Malik Isaac Taylor (November 20, 1970 – March 23, 2016), better known by his stage name Phife Dawg (or simply Phife), was an American rapper of Trinidadian descent, and a member of the group A Tribe Called Quest with high school classmates Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (and for a short time Jarobi White). He was also known as the "Five Foot Assassin" and "The Five Footer", because he stood at 5 ft 3 in. In addition to being a member of pioneering hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, Phife had performed in songs with other artists.