Phife Dawg - No Regrets

In January 2011, actor and director Michael Rapaport released a documentary chronicling the formation and subsequent rise to stardom of one of Hip-Hop's most prominent institutions: A Tribe Called Quest (ATCQ). Formed 27 years ago in Queens, New York, the group (then consisting of Q-tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammed and Jarobi White) helped propel 'conscious rap' into the spotlight, releasing unparalleled albums such The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders. In 1998, the team members parted ways in order to work on solo projects; needless to say some encountered more commercial success than others. But, 10 years later, ATCQ reunited to head back on the touring circuit. Rapaport's film, entitled 'Beats, Rhymes & Life', gives fans the chance to see behind the scenes of this infamous string of performances and the drama that ensued. Pulse Radio's Ray Murphy recently spoke with Phife at his London hotel, about his beef with Q-tip, going through a kidney transplant, and the real reason Tribe went back on the road for Rock the Bells 2008.

Pulse: What motivated you to get involved in Michael Rapaport's Beats Rhymes & Life film? Phife Dawg: Back in 2006, we were on tour and did a show at the Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles and Michael Rapaport and a bunch of Hollywood actors were there. So, after the show we had a photo with him and Leonardo DiCaprio. Michael [turned to us and] muttered 'Yo, I want to do a documentary on you guys'. Playfully, we said to him 'Do it!'. Fast forward to 2008. Ali Shaheed was guest dj'ing at Rapcity and Nas was hosting what was one of the last shows, on BET. The conversation came up between the two and Nas said 'Yo, you should tell your story!'.

We then went on the road for the Rock the Bells 2008 tour and Michael called the members of the group about doing the doco. I was the last one in the group he called about it, but everyone else was already on board, so I had no choice but to fall in line. I thought it was cool considering everyone else was with it, so production started the very next day.

There are a number of heated arguments among the group, which came to light in the documentary. Did you know before Michael started filming that you were headed for troubled times? No, not necessarily. Like I said in one part of the movie “It's a tribe called whatever - you never know what's going to happen!”. I had no idea that was going to happen. Sometimes you realise the camera's on and you're like 'cut that off, cut that off!' and then there's other times when you forget. That argument [with Q-tip] was one of the moments when I wasn't thinking about the camera, because it was in the heat of the moment. I kind of wish that never got recorded on there, but it is what it is. Maybe the documentary wouldn't be what it is if that wasn't in there. It definitely wasn't any type of embellishment or anything: it just happened.

Do you believe it's been good for your fans to see both the positive and negative aspects of ATCQ? It's not always their business to know the bad, but at the same time it's real life. Not every day is going to be roses and petals, so I guess it's a good thing for the fans to see all sides. They should see that we're human beings at the end of the day. We put our pants on one leg at a time, just like everybody else.

During the film, it's suggested that the love between you had gone by the time you'd made The Love Movement. Did you think when the Beats, Rhymes & Life album came out, that ATCQ had reached its peak? I think Q-tip thought we'd peaked, but I didn't. I just thought we had grown apart, which happens. Did it happen too soon? Yes. Nevertheless, it happened. I thought of EPMD, Brand Nubian and 3rd bass that all disbanded before we did. My heart was broken when EPMD broke up, they were my favourite group!

So, I was thinking about that and they way it when down when they did split. It basically tells me that the beef between me and Q-tip is really nothing. But, you can't force the issue, 'cos after the love is gone, it's gone man. Although the fans continued to show us love, you don't want to put out crap, as that'll just make things worse. So, if that was it, let it be it.

You say Q-tip felt Tribe's time was up, but do you think that was because he really wanted to pursue his own solo career? That was my gut feeling. With me, either I'm going to say nothing at all or I'll give you the the whole kit and caboodle. I usually don't hold my tongue...I felt like that's what he wanted to do and he wasn't all the way honest about it. Now, could I be wrong? Yeah I could, but I don't think I am and I feel that way to this day! He wanted to do him. That's why I think he came up with the whole 'we've peaked' thing.

How did the others feel? You gotta ask them. Ali said in the movie that he was cool with it and that I had a different perspective, which I still have to this day. I love him [Q-tip] regardless, but I just felt like saying 'Come on B, you can talk to me, don't bring me no letter.' He could have given that to our lawyer, record label or our manager at the time, Chris Lighty. But the actual group: we didn't deserve a letter.

I didn't know that was how it all ended? Yeah, a letter was written. We had had a little discussion about an argument we'd had with the label and were planned on rehearsing later that day for overseas festivals. Then he came along with this letter, so I thought it was pre-ordained. I was like 'you knew what you were doing B, you knew all along. You had your little deal ready and were ready for all systems go'. But that's all good, because he wanted to do him. He always said it wasn't like that, so I've got to take his word for it as a man. That's how I felt at the time.

During the film, Q-tip says something along the lines of 'It's about being a tribe. It's not about me: it's about us'. Did you or the other members ever feel as though you were living in his shadow? Any smart person will do whatever it takes in order to live comfortably; God forbid if we had any kids [at the time]. It always seemed like, when he wanted to live comfortably – which, he's always been able to do – it was all good. But when anybody else [in ATCQ] tried to do that, it seemed like there was some kind type of glitch.

I'll give you an example. In the movie, you hear them constantly say 'we went back on the road (in 2008) because of Phife's health'. Listen, the last time it was about my health was in 2004! That's when we went on the road due to my manager reaching out to them and saying “Phife is f'd up in the game, in a physical – not really a financial – but a physical way. In order to help with the physical, we need some financial stability”. Now, if it was really about my health to this day, why didn't I get all the money from touring etc? Not saying that I'd be selfish enough to do that or that I would have done that. But let's really break down to what it really is. The truth of the matter is that we'd already been on the road because money was needed by everyone. We all had lavish lifestyles, one time or another: nice houses, cars and things of that nature. We were successful and took advantage of that success to a certain extent. If it was about my health, then why are we only doing shows every other year? In '04, '06, '08, 2010...Mind you, I got my (kidney) transplant after Rock the Bells in September 2008. We then went back on the road and that wasn't about Phife's health! Now, did it all help? Yes. But let's not put it all on my health, because that's not why we went on tour again.

It's been said that Q-tip wasn't happy with the way the film was edited. What's your opinion on that? We were totally apart on that. I got a lot of daggers thrown at me for going to Sundance and supporting the movie. But, after what I've been through from a health standpoint, and to make it back from that, my attitude was 'I'm not turning anything down but my collar!'. If this was going to be it for ATCQ, I wanted to make sure it went out with a bang. Was I at fault for going to Sundance by myself? The rest of the group felt that way, I think, but I have no regrets. If you'd have told me back in '05,'06, or 07', that I'd be healthy and that I'd be here attending a movie about my career, I'd have thought you were crazy!



So, taking all that into consideration, would I not go to support a movie about me any my group? You'd have to be out of your mind! My Mum even said she'd kick my ass if I didn't go. She'd seen me at my lowest and realised that I should go and enjoy the fruits of my labour while they are still ripe. I looked at her and said, 'you're absolutely right, I'm going to go'. The rest of them felt different, so we weren't on the same page. They were pretty upset with me.

After your kidney transplant, did you feel your motivation and drive had altered? Do you now want to focus more on music or on your other major passion, sports? I definitely want to focus more on sports, eventually. But I could never turn my back on the music because if it wasn't for the music and ATCQ, I wouldn't have the window of opportunity to even be looking at sports ventures. As far as my spirits and the way I go about things – I could only answer that to a point. Personally, I think I'm more upbeat and my emotions are now more in control. There was a time when I'd get vexed at stupid things but now I just nod and laugh.

***DJ Rasta Root (Phife's manager) weighs in:
I always think about when Phife got that transplant, that things happened for a reason: The energy he had since when came out of the surgery and was healthy and ready to work again; the things he achieved on his own, as an artist. Seeking out certain features on albums, music production etc. There was energy I had never seen in him before. It was quite shocking! Yeah, it was a dark time in his life, but sometimes you have to go through those fires to come out the other side. It created a new him. Do you feel that?

Phife: Yeah, a little bit!

What's the future for ATCQ and for your own solo career? My album Cheryl's Big Son: The Anomaly is pretty much done. I'm also working on my foundation called Phife IV Life which is trying to find that cure for diabetes as well as urging people to donate their organs. As far as my sports endeavours go, I have a show back in the US called 'The Fanalyst'. We speak for the fans, through the minds of analysts. It's on radio and Ustream, but I'm also working a TV show for it. As you saw in the movie, I also scout young basketball players for a for prep school team in Connecticut.

What would you say to an aspiring musician who suffers from a disease like diabetes, in order to encourage them? Don't give up hope and whatever it is you have, think positive. If you think negative the negative is going to happen, trust me. I thought negative, but I wanted to live past all of this so I fought real hard and never gave up faith. You've also got to make sure you have the correct support system in your life as well. That's very important.

How are you finding touring again, physically? I get tired sometimes, but that's because I haven't been going to the gym! You never want to play yourself in front of thousands of people. If they come out to see you, then you want to give them your best. Being that I made it through the toughest of times, this is nothing to me; I'm going to make it happen regardless!

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