A Tribe Called Quest were officially inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this past weekend, and helping them celebrate the special moment were a few old friends.
After comedian Dave Chappelle introduced the legendary group and Q-Tip delivered an emotional speech, an all-star ensemble of Busta Rhymes, De La Soul, Common, Queen Latifah and The Roots hit the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse stage to pay tribute to Tribe by performing some of their classic hits.
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With The Roots as the live band and Maseo on the ones and twos, Latifah kicked off the medley with a live rendition of “Can I Kick It?” before Black Thought and Posdnuos joined her for “Check the Rhime,” trading bars like Tip and Phife, respectively.
Common then brought his signature soul to the party to perform “Bonita Applebum” before Busta closed things out with a typically raucous rendition of “Scenario (Remix),” luring the Dungeon Dragon back out of his cave.
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After the performance, Busta wrote on Instagram: “THE BLESSINGS DON’T STOP SO YOU BETTER KNOW WE DEFINITELY AIN’T EVER GONNA STOP!! IN CASE YOU DIDN’T SEE THIS MONUMENTAL MOMENT AS WE CELEBRATED TRIBE’S INDUCTION @rockhall LAST NIGHT LOOK AT HOW WE HAD TO PULL UP FOR OUR BRO’S!!”
Common also shared a behind-the-scenes video documenting the special night.
Q-Tip and Jarobi White accepted Tribe’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and were accompanied by the parents of the late Phife Dawg, while Ali Shaheed Muhammad‘s wife attended in the DJ’s absence. (It is not known why he was not present.)
During his speech, White said to Tip: “I love your dirty drawls, boy. I love you to death. Thank you for your tutelage, support, the gift of this life. I wouldn’t be the same without all of my brothers. I’m really glad and proud to call you guys my big brothers.”
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Q-Tip used his turn on the mic to thank each of the crew members’ families, before getting chocked up as he added: “And rest in peace to our brother Phife Dawg, I wish you were here,” at which point he took a step away from the mic to gather himself.
“And thank you to Dr. Emma Boyce, Grandma as we affectionately called her,” The Abstract continued, “for allowing us to come into the house and hit the basement. And one other name I’ll mention is definitely Red Alert, who is a famed New York City DJ who gave us the shot.”
Phife Dawg passed away in 2016 after struggling with issues related to diabetes.
Tribe were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside Mary J. Blige, Cher, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner and Peter Frampton.
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They are just the 13th Hip Hop act to join the prestigious club following the likes of JAY-Z, Eminem, 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Missy Elliott, Run-DMC and Public Enemy.
