Forever in Bloomington, MN

A Tribe Called Quest
co-founder
Phife Dawg
died in 2016 at age 45, shortly after turning in his final contributions to
ATCQ
's incredible swan song
We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service
, and working on what would eventually become his second solo album. His first, 2000's
Ventilation: Da LP
, was strong but largely overlooked, and the years before his death saw several solo singles and various
Tribe
reunions as his work slowly came together for a second solo bid. Completed after his death by friend, collaborator, and business associate
DJ Rasta Root
,
's posthumous album
Forever
is a glowing pastiche of golden era hip-hop sounds and lyrics that focus on themes of maturity, family, and maintaining integrity with age -- all reflective of what mattered most to
Phife
when he passed on. Production from
9th Wonder
on the twinkly, sun-kissed beat of "Only a Coward" and the
J Dilla
beat of "Nutshell, Pt. 2" (a reprise of an earlier single with new additions from
Busta Rhymes
and
Redman
) bring a throwback atmosphere, as do many of the instrumentals.
also comes up in the synthy and futuristic "Dear Dilla (Reprise)," a continuation of
's 2014 memoriam of the innovative producer, updated with a new hook from
Q-Tip
reflecting on how neither
Dilla
nor
are still here. The warm tones, subtle jazzy touches, and relaxed beats are culled directly from
's prime, and when he's not rapping about his adoration for the greats of Black music on "Wow Factor," or nostalgic tales of seduction on "French Kiss Trois,"
's lyrics are all about his love for his family and all the lessons he learned on the way to adulthood. Released six years to the day after
's death,
serves as both the final realization of his artistic statement, and a loving tribute to the memory of the artist himself. ~ Fred Thomas