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Phife Dawg

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Phife Dawg's real name was Malik Izaak Taylor, and he was born in Queens, New York, in 1970 to Trinidadian parents. His mother was a poet. He had known Q-Tip since the age of two. When he was nine he heard Rapper's Delight by the Sugarhill Gang and suggested rapping together. In 1985 they formed the group Quest, later A Tribe Called Quest, with DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Jarobi White joined as well. Because of his height of 1.60 metres, Phife was nicknamed the Five-Foot Assassin.

Music and breakthrough

A Tribe Called Quest belonged to the collective Native Tongues, together with De La Soul and the Jungle Brothers. The debut People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm appeared in 1990 on Jive Records. On The Low End Theory of 1991 Phife took on a bigger role and also rapped about social issues. Midnight Marauders followed in 1993, Beats, Rhymes and Life in 1996 and The Love Movement in 1998. Tensions with the label and within the group led to the end.

Influence

Phife also worked with others and released his solo debut Ventilation: Da LP in 2000. In 2015 he and Q-Tip decided to put their quarrel aside and secretly make a new album. Phife died in March 2016. We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service was completed without him. His sharp, playful voice alongside Q-Tip's calmer flow gave the group its characteristic interplay.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a track by A Tribe Called Quest and notice the interplay between two voices. Try to hear how Phife, with his rawer, faster voice, contrasts with Q-Tip.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: Artists