SAD! [PHOTO] A Tribe Called Quest co-founder Phife Dawg, 45, dies after decades of suffering from diabetes #RIPPhife

Phife Dawg

A Tribe Called Quest co-founder Malik Taylor, the rapper known as Phife Dawg, died on Tuesday, aged 45.

Taylor suffered from type 1 diabetes, which he was diagnosed with in 1990. He underwent a kidney transplant in 2008.

The official cause of death is.....
unknown. His family released a brief statement about his death on Wenesday afternoon.

'Malik was our loving husband, father, brother and friend. We love him dearly. How he impacted all our lives will never be forgotten. His love for music and sports was only surpassed by his love of God and family,' the statement read.

The family did not disclose any other details.

Taylor, nicknamed The Five Foot Assassin because he stood at just five-foot-three, co-founded A Tribe Called Quest in 1985 with Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. The group was best known for songs including Scenario and Can I Kick It?.

The rapper, whose rhymes helped launch A Tribe Called Quest into success, candidly discussed his diabetes in the 2011 documentary, Beats, Rhymes & Life.

#RIPPhife