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Q-Tip has taken time to acknowledge his late partner in rhyme Phife Dawg during an emotional acceptance speech during the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame’s 2024 Induction ceremony.
During the event, which took place Saturday night (October 19) and was live streamed on Disney+, A Tribe Called Quest was welcomed into the renowned organization by Dave Chappelle — who thanked the seminal Queens crew for inviting him to join them on Saturday Night Live in 2016, thus ending his 12-year television hiatus.
Following Chappelle’s speech, the group’s influence and legacy was commemorated with a spotlight video featuring commentary by Andre 3000, Busta Rhymes, the Beastie Boys‘ Mike D, Common, Lauryn Hill, Monie Love, Pharrell Williams and Questlove; as well as archived interview footage of Phife Dawg and newer clips of Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad.
Tip and Jarobi White then took the stage along with Phife Dawg’s parents and Ali Shaheed Muhammad’s wife, at which point the two present members of A Tribe Called Quest took turns addressing the crowd, with White going first.
“I think Dave hit it on the head: we didn’t even think this was something to aspire to,” he said. “My boy Phife Dawg, give it up for Phife Dawg! I don’t have any stories; all I have is gratitude.” He then proceeded to thank the cities which were integral to his personal life, and “Tribe fans everywhere” before introducing Phife’s parents and thanking his own family.
White also addressed Q-Tip directly, calling him “Captain” and saying: “I love your dirty drawls, boy. I love you to death. Thank you for your tutelage, support, the gift of this life. I wouldn’t be the same without all of my brothers. I’m really glad and proud to call you guys my big brothers.”
Stepping to the podium, the group’s de facto frontman said: “This is crazy. I’m gonna have a pre-amble before I read. And part of the pre-amble is that it’s just an honor to be here with the fellow inductees. There’s so many people for us to thank, that we’re probably gonna post all the names on IG. So stay tuned. Because if I say everybody’s names up here, it would be ridiculous.”
He went on to thank each of the crew members’ families, before getting chocked up as he added, “And rest in peace to our brother Phife Dawg, I wish you were here,” at which point he took a step away from the mic to gather himself.
“And thank you to Dr. Emma Boyce, Grandma as we affectionately called her,” Q-Tip continued, “for allowing us to come into the house and hit the basement. And one other name I’ll mention is definitely Red Alert, who is a famed New York City DJ who gave us the shot.”
Following an address to the crowd by Phife’s father, A Tribe Called Quest were joined on stage by the surviving members of De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, Common, Queen Latifah, The Roots and Spliff Star to perform their classics “Can I Kick It?,” “Check the Rhime,” “Bonita Applebum,” and a mashup of both versions of “Scenario.”
