The world of music and pop culture is still feeling the sudden loss of A Tribe Called Quest’s Malik ‘Phife Dawg’ Taylor, who died unexpectedly in March at the age of 45 from diabetes complications.
Next month, at a public ceremony on Saturday, November 19 at 1 p.m., a portion of Linden Boulevard at 192nd Street in the St. Albans neighborhood of Queens will be forever known as “Malik ‘Phife Dawg’ Taylor Way”.
The location is where A Tribe Called Quest’s classic “Check The Rhime” video was filmed (the song includes the line “Back in the days on the boulevard of Linden”), and the site currently boasts a mural dedicated to the pioneering rap group.
“The thought of having Linden Boulevard at 192, renamed to Malik ‘Phife Dawg’ Taylor is indescribable,” says Taylor’s wife, Deisha Head Taylor who worked with the city on the re-naming. “This is a perfect representation of who Malik was, and what Queens meant to him. Whenever he mentioned Queens, Linden Boulevard at 192, was a focal point of reference, so I am certain he would be pleased with having it renamed in his honor. We are extremely grateful for those who were part of the entire process; from the initial effort to the signing of the bill, this historical moment means so much to his family, friends, and fans.”
The plan to dedicate the street first gained traction over the summer, when, at the request of District 27 Council Member Daneek Miller, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a bill at Manhattan’s City Hall to rename the Queens corridor in Taylor’s honor.
The dedication will take place one day before what would have been Taylor’s 46th birthday.
Adds Taylor’s mother, poet Cheryl Boyce-Taylor: “I’m in awe as an immigrant mother. My family came from Trinidad to the US in the ’50s and ’60s. We worked as housekeepers, nannies and home attendants to educate ourselves and our children. For a moment I lost faith in this country. The renaming of 192nd Street and Linden after my son Malik, has made my American Dream come through. I am so happy. He was an incredible child. I was blessed to know and love him.”
A Tribe Called Quest – Check The Rhyme – 1991 – Jive from DJ Upperkuts on Vimeo.
In addition to the street dedication, Taylor’s family and Teespring have teamed up to sell the official “Malik ‘Phife Dawg’ Taylor Way” t-shirt, created in part to curb bootleg clothing of Taylor’s likeness.
“Soon after Phife passed, people started making tees with his likeness or name on it,” says best friend and business partner Dion Liverpool. “Fans naturally bought them because they wanted to express their love for Phife. We decided to make ‘Official Phife Apparel’ to give his fans something authentic and approved by his family. The good people at Teespring created an excellent design that we love, and now we can offer fans men’s tees, women’s tees and hoodies as a keepsake from Phife and the street co-naming. Look out for other Phife official gear coming soon, and stop unknowingly buying bootleg stuff please!”
Buy it here.
