Phife Dawg, a hip-hop music icon, an avid sports fan and a frequent guest on ESPN programs, passed away today. One of the founding members of A Tribe Called Quest, Phife Dawg – born Malik Taylor – was 45.
In November, he visited ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., studios promoting A Tribe Called Quest’s 25th anniversary re-release album. Anchor and avid Tribe fan Scott Van Pelt welcomed Phife Dawg to the midnight edition of SportsCenter (see video below).
Front Row remembers Phife Dawg with a collection of photos from ESPN Images and social media posts from some of ESPN’s Phife admirers.
"At first I didn't know what to make of Tribe Called Quest… Then I realized, these are my guys."
– @ryenarussillo pic.twitter.com/qYhx5leDZv
— Russillo and Kanell (@RussilloKanell) March 23, 2016
But sometimes life is beautiful and you get to pay a dude back. And we did. pic.twitter.com/Nw2OpFWa17
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) March 23, 2016
I will never forget how nervous he was. I said, "You rapped all over the WORLD, man" He said, "But I do THAT, YOU do this" Damn. RIP Phife.
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) March 23, 2016
Mike repping A Tribe Called Quest. Jemele repping Harriet Tubman. #RIPPhife pic.twitter.com/XUugudtavA
— Mike & Mike (@MikeAndMike) March 23, 2016
Not only was Phife Dawg one of the most original lyricists of all-time, but he was arguably the biggest sports… https://t.co/BAKWYwYaUj
— Michael Eaves (@michaeleaves) March 23, 2016
My JAM. https://t.co/yaFy11ie5v
"Top notch baby, never comin less."
RIP Phife.
— Sarah Spain (@SarahSpain) March 23, 2016
You'll be missed! Thanks for touching all of our lives #rip “A Tribe Called Quest rapper Phife Dawg dies at 45”https://t.co/1vaQgw8cxY
— Marcellus Wiley (@marcelluswiley) March 23, 2016
"I said my name's Malik, the five-foot freak. What say we get together by the end of the week." RIP Phife. 45 is tragic.
— Howard Bryant (@hbryant42) March 23, 2016
Listening to Tribe just re-affirmed that I grew up in a golden era of music
— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) March 23, 2016
Tribe was the soundtrack of my high school and college years.. On rotation all the time.. Hip Hop royalty.. #RIPPhife
— Kevin Negandhi (@KNegandhiESPN) March 23, 2016
