Wednesday Music News

03/23/2016

Janice Headley

Malik Taylor, aka Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest, passed away yesterday at the age of 45, as a result of complications due to diabetes. Taylor formed A Tribe Called Quest with his childhood best friends in 1985, releasing their now-legendary debut People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm in 1990. His family released the following statement: "Malik was our loving husband, father, brother and friend. We love him dearly. How he impacted all our lives will never be forgotten. His love for music and sports was only surpassed by his love of God and family." KEXP will continue to honor him through his music. We send our love to his friends, family, and fans. [Rolling Stone]

We b'lieve Kurt Vile is goin down... to the park. This Friday, Vile makes a guest appearance on the HBO show Animals as an animated squirrel. The television cartoon series follows critters living in New York City. (A$AP Rocky and A$AP Ferg made a previous guest appearance as rapping bodega cats.) Watch a clip from the episode (titled "Eatin & Goin Nuts, Man") below -- nice "Philly Boy Roy" tee! [Under the Radar]

New York-based psych-rockers Yeasayer return next week with the highly-anticipated full-length Amen & Goodbye. Today, they share the single "Gerson’s Whistle," which features guest backing vocals from Suzzy Roche of The Roches. Amen & Goodbye hits stores April 1st on Mute. [Stereogum]

Last night on Conan, Ty Segall brought out the baby mask again to perform the single "California Hills" off his latest Emotional Mugger. His bandmates -- Kyle Thomas aka King Tuff, Mikal Cronin, Wand’s Cory Hanson and Evan Burrows, and Emmet Kelly of The Cairo Gang -- all dressed as old men with creepy white hair and beards. Watch below, and compare to his KEXP in-studio session here. [Spin]

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