A Tribe Called Quest & Consequence
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest & Consequence
A Tribe Called Quest & Consequence
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest & Tammy Lucas
A Tribe Called Quest & Consequence
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest & Consequence
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest & Consequence
A Tribe Called Quest & Consequence & Faith Evans
A Tribe Called Quest & Consequence & Faith Evans
“Baby Phife’s Return” is Phife Dawg’s solo showcase on the album. Phife slightly withdrew from the group during the recording of Beats, Rhymes, and Life, moving to Atlanta after touring for the group’s 1993 album Midnight Marauders. Phife recalled the group’s vibe at the time on the documentary Beat...
[Verse 1: Phife Dawg]
The madman Malik makes MCs run for Milk of Magnesia
Maybe that'll ease ya
Master of this microphone mackin', master as in great
I'll have your brain goin' in circles as my style tends to ovulate
I'm makin' moves, never movies, that's why y'all MCs lose me
Retrace, won't, so you're stubborn like groupies
Kid, you know my flava, tear this whole jam apart
Fuck around and have your heart, like Jordan had Starks'
While you playin' hokey pokey, there's no time to be dokey
'Cause I come out to play every night like Charles Oakley
Dissin' around with wack rhymin'
You lose your grip from chalk climbin'
Let me take this time to say R.I.P. to Phyllis Hyman
Who never got the props that she damn well deserved
But see me, you don't wanna see me, 'cause all MCs are gettin' served
The nerve, for you to even step to the Phifer
I'll bumrush your set and crush your whole cipher
Reserve, a spot for me in hip hop's hall of fame
'Cause rappin' ain't no game, big up your head and maintain
Yeah, Queens forever in this piece crushin' any beef
Ain't nothin' sweet, the bakery's across the fuckin' street
Phife Dawg, swingin' it back and forth just like Aaliyah
Makin' moves on your heart like that trick Tamia
No doubt about it, I love hip hop to death
But yo Tip, bring in the chorus 'cause I'm losin' my breath
[Chorus: Consequence]
Ay yo, you know the deal when the diggy Dawg is on the scene
We got the fiend bumpin' straight from the borough Queens
You know the deal when the diggy Dawg is on the scene
We got the fiend bumpin' straight from the borough Queens
You know the deal when the diggy Dawg is on the scene
You know the deal, ha, you know the deal
[Verse 2: Phife Dawg]
Big up pop Duke, that's where I caught my athleticism
My mama, no doubt, that's where I got my lyricism
My nana, that's where I got my spiritualism
As for Tip and Shah, they made me stop from smokin' izm
Now, when I'm with some cheese, I'll be lettin' off gism
Writin' rhymes since Daddy Kane and Biz Mark was on Prism
I got a brave heart like the one named Shirley Chisholm
As for my late twin, boy, I wish I was with him
Got the Lightro in the back talkin' bout (come on, get him)
And when it comes to rhymes, no doubt, I flip em
Sucka MC in my path, hey man, I say we ship him
Money please, your rhymes are wack, say word, this geek is trippin'
Just because my name is Phife, my man, I'm never slippin'
I got the type of flave to have your ass straight bitchin'
For those who act cute, see I got them on mute
Have you walkin' through your projects in your birthday suit
'Cause your style is off loot, so I played him like a flute
If you a sucka MC, then it's you I rebuke
My style is, every day all day, similar to water
Crushin' MCs as if my name was Sargent Slaughter
Keep shit hotter...than a sauna
Or better yet, the hormones on your Christian daughter
Hey, I tried to warn her
My sounds the type to kill, like the grill on Lauryn Hill
So all ya sucka MCs, y'all best go chill
Bout to go to Union Square just to see my care bear
Singin' good stuff in my ear, runnin' fingers through my hair
Represent the Zulu Nation with illy rap creations
Just keep shit hotter than Death Row-Bad Boy confrontations
Chillin' with Fudge Love because he represents the Haitians
Ya new mean
[Outro]
Word up
I just wanna big up everybody for supportin' A Tribe Called Quest
Through the years
This be the fourth LP, you know what I'm sayin'?
Tip, Shaheed and Phife, Beats, Rhymes and Life
Featuring my man, you know what I'm sayin', Conse' to the 'quence
192 is the area where we represent, for the ladies and gents, haha
You know what I'm sayin'? Big up Shaheed Muhammad, that's my man
Christine, you know what I'm sayin', word life (fading out)
The Abstract Poetic, rockin' this track
Bouncin' it all over the place, up in your face
You know what I'm sayin'? My man Lightro...
Baby Phife’s Return was written by Q-Tip & Phife Dawg & Ali Shaheed Muhammad & J Dilla.
Baby Phife’s Return was produced by The Ummah.
A Tribe Called Quest released Baby Phife’s Return on Tue Jul 30 1996.
The main guitar riff sample on the beat was taken from jazz guitarist Jack Bruce’s 1970 song “Sam Enchanted Dick (Medley)”:
Drums on the beat were taken from Manzel’s 1979 song “Midnight Theme”: