UK fans have witnessed the emotional final gig by A Tribe Called Quest overnight, as the iconic genre-influencing crew paid tribute to rapper and core member Phife Dawg, who passed away suddenly in 2016 from complications with diabetes.
As the remaining members took to the stage to play the UK’s Bestival festival, NME reports that Q-Tip interrupted the performance midway through with the news that the set would, in fact, be the last the band would ever play following the loss of their bandmate.
“A Tribe Called Quest, we suffered a blow, we lost our boy Phife Dawg,” he told the crowd during ‘Whatever Will Be’. “This is gonna be our last show as A Tribe Called Quest, ever.”
Q-Tip then quoted one of Phife’s verses over the track, but the set as a whole featured many of the late rapper’s sections being played over the speakers, rather than being performed in his place.
“We love A Tribe Called Quest’s music!” the crowd chanted, and Q-Tip closed the set with one last tribute, both to Phife Dawg and to the crowd: “27 years, thanks for all the support you’ve given us over the years. Phife Dawg!”
Check out a clip of the final performance below.
