Malik Taylor, the Queens rapper better known as Phife Dawg has died. NY1's Clodagh McGowan takes us to St. Albans to speak with fans and friends.

Phife, a founding member of legendary hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest grew up in St. Albans. The rapper will be remembered for his witty rhymes.

"I like 'em brown, yellow, Puerto-Rican and Haitian. My name is Phife Dawg from the Zulu Nation," he rapped on 'Electric Relaxation.'

The group shot their music video for 'Check the Rime' on the roof of the Nu Clear Cleaners on Linden Boulevard in 1991.

Iris Wilcox, the cleaner's manager remembers the excitement surrounding the shoot.

"When I say Linden Boulevard was crowded, it was crowded! It was beautiful. And they got up there and did all what they had to do," said Wilcox, who has worked at Nu Clear for 27 years.

Chris Holly, a DJ and an old friend, says the video put St. Albans on the map.

"Wow, we just made history! The energy was totally amazing. It moved from borough to borough," said Holly, who lives in Rosedale. "When you saw Nu Clear Cleaners, you knew that you was in Queens."

Rap legend and hip-hop coordinator for the Queens Library, "Uncle" Ralph McDaniels says Phife Dawg is a rap pioneer.

"It reaches worldwide, all genres, all religions, anything you can think of, A Tribe Called Quest has done it," said McDaniels, who has hosted the hip-hop show "Video Music Box" since 1983.

McDaniels say Phife's impact on hip-hop reaches far beyond St. Albans but throughout his career, he never forgot where he came from.

"That's what Phife was all about. Making sure he was out here in community putting out great music," said McDaniels.

In a statement, Phife’s family says the rapper died from complications relating to diabetes. He also underwent a kidney transplant in 2008.

The music world mourned his death, fellow Queens rapper LL Cool J tweeted his video for 'Electric Relaxation.'

And Public Enemy front man Chuck D called him a "rap word warrior."

"Mister Dinkins, would you please be my mayor," he famously rapped on "Can I Kick It?"

And his words are sure to live on.