'The Five Footer', I liked him as a person.  No.. I've never met him, but I developed the undefinable connection an artist can give you through their music, interviews, persona etc.  
He was one of the very few that did/do that for me.  


A couple years back, it intensified.  I saw the documentary 'Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest'.  Phife's illness was addressed and expressed through visual- how his everyday life was affected, friendships affected, thoughts etc.  A first hand look (for those who didn't know or recognize) of how illness can shift it all.  His longtime bout with his severe diabetes was indeed a battle.  Yet, here was a man determined to continue his life and passion while the odds were against him.  Inspiring.  A Specialist of this Hip-Hop craft.  Malik Taylor... the five footer... the five foot assassin... Phife Dawg... the funky diabetic... you will be missed.  R.I.P.


No comments:

Post a Comment