As previously reported, the late Phife Dawg had been working on a new solo album at the time of his death last month. While he sadly isn't around for the premiere, a new track called "Nutshell" is reminding the rest of us of his talents.
The track, from a full-length called Give Thanks, was premiered on Beats 1 today (April 5), as well as through the launch of a music video. The cut homes in on a jazzy, A Tribe Called Quest-appropriate beat of looped organs, which was built by the late J Dilla.
The confident flow Phife affixes to this has him labeling himself, among other things, as "untouchable, unstoppable, unusual," and "unaccustomed to unproven whack flows." All in all, he raps, that's the "five footer in a mothafuckin' nutshell"
The music video has him hamming it up for the camera, and also features guest appearances from the likes of Pete Rock, De La Soul's Posdnuos, and Tribe's Jarobi White, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Q-Tip.
You can peep the video below, while "Nutshell" is also selling as a digital single. You can get it on iTunes over here.
Fifty percent of the proceeds from the sale of "Nutshell" will be given to the American Diabetes Association and the National Kidney Foundation. The rapper had passed away due to complications from diabetes. He was 45 years old.
It's as yet unclear if and when Give Thanks will be released in full.
A celebration honouring the life of Phife is being held tonight (April 5) at Harlem, NY's Apollo Theater, with those in attendance including the surviving members of A Tribe Called Quest, Kanye West, D'Angelo, Busta Rhymes, Public Enemy's Chuck D, KRS-One, André 3000, the Roots and more.
You can watch some highlights, as well as a live stream, via Revolt TV below the "Nutshell" video.
The track, from a full-length called Give Thanks, was premiered on Beats 1 today (April 5), as well as through the launch of a music video. The cut homes in on a jazzy, A Tribe Called Quest-appropriate beat of looped organs, which was built by the late J Dilla.
The confident flow Phife affixes to this has him labeling himself, among other things, as "untouchable, unstoppable, unusual," and "unaccustomed to unproven whack flows." All in all, he raps, that's the "five footer in a mothafuckin' nutshell"
The music video has him hamming it up for the camera, and also features guest appearances from the likes of Pete Rock, De La Soul's Posdnuos, and Tribe's Jarobi White, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Q-Tip.
You can peep the video below, while "Nutshell" is also selling as a digital single. You can get it on iTunes over here.
Fifty percent of the proceeds from the sale of "Nutshell" will be given to the American Diabetes Association and the National Kidney Foundation. The rapper had passed away due to complications from diabetes. He was 45 years old.
It's as yet unclear if and when Give Thanks will be released in full.
A celebration honouring the life of Phife is being held tonight (April 5) at Harlem, NY's Apollo Theater, with those in attendance including the surviving members of A Tribe Called Quest, Kanye West, D'Angelo, Busta Rhymes, Public Enemy's Chuck D, KRS-One, André 3000, the Roots and more.
You can watch some highlights, as well as a live stream, via Revolt TV below the "Nutshell" video.