Kanye West honored Phife Dawg at a memorial service for the late rapper at the Apollo Theater in New York yesterday (April 5), according to a video posted on the YouTube page of Eric Diep.
Phife Dawg passed away March 22 due to complications resulting from diabetes. He was 45.
During his talk yesterday, West recounted how he listened to A Tribe Called Quest’s music on the way to and at study hall when he was growing up.
The group’s music “made that walk to study hall so short,” the Chicago rapper-producer said. “How it meant everything. It is everything.”
West’s talk didn’t solely focus on Phife, though. He also bemoaned how music often does not remain the property of its creators.
“Music was stolen from us and corporatized,” he said before making fun of himself and his own transgressions.
“Anything I ever did wrong,” he said, “blame [fellow A Tribe Called Quest member Q-]Tip and Phife ‘cause ya’ll raised me.”
West also said he appreciated A Tribe Called Quest because it made him feel like it was OK to be himself.
Kanye West’s talk at Phife Dawg’s memorial service is as follows.
For additional Phife Dawg coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
Man IDC what nobody say! Kanye is a real one! respect the wise! Don’t let Mainstream make you think otherwise. RIP Phife. #realrap
he didn’t honor phife. he used the occasion as yet another platform on which to honor himself. the gist of his speech was “you’re all here to honor phife; by extension you must all honor kanye and everything that kanye does.” just like when gaga did that bowie tribute at the grammys it was all about her. people like this are so far up their own asses they can’t help themselves.
Right Kanye… That’s why you have all of the Q-Tip and Phife features and tracks made… Go was your chest and get an enema, you metrosexual Oreo cookie sellout. Why don’t you live in south side Cicaho anymore white boy? Married to a transsexual. How’s daddy Katlin? LMFAO.