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A Tribe Called Quest rapper Phife Dawg dies at 45

Malik Taylor, better known as A Tribe Called Quest's Phife Dawg, died Wednesday at the age of 45, Rolling Stone reported.

An official statement has yet to be released.

Taylor's cause of death is unclear, but the New York native had health issues in the past. He underwent a kidney transplant in 2008 during a longstanding battle with diabetes.

"It's really a sickness," Taylor said in a 2011 documentary. "Like straight-up drugs. I'm just addicted to sugar."

He also rapped about his condition in his music.

"Mr. energetic, who me sound pathetic, when's the last time you heard a funky diabetic?" he rhymed on the 1994 hit "Oh My God" featuring Busta Rhymes.

Can he kick it? Yes he can. And THAT'S what we call a tribute! Mark Arum WSB dropped A Tribe Called Quest lyrics in his traffic reports to honor Phife Dawg, who passed away this morning. http://2wsb.tv/1UN0kPr

Posted by WSB-TV on Wednesday, March 23, 2016