A Tribe Called Quest's Phife Dawg dead at 45

A Tribe Called Quest rapper Phife Dawg, who worked with the band on every one of their studio albums, has died age 45.

A Tribe Called Quest rapper Phife Dawg has died age 45 reports Rolling Stone.

Real name Malick Taylor, his death was confirmed on Wednesday by music producer Statik Selektah to the publication.

Although the cause of death has not yet been announced, Taylor had suffered a long-term battle with Type 1 diabetes, undergoing a kidney transplant back in 2008 to help him deal with the disease.

Taylor appeared with A Tribe Called Quest on every one of the group's studio albums, but due to his health problems he released just one solo album, "Ventilation: Da LP," in 2000.

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  Members of the group A Tribe Called Quest arrive for the 5th annual Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta, Friday, Aug. 5, 2005. From left are Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Phife, Jarobi and Q-Tip.