As we were closing last week’s edition, news broke that innovator Malik Izaak Taylor, known to his hordes of die-hard admirers as Phife Dawg, has returned to the essence at the age of 45.

In the past week, the family of the befallen has released a statement shedding more light. “We regret to share the news that on Tuesday March 22, 2016, Malik has passed away due to complications resulting from diabetes. 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.”

Dion Liverpool, manager of Phife, also issued a statement. “While I mourn the loss of my best friend and brother, I also will celebrate his incredible life and contribution to many people’s ears across the world,” he said. “Even with all his success, I have never met a person as humble as he. He taught me that maintaining a positive attitude and outlook can conquer anything. Now my brother is resting in greatness. I’m honored to have crossed paths with him. Riddim Kidz 4eva.” Riddim Kidz is a production company created by Phife.

From the perspective of a fan, it was a challenge to compose a piece that was befitting to the memories of the artist in a way that he’d appreciate. I think I found the way. Can I kick it? Then I’m gone. As a unit, A Tribe Called Quest, while great artists all, was greater than the sum of its parts. When people think of the group as individual emcees, they probably won’t put the individual members in the top five or maybe even top 10 list. But as a collective, in their prime, they were a dynasty. Think the New York Yankees from 1995 to 2000. In 1995, the Yankees made the post season. After getting ousted in the first round, not many could foresee what was about to happen. Although veterans buoyed that team, an injection of youth was about to be unleashed on the league the following season and would take that play-off experience to heights unknown. Four world championships in five years.

That is very much reminiscent of the hip-hop industry in 1990. That was the year that A Tribe Called Quest released their debut album, “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm.” The project was critically acclaimed for its adventurous, creative tone and forged a core audience that would grow by leaps and bounds with the next project, and the one after that. The succeeding album for Tribe, “The Low End Theory,” is considered a top five all-time great often pitted against their following album, “Midnight Marauders.”

For Phife, one album was better by a hair. During an interview with White Label Radio a couple of years back he shared, “Low End was for me personally my coming out party. With the first album, it was like what does he do? And I never wanted it to be what does he do. That album answered the questions. It was me saying here, hold that.”

One song in particular from that album, the epic posse track “The Scenario,” had a profound effect on the hip-hop landscape. Said Phife, “I wanted to go first because back then, if you waited your verse might not have been heard. DJ’s would cut to the next record. After the last verse, we all was like I’m glad we went before that. We knew we had something special.”

That last verse propelled Busta Rhymes to instant legendary status. Credence was given to that fact as Busta concluded his career retrospective concert this past December with THAT song! Devastated over the loss of his friend, Busta Rhymes emoted via twitter, “I had to spend the last 2 days going thru a lot of honest thoughts and emotions b 4 I spoke because this one hurts soooo much. I can’t begin to explain what @iamthephifer and @qtiptheabstract and @jarobiwhite and @alishaheed means to me and how much they have done for my life. These guys are my big brothers, my friends, and the dudes that always protected me from the b.s that came with life both personally and professionally in a way that only big brothers can do it.”

The self-proclaimed 5 Foot Assassin was viewed as a big brother. How ironic and apropos. That comes from being the ultimate team player. RIP, Phife, we got you always.