'Anything I ever did wrong, blame Phife 'cause y'all raised me': Kanye West pays tribute to A Tribe Called Quest rapper with touching speech

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 13:54 EST, 6 April 2016 | Updated: 14:45 EST, 6 April 2016

Kanye West has paid tribute to rapper Phife Dawg, the member of A Tribe Called Quest who passed away last month aged 45.

The fashion designer attended a memorial service at the Apollo Theater in New York on Tuesday where he delivered a touching speech about the late hip-hop artist and his impact on music.

Phife, born Malik Taylor, died on March 22 after complications from diabetes.

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Tribute: Kanye West made a touching speech on Tuesday night at a memorial service for A Tribe Called Quest rapper Phife Dawg who passed away last month

Tribute: Kanye West made a touching speech on Tuesday night at a memorial service for A Tribe Called Quest rapper Phife Dawg who passed away last month

'Low End Theory was the first album I ever bought,' the 38-year-old rapper told the crowd at the Apollo Theatre

'Low End Theory was the first album I ever bought,' the 38-year-old rapper told the crowd at the Apollo Theatre

Kanye took to the stage wearing a black shirt and jeans as he addressed the star-studded audience and talked about the influence ATCQ had on his life from a young age.

'Low End Theory was the first album I ever bought, and I stayed in the suburbs of Chicago with my stepfather,' he said referring to the 1991 offering from the hip-hop group.

'I'd always get into trouble for listening to music during the week and then I would have to go to detention or study hall, but I enjoyed it 'cause I had that Tribe tape and it didn't really matter how long that walk was.

'Tribe made Kanye West. Made the kid with the pink polo. Made it so I could dress funny. I'm not sorry if I said something wrong.

Kanye got some laughs when he said 'Anything I ever did wrong, blame Tip and Phife 'cause y'all raised me'  

Kanye got some laughs when he said 'Anything I ever did wrong, blame Tip and Phife 'cause y'all raised me'  

Gone too soon: Phife (pictured in 2011) was 45-years-old and died from complications of diabetes on March 22

Gone too soon: Phife (pictured in 2011) was 45-years-old and died from complications of diabetes on March 22

Hip-hop greats: The rapper is pictured with his A Tribe Called Quest bandmates Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Q-Tip in 1994

Hip-hop greats: The rapper is pictured with his A Tribe Called Quest bandmates Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Q-Tip in 1994

'I was sitting here thinking about how much these people inspire me and how powerful the influence of the music was and how it made that walk to study hall so short. How it meant everything. It is everything.  

'Music was stolen from us and corporatized and anybody that spoke up was demonized. Anything I ever did wrong, blame Tip and Phife 'cause y'all raised me.' He concluded.

Phife's bandmates Jarobi, Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad also made speeches to close out the four-hour ceremony. 

Other stars paying their respects included Andre 3000, Lauryn Hill, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes and producer L.A. Reid.

Queen Latifah was pictured arriving to the venue in a stylish houndstooth patterend suit.  

Taylor suffered from type 1 diabetes, which he was diagnosed with in 1990. He underwent a kidney transplant in 2008.  

Formal look: Queen Latifah was in great spirits as she arrived in a stylish suit

Formal look: Queen Latifah was in great spirits as she arrived in a stylish suit

Gathering for Phife: Rappers Dres, Lauryn Hill and Busta Rhymes also attended the memorial service for their friend

Gathering for Phife: Rappers Dres, Lauryn Hill and Busta Rhymes also attended the memorial service for their friend

Famous faces: Dres is pictured with rapper Chi Ali and actor Michael Rappaport

Famous faces: Dres is pictured with rapper Chi Ali and actor Michael Rappaport

The official cause of death is unknown. His family released a brief statement about his death on Wenesday afternoon.

'Malik was our loving husband, father, brother and friend. We love him dearly. How he impacted all our lives will never be forgotten. His love for music and sports was only surpassed by his love of God and family,' the statement read.  

Taylor, nicknamed The Five Foot Assassin because he stood at just five-foot-three, co-founded A Tribe Called Quest in 1985 with Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. The group was best known for songs including Scenario and Can I Kick It?. 

As Kanye entered the venue on Tuesday night, he flashed a copy of the service program for waiting photographers.  

The Life of Pablo hitmaker had jetted in from Vail, Colorado, where he had been vacationing with wife Kim Kardashian and other family members.

Celebration: Kanye arrived the the theatre holding a program for the memorial service

Celebration: Kanye arrived the the theatre holding a program for the memorial service

On the east coast: The 38-year-old jetted in from Vail, Colorado, where he had been enjoying a ski trip with wife Kim Kardashian and other family members 

On the east coast: The 38-year-old jetted in from Vail, Colorado, where he had been enjoying a ski trip with wife Kim Kardashian and other family members 

 

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