Unfortunately, we don’t always get to show the love to our favorite artists that we’d like before they are no longer with us. Recently, the world of Hip-Hop has shown an outstanding amount of love and admiration towards the family of Nipsey Hussle in the wake of his untimely death. Local politicians have documented his impact on record, intersections have been renamed in his honor and artists have immortalized his talents through music. Just years prior to Nipsey Hussle’s death, the world of Hip-Hop celebrated the life of another Hip-Hop legend who lost his life in the state of California. It’s been three years since Phife Dawg passed away suddenly in California and community members have found a way to memorialize the late musician.
The city of Oakland has elected to honor Phife Dawg with his own day. At an event in Oakland over the weekend, producer Starita, Phife Dawg’s mother and his widow made the official declaration. Starita said, “A Tribe Called Quest is being celebrated this week with Bay Area bands, producers and artists celebrating the group’s groundbreaking album, Midnight Marauders.” He added, “Now, therefore be it, we proclaim Friday, May 17, 2019, is Malik ‘Phife Dawg’ Taylor Day.” Long live Phife Dawg!
