Los Angeles, CA – My all-time favorite Phife Dawg quote is “Let me hit it from the back, girl I won’t catch a hernia / Bust off on your couch, now you got Seaman’s Furniture.” It was definitely the first double entendre that made me immediately LOL. Call it a 12 year-old’s “a-ha” moment. The breadth of A Tribe Called Quest’s catalog would resonate with me in much more meaningful ways as the year’s passed, but Midnight Marauder’s remains my favorite full-length from the Queen’s collective. It’s deep yet innocent—impeccably timeless.

This week’s Midweek Motivation is dedicated to the legendary Phife Dawg, who passed away last night due to diabetes-related complications. Below are six quotes delivered by the Funky Diabetic that I’ve leaned on at various points throughout my life. Hopefully they’ll help you navigate life’s potholes and pitfalls with the same grace in which Malik Issac Taylor lived. Rest in infinite power, Phife.