Rap pioneer Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest dies at 45

FILE - In this July 14, 2013 file photo, Q-Tip, left, and Phife Dawg from U.S group A Tribe Called Quest performs on stage during the Wireless Festival at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in London. Dawg, a masterful lyricist whose witty wordplay was a linchpin of the groundbreaking hip-hop group, died Tuesday, March 22, 2016, from complications resulting from diabetes, his family said in a statement Wednesday. He was 45. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP, File) FILE - In this July 14, 2013 file photo, Q-Tip, left, and Phife Dawg from U.S group A Tribe Called Quest performs on stage during the Wireless Festival at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in London. Dawg, a masterful lyricist whose witty wordplay was a linchpin of the groundbreaking hip-hop group, died Tuesday, March 22, 2016, from complications resulting from diabetes, his family said in a statement Wednesday. He was 45. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP, File)

By Associated Press March 23, 2016 1 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – Phife Dawg, a masterful lyricist whose witty wordplay was a linchpin of the groundbreaking hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, died Tuesday from complications resulting from diabetes, his family said in a statement Wednesday. He was 45.

Dawg, born Malik Isaac Taylor, was known as the “Five Foot Assassin” because he was 5 feet 3 inches tall but earned respect for his skillful, thoughtful rhymes.

Dawg was part of number of rap classics with Tribe, including “Scenario,” ”Bonita Applebum” and “Can I Kick It?”

Dawg grew up in Queens, New York, with fellow Tribe member Q-Tip. In high school, the two members met Ali Shaheed Muhammad, who is from Brooklyn, to form Tribe. Jarobi White later joined the group. The group recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of its debut album.