RIP, Phife Dawg: Remembering the Tribe Called Quest rapper's best verses

When news spread on Wednesday that A Tribe Called Quest's Phife Dawg had died suddenly after a long battle with diabetes, artists like Kendrick Lamar, Questlove, Chuck D and Chance the Rapper remembered the Five Foot Assassin as "one of the pioneers of hip-hop" and "a true fire Social Narrator." 

The rapper born Malik Taylor was undoubtedly all of that. His work with A Tribe Called Quest, a group that was revolutionary in its Afrocentric and jazz-influenced style, paved the way for hip-hop artists like Lamar, The Roots, and Kanye West.

"We're gonna give it up for him, for allowing me to do what I'm doing on this stage right here, right now, today," Lamar said while paying tribute to Phife onstage in Sydney, Australia. 

That said, Phife also didn't take himself too seriously. As he put it on 1991's "Buggin' Out," "I never walk the streets, think it's all about me/ Even though deep in my heart, it really could be." While he wasn't afraid of addressing social issues with his rhymes, he also had a playful energy and self-deprecating humor. Examples: "steady eatin' booty MCs like cheese Grits" and "when's the last time you heard a funky diabetic?" 

To remember Phife Dawg's lasting legacy, sit back, have fun, and take a look back at his most memorable rhymes.  

"Oh My God," 1993

1 for the treble, 2 for the bass
You know the style Tip, it's time to flip this
I like my beats hard like two day old sh*t
Steady eatin' booty MCs like cheese grits ...
Trini gladiator, anti-hesitater
Shaheed push the fader from here to Grenada
Mr Energetic, who me sound pathetic?
When's the last time you heard a funky diabetic?

"Buggin' Out," 1991

"You wanna diss the Phifer but you still don't know the half
I sport New Balance sneakers to avoid a narrow path
Mess around with this you catch a size eight up your {​ass}​
I never half step cause I'm not a half stepper
Drink a lot of soda so they call me Dr. Pepper
Refuse to compete with BS competition
Your name ain't Special Ed so won't you seckle with the mission
I never walk the street thinking it's all about me
Even though deep in my heart, it really could be.

"Scenario," 1992

Brothers front, they say the Tribe can't flow
But we've been known to do the impossible like Broadway Joe, so
Sleep if you want, NyQuil will help you get your Z's, troop
But here's the real scoop
I'm all that and then some, short, dark, and handsome
Bust a nut inside your eye to show you where I come from.

"Electric Relaxation," 1993

You got BBD all on your bedroom wall
But I'm above the rim and this is how I ball
A pretty little somethin' on the New York street
This is how I represent over this here beat.

"Check the Rhime," 1991

Now here's a funky introduction of how nice I am
Tell your mother, tell your father, send a telegram
I'm like an energizer 'cause you see I last long
My crew is never ever wack because we stand strong.

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