A Tribe Called Quest issued an apology via the Los Angeles Times on Monday, Aug. 14 after canceling two performances at Outside Lands over the weekend.

The group unexpectedly pulled out of back-to-back performances at the festival, saying they were overcome with emotion due to the tragic loss of Phife Dawg last year. Phife was a Bay Area resident, and performing on his turf proved to be too emotionally taxing for the group.

“We want to sincerely apologize to you for our absence at the Outside Lands Music Festival. Your love, dedication and support of our music is important to us. Our performance at the festival has been months in the making and in those months we have been fraught with an emotional and eager excitement to touch the stage in the place where Phife Dawg made his home,” the group wrote in their statement.  "In show business there is a notion that the 'show must go on' no matter what. Sometimes though, when you have lost someone close, you are riddled with the notion that there is no going on. That Friday morning upon traveling to San Francisco, a wave of grief was still on us and in that moment we could not see the “on” to go on to. Eventually though in face of loss you find that glimmer of light to bring you to your center and you find the “on.”"

ATCQ, who performed what they said will be their last show at New York's Panorama Festival last month, said they will make their absence up to fans.

"We are deeply sorry," they wrote. "We will correct this and regain your confidence."

You can read the statement in its entirety here.

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