When Malik Taylor, founding member of A Tribe Called Quest, died in March, there were numerous tributes from his fans and contemporaries like KRS-One. The rapper, better known as Phife Dawg, inspired many acts, including Kanye West and Andre 3000, and those artists provided testimonials on just how influential the Five Foot Assassin was. Now Phife Dawg’s hometown is set to memorialize him, as Okayplayer reports that a Queens street will be dubbed after the late artist.
On August 3, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio will sign a bill to “co-name” Linden Boulevard at 192nd Street “Malik ‘Phife Dawg’ Taylor Way.” That intersection is among the old “stomping grounds” of Phife Dawg and Q-Tip, and is the unofficial birthplace of A Tribe Called Quest Tribe. The late rapper often shouted out that corner in verse, including on “Steve Biko (Stir It Up)” off 1993’s Midnight Marauders.