Hip hop star Phife Dawg dies, 45

Phife Dawg, a lyricist whose witty wordplay was a linchpin of the ground-breaking hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, has died from complications resulting from diabetes, his family said. He was 45.

Dawg, born Malik Isaac Taylor, was known as the ‘Five Foot Assassin’ because he was 5ft 3in tall but earned respect for his skilful, thoughtful rhymes.

He was part of a number of rap classics with Tribe, including Scenario, Bonita Applebum and Can I Kick It?