RIP Phife Dawg

My best friend missed her softball practice the day Amy Winehouse died. I thought I understood, as I share a penchant for fandoms. And to even use the word "fandom" is a misnomer. What she felt was not a type of infatuation or fascination, for her, Amy was a part of her. Amy sang for her when her first boyfriend broke up with her, and she sang for her when she needed to find herself a stronger man.

I knew what it was like to love an artist this much, but I didn't know what it was like to lose an artist I loved this much. Missing softball seemed like a dramatic move. And then David Bowie died, someone so ethereal, I thought he would never go. And then I understood. A few months passed, and now he we are with Phife Dawg. And now I understand, again.

Phife passed away Wednesday morning, an end to his battle with Type 1 Diabetes. He, and the other members of Tribe Called Quest, opened me up to rap. The first most listenable hip-hop I had heard as a white sixteen year old girl, who vowed to only listen to rock and indie music. But Tribe sounded approachable and fresh. And they were. Not for me, but for everyone.

Tribe Called Quest brought something new to the 90's, a time when N.W.A. and gangster rap reigned supreme. And it's not like they weren't also upset about what was going on socially and politically. Tribe's social commentary was poignant, laced across insane lyricism and wordplay, as Phife and Q-Tip pushed each other stylistically verse to verse. They were intellects, but they weren't in your face about it.

Their entire approach was different. Their lighter feel was accentuated by the way J. Dilla produced. Most famously, it can be heard on songs like Can I Kick It with the undeniable Lou Reed sample. But his influence and importance is also super important on songs like Buggin, which is a bouncy funky hypnotic and easy-flowing showcase of each member's unique and entrancing lyricism.

And aside from the sound, they looked different. They wore loud florals with baggy jeans and dashikis with leather jackets. Their whole look and sound was in stark contrast to the rap music around them. They were thoughtful and carefree, different and aware.

(Photo of Tribe Called Quest --Courtesy of NYT)

"Tribe were successful for the simple fact that we were ourselves. We didn’t try to be nobody else but ourselves. I’m still taken back when people call us pioneers. But we’re just human," Phife said in an interview with Dazed Magazine.

But Phife, that is why you are so big to your fans.