I could not believe the news I heard. I thought it was a terrible dream that I shouldn’t have woken up to. Just to think, hours ago I was quoting the lyrics to "Scenario" and "Buggin Out" verbatim. Hip-hop has lost a legend, a friend, a funky MC, and one of the best lyricists to ever touch a mic.

I’m not sure how many people have the pleasure of naming you as one of their favorite rappers, but I’m very fortunate that you were mine. You had a rhyme scheme like no other, and word play that took me by a storm. The way you crafted your words to make me swoon is something that you don’t hear too often. A Tribe Called Quest till this day is what I consider a foundation in hip hop. Where would hip hop be without The Low End Theory or Midnight Marauders? Many don’t realize how powerful and awaking the lyrics you all composed, but let be the first to say, I thank you. Thank you for showing the world that rap isn’t about violence, sex and drugs. You taught me that poetry, style and creativity can make a perfect record.

I remember coming home with my dad after school and it never failed that he would play Award Tour and the rest of Midnight Marauders on the way home. Now I may be young lady, but that doesn’t mean I can’t love hip hop like the old heads in the 90s. I wish I was lucky enough to be a teenager in the 90s when hip hop was flourishing. It just isn’t the same anymore. I miss it, and a get a dose of it every time I delve into my Tribe Called Quest playlist.

My friends use to ask “Which one do you think is better? Phife or Tip?”. That’s like asking would you rather be a sun or a moon; they’re both essential. You can’t have one without the other.

The jazzy and funky up beat within every song, what is there not to love? It’s like once you finish listening to one song, you’re hooked like a drug. I thank my father for exposing me to the art of the Tribe at a young age. I began to appreciate hip hop, poetry, rhythm and rhymes so much more. Even now, me and my sister can sing "Oh My God" to each other and not miss a lyric or note.

Malik Taylor, better known as Phife Dawg, The Five Foot Assasin, The Funky Diabetic, and one of my favorite rappers, may you rest in peace. You’ve blessed us with metaphors and similes that no one can duplicate. Your legacy will forever thrive in the hip hop world and in me as well. To Q-Tip, Ali, and Jarobi, and Zulu Nation, this is a tough pill to swallow, but know that your friend is no longer suffering. We miss you.

Peace and Love,

Hip-Hop