When legends pass on it affects an immeasurable number of people who grieve in a variety of ways. When Phife Dawg, a founding member of A Tribe Called Quest and cornerstone of hip-hop, passed away this past week from diabetes, fans and colleagues did just that. A traffic reporter cleverly dropped Phife mentions in his broadcast, Scott Van Pelt told a tale of them performing together on his ESPN show and The New Day, a charismatic trio of WWE Superstars, even referenced “Can I Kick It?” while performing in Brooklyn on Monday.

While all of these surely tug at heartstrings, they can’t really compare to the statements made by people who were close to Phife. While his Instagram currently holds multiple tributes to the Five Foot Assassin, Busta Rhymes posted a touching message about his relationship with Phife Dawg late last week.

As the message reads, Busta and Phife knew each other for nearly 30 years, going back to when the former was a part of the Leaders of the New School and had dreads that just barely touched his shoulders. He goes on to talk about how his relationship with Phife changed over the years and thanks him, as well as the other members of Tribe, for giving him a career highlight that would be his classic verse on “Scenario.”

The memorial for Malik Taylor, a.k.a .Phife Dawg, was held and streamed live for fans, according to HipHopDx. There are currently movements to rename a park and street in New York after Taylor.

Take a look at Busta Rhyme’s full post below.

I had to spend the last 2 days going thru a lot of honest thoughts and emotions b 4 I spoke because this one hurts soooo fucking much. I can't begin to explain what @iamthephifer and @qtiptheabstract and @jarobiwhite and @alishaheed means to me and how much they have done for my life. These guys are my big brothers, my friends, and the dudes that always protected me frm the bullshit that came with life both personally and professionally in a way that only big brothers can do it. If u look at this picture closely, on the night of one of my my most magical moments in my 25 year journey in music DEC.5th 2015, I was able to have a dream come true in a way that it never had and that was to perform What's the scenario (original and the rmx) for the 1st time ever back to back with all of the original members of Leaders of the New School and A Tribe Called Quest since we recorded these songs in 1991 & 1992. That night was so magical with all of the love that was under one roof that it's too much to get into the details of but again please take another look at this picture, if u notice @iamthephifer had his hand on my back consoling me as I kneeled down to give thanks crying tears of joy because of how proud of a moment that was for me being able to end a 4 hour set with brothers who put me in a position where I was able to tell my mother she will not have to work for anyone over 20 yrs ago. The belief that they had in me puttin' me and Leaders on that record, putting me last on the record because back then being last on the record meant EVERYTHING, I had no idea at that time what they were setting me up in life to be but thru out the years it was so consistent their love and concern for my well being that it was no way I couldn't see it. Ever since that concert I have had the opportunity to spend time with Phife way more than I have been able to in over 10yrs. I've known this man for over 28yrs and I think I've seen him in the last 4 months the happiest that I've seen him in a very long time. It was apparent that every wish that he had was coming true and I can honestly say that I was witnessing the anointing frm a bird's eye view 1st hand. Until we meet again King, RIP

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Photo Courtesy: Instagram