I had no idea that one of the founding members of ATCQ. The Phifer was always one of the more interesting personalities of the crew. Though he is best known for his lyrics on "Check The Rhyme" aka routines on Linden Blvd. I am sure that most did not know that he had been suffering with Type I Diabetes since the early 90's.
I have a fairly intimate understanding of Diabetes as my Pops was also stricken with the disease, which occurred shortly after severe scar tissue formed within his kidneys. Luckily Papi was able to undergo a successful kidney transplant which changed our lives. It appears that Phife is also on the list for a transplant, I do hope he finds a donor soon.
A couple of comments - first on diabetes. I think Phife's 'coming out' to say he has it lets you know that it can affect anyone. I don't recall any family members of mine with diabetes, but I know now just how it can kill you if left unchecked.
On a personal note with Phife's particular clothing - I will be seen around Christmas time (and here on out)looking *just* like that. That's the '61 Yankees wool jacket, combined with the road greys underneath and the crisp new blue Yankee on top.
Speaking of those jackets...
They sell directly from the Cooperstown Collection's web site for $450, but the rip off artists here in Detroit's '4 Men' store want to sell you the jacket for $600. Underneath, they have some sort of 'hip hop' NY logo plastered all over a blue tee shirt. Further, the salesmen had no clue what the significance of the jacket was that they were selling, nor did they realize that they were charging $600 for a Yankee jacket, but $550 for an even more historical replica - the '47 Brooklyn Dodgers wool coat - signifying the first year Jackie Robinson got promoted to the bigs.
I don't believe that many young hip hop cats truly appreciate the history behind this throwback clothing (even if it's a replica), but it's a shame that this clothing can sell for so much money and that our brothers will buy it just to look 'fresh' (to coin an old hip hop term). I think an article of clothing can really shine when it is worn with it's history in mind. Then if it gets a little dirty - well so what? That's what happened to the real deal clothing when it was worn over 60 years ago - it was on the backs of guys who made about as much if not less than top Computer Administrators and Engineers today. Mantle would barely be able to afford the replica of his '61 coat based on the salary he was getting throughout that year. Imagine what his real coat would sell for if it was preserved and put up on the auction block. It may already have been put up there... I'll do a google search and find out.
The significance behind Phife's jacket:
'61 was the M&M Boys, Mantle and Maris. Ralph Houk was the manager, the pitching could have beaten some of today's competition with Ford, Sheldon, Arroyo (the closer) among others, including Al Downing who in later seasons give up the famed 715 to Aaron after being traded and wearing a Dodger uniform. Clete Boyer was the unsung hero at 3rd, with Skowron, Richardson, and Kubek in the infield. Berra had been fully displaced at catcher by Elston Howard, the #32 that I wear and play in proudly on all my Yankees jerseys. But Berra was still the left fielder, with Mantle in center and Maris, with his 61* HRs, in right. That asterisk would later be taken off of his record, then stood the test of time for many years until McGwire and Sosa both claimed it, followed not long after by Barry Bonds.
I agree with this completely, thanks for the post.