Without question the most intelligent, artistic
rap group during the 1990s,
A Tribe Called Quest jump-started and perfected the
hip-hop alternative to hardcore and
gangsta rap. In essence, they abandoned the macho posturing
rap music had been constructed upon, and focused instead on abstract philosophy and message tracks. The "sucka MC" theme had never been completely ignored in
hip-hop, but
Tribe confronted numerous black issues -- date rape, use of the word nigger, the trials and tribulations of the
rap industry -- all of which overpowered the occasional game of the dozens. Just as powerful musically,
Quest built upon
De La Soul's jazz-rap revolution, basing tracks around laid-back samples instead of the played-out
James Brown-fests which many rappers had made a cottage industry by the late '80s.
(
read more)
Without question the most intelligent, artistic
rap group during the 1990s,
A Tribe Called Quest jump-started and perfected the
hip-hop alternative to hardcore and
gangsta rap. In essence, they abandoned the macho posturing
rap music had been constructed upon, and focused instead on abstract philosophy and message tracks. The "sucka MC" theme had never been completely ignored in
hip-hop, but
Tribe confronted numerous black issues -- date rape, use of the word nigger, the trials and tribulations of the
rap industry -- all of which overpowered the occasional game of the dozens.
Just as powerful musically,
Quest built upon
De La Soul's jazz-rap revolution, basing tracks around laid-back samples instead of the played-out
James Brown-fests which many rappers had made a cottage industry by the late '80s. Comprised of
Q-Tip,
Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and
Phife,
A Tribe Called Quest debuted in 1989 and released their debut album one year later. Second album
The Low End Theory was, quite simply, the most consistent and flowing
hip-hop album ever recorded, though the trio moved closer to their harder contemporaries on 1993's
Midnight Marauders. A spot on the 1994 Lollapalooza Tour showed their influence with the alternative crowd -- always a bedrock of
A Tribe Called Quest's support -- but the group kept it real on 1996's
Beats, Rhymes and Life, a dedication to the streets and the
hip-hop underground.
The Low End Theory had included several tracks with props to
hip-hop friends, and
A Tribe Called Quest cemented their support of the
rap community with 1993's
Midnight Marauders. The album cover and booklet insert included the faces of more than 50 rappers -- including obvious choices such as
De La Soul and
the Jungle Brothers -- as well as mild surprises like
the Beastie Boys,
Ice-T, and
Heavy D. Though impossible to trump Low End's brilliance, the LP offered several classics (including
Tribe's most infectious single to date, "Award Tour") and a harder sound than the first two albums. During the summer of 1994,
A Tribe Called Quest toured as the obligatory
rap act on the Lollapalooza Festival lineup, and spent a quiet 1995, marked only by several production jobs for
Q-Tip. Returning in 1996 with their fourth LP,
Beats, Rhymes and Life,
Tribe showed signs of wear; it was a good album, but proved less striking than
The Low End Theory or
Midnight Marauders. While touring in support of 1998's
The Love Movement, the group announced their impending breakup. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
(
collapse)
