The Low End Theory

Geeze, this is a great album. Another cornerstone crew of hiphop, Tribe is just... just great. They defined the genre for a whole generation of artists and their influence continues to be felt in the work of artists like Childish Gambino, Chance the Rapper, and more. The way that the verses are built over hooky boom-bap beats is compelling, neither element distracting from the other but each remaining engaging individually. So good. Just so damn good.

Devastatingly cool and smooth. This album can be enjoyed in the background, with beats that go on for days, or with an intensive focus, with lyrics that bend and twist in delightful ways. This 1001 albums list is making me realize that I'm a much bigger fan of hip hop and rap than I initially thought.

An album I didn't even need to listen to for the rating. Absolute classic Native Tongues, and maybe my favorite. The entirety of the second half of this album has a sequencing and flow unlike many of its kind. All are highlights.

One of the greatest hip hop album ever. I really love the jazzy vibes.

Not a huge hip hop fan and this album didn’t change that. A few songs have some slightly interesting “jazz” vibes (If you call a simplistic repetitive phrase with slightly unusual chords “jazz”), but all in all I still don’t get the hype. It’s 4/4 repetitive rhythmns with rhyming. 3 stars since it’s a foundational album for many subsequent artists and my bias gives it the benefit of the doubt, but I really don’t see what’s so special about it myself.

One of the best hip hop album ever.

Jazz and hip-hop were meant to be together. Just good fun, old school hip-hop. The fact that this album ends with Scenerio just shows how full of solid tracts this album is. 4/5

This is so boring. Can anyone really tell these songs apart from any other hip-hop/rap songs? The album description in apple music mentioned something about a jazz aesthetic. What does that even mean? Jazz is about interesting variations on a melody, which is the opposite of a canned beat. Also, it is impossible to follow the lyrics unless you pay attention all the time. What happened to songs having a chorus to sing along to?

I liked a few songs. the stripped down drum, bass, vocals thing really does work, BUT it only works for a few songs for me. After 3 or 4 I find myself getting bored. I know that's blasphemy to some, but I just find that I don't really click with hip-hop.

I like how this album is poetry about their lives, trying to understand themselves and describing how they saw their lives. It's slow, smooth, and honest. 5/5

Favorites: All Widely considered one of the greatest hip hop albums. Hugely influential in bridging the gap between jazz and hip hop

I love this. Smart, cool, jazzy, intellectual. No drugs, minimal cursing - and I love both of those things. But it's just a very refreshing vibe. Can see why its a classic.

Rap and hip-hop isn't my inherent wheelhouse. I didn't grow up listening to it, I don't listen to a lot of modern hits, and most of what I listen to is make or break for me. This album just CLICKS with me, though. The smooth, jazzy backbeats, the atmospheric and melodic instrumentation, Phife and Q-Tip's fun and flowing lyrics...it's just the perfect rap album in my mind. It's influenced so many different artists today: Kanye, Pharrell, Dr. Dre, Lin Manuel-Miranda, Kendrick, Dave Chapelle...there's hardly any entertainer or artist that isn't inspired or owes something to this album. Everything from its structure, emotion, and production is top notch. Favorite Song: What? Least Favorite: Ahh...this is so hard...Show Business? Everything is so good, though. Least Favorite: Sagar (The Ocean) ... only because of it's slow start and it's a pretty long song. It's still a great piece, just not one I'd revisit as much.

Absolute classic that set a standard for the genre. Excellent samples create a jazzy atmosphere that match up with the great lyrical team up of Q-Tip and Phife Dawg. One of the best albums in 90s hip-hop and an absolute must listen.

Classic hip-hop shit. Standout Tracks: Buggin' Out, Butter, Verses from the Abstract, What?, Scenario

It made me so soft, my cock ring fell off in the supermarket.

To this day, I’m not sure why, but an older kid I vaguely knew took me aside and handed me the first two A Tribe Called Quest albums in the locker room at school. "Listen to these, give them back when you’re done." At the time, these albums were unlike anything I’d ever heard—instant classics. The Low End Theory in particular was a revelation, with its deep basslines, minimalist beats, and live jazz instrumentation offering a sound that was both raw and smooth. It broke away from the heavier, sample-driven style of its era, creating something that instantly felt timeless. The heart of the album is the incredible chemistry between Q-Tip and Phife Dawg. Tip’s laid-back, cerebral flow perfectly complements Phife’s punchy, no-nonsense delivery. Their synergy is effortless, shining brightest on tracks like “Check the Rhime,” where they bounce off each other with precision and style. As for its legacy, The Low End Theory reshaped 90s hip-hop, proving the genre could be introspective without losing its edge. And let’s not forget—it introduced the world to Busta Rhymes, whose explosive verse on “Scenario” set the stage for his breakout. Those CDs still sit in my collection. The guy never asked for them back, and it’s become a running joke for me to message him every few years on social media to ask if he wants them returned. Did/Do I own this release? Kinda still do Does this release belong on the list? For sure Would this release make my personal list? Definitely Will I be listening to it again? No question

Genre: Jazz Rap 5/5 This is very, very, very good. An album that sounds old-school, but with arrangements and concepts that are fresh to the ears as anything on this list, The Low End Theory is one of the best rap albums I've ever heard. The absolute vocal dominance showcased by everyone on this, especially the two kingpins, Q-Tip and Phife Dawg (RIP), is truly some of rap's best. The songs that everyone has heard, Scenario and Check the Rhime, are some of rap's most recognizable singles, and still continue to influence the newest generation of rappers. Busta Rhymes' line "ra-ra, like a dungeon dragon"? Nicki Minaj made it a hook in 2010. But it's the rest of the songs on here, the sheer quality of every beat and bar on this album, that's truly something to behold. Starting with the first track, Excursions, where Q-Tip eloquently ties together the growth of hip-hop to the growth of all popular black art, this album brings a full jazz-funk style of production that might sound like it's old hat, but for the time was a true standalone musical experiment. This is hip-hop's first full-length Jazz Rap experience, and it's a sound that really hasn't been topped since, excluding Kendrick's To Pimp a Butterfly (which takes the jazz and truly shoves it down your throat, which I appreciate). From there on out we have tracks like Skypager, a tremendous ode to the then-daily pager usage rampant among those looking to showcase a modicum of wealth and importance, especially in black communities. We have songs like Rap Promoter and Show Business, songs that vividly describe the predatory natures at play in what was, at least in '91, the Wild West, with white CEOs and men in suits looking to do anything they can to cash in on what was essentially a cultural movement gone mainstream. Then we have songs like What?, another Q-Tip masterclass in wordplay and social commentary, and a track that rewards repeat listens. This is so, so good. I would hope those who aren't generally into rap music give this a try and truly enjoy it for what it is. This is such a great example of what rap albums can do well. Thematically, musically, vocally, this album touches on so many important cultural and political struggles of the time, while also sounding like a true love-letter to all black art which preceded it, and while STILL SOUNDING THIS FRESH. Wonderful album.

Day 3 of 1001 albums you must hear before you die and I got my first hip hop album!! The 1991 sophomore album from the groundbreaking group A Tribe Called Quest. The Low End Theory was a follow up to their debut album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, which was the first album to receive the then prestigious award of 5 mics in The Source magazine. The Low End Theory was released slap dab in the middle of The New Jack Swing era, gangster rap and the times of huge pop successes of acts like MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice. Instead of making music about guns, girls, money and dancing, Q-Tip and Phife Dawg let their commentary about social issues spill onto jazz samples and record samples spun by DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad. The classic New York sound of jazz infused hip hop seems so natural now, looking back, however it was Tribe that founded the iconic sound that was considered alternative hip hop at the time. The biggest stand out of this album is Scenario. This monster of a song is credited for boosting the solo career of Busta Rhymes and is a fantastic energetic song. The lead single Check the Rhime is a nostalgic ride through the early 90’s. Q-Tip has one of the most unique voices in music and his back and forward exchanges with a much different sounding Phife gels so satisfyingly well together. (RIP Phife Dawg) This group paved the way for so many acts and inspired the culture so much it’s almost as if it had always been that way. Please share your thoughts and memories of this album. This is only my take on it and being that I was in elementary school when this released, it would be great to hear others perspective! 😎

No. 67/1001 Excursions 3/5 Buggin' Out 3/5 Rap Promoter 3/5 Butter 3/5 Verses From The Abstract 4/5 Show Business 3/5 Vibes And Stuff 3/5 Infamous Date Rape 3/5 Check The Rhime 3/5 Everything Is Fair 3/5 Jazz 3/5 Skypager 2/5 What? 3/5 Scenario 3/5 Average: 3,0 This has all the ingredients for me to love it. Old scholl hip-hip, universally loved by critics and fans alike. But I just couldn't get that much into it. I felt musically it was lacking.

Great raps and awesome flow from ATCQ with beats and grooves that are jazzy, deep and sparse, but thick as molasses and warm as butter. Even taking into account ‘The Infamous Date Rape’ which sounds like a rare misstep coming at it with 2022 ears, ‘The Low End Theory’ is still one of Hip Hops greatest hits.

Essential 90's hip hop starts and ends with A Tribe Called Quest. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg (RIP) expertly spit bars over fantastic jazz beats. The opening moments of the album with the bass of Excursions is neigh-unforgettable, setting up expectations for the rest of the album's runtime. The Tribe has the stage: now is the time to listen. The vibes on this album are perfection. It's so incredibly mellow, like hanging out with your friends, chillin'.

Do you know the importance of a Skypa-jah? Love, love, love. Saw TCQ tour this album at the Flood Zone with Busta Rhymes. They went out with Scenario and the whole place was going wild! The Low End Theory is contaminated with all the good post-high school memories, there's no way that I could provide an unbiased review today. ----- Equally as good is the TCQ doc. Highly recommend. https://www.amazon.com/Beats-Rhymes-Life-Travels-Called/dp/B005LM7KP0

A landmark album in hip-hop, and one of the father's of jazz rap. The beats are great, the lyrics are clever and impactful, and it's just generally fun all around. And then they came out with Midnight Marauders too... Favourite Tracks: Buggin Out, Vibes and Stuff, Scenario

OK here's another group i've heard so much about but I don't know if I've ever listened to - was far too much into guitar rock at the time but *wow* I missed out on this. Or maybe I wasn't ready - but this is the kind of hip-hop I love. Should I even categorize it merely as hip-hop? Because forget the rap for a minute - the first thing I'll ever notice on any album is the music and the music *KILLS* here. It's impossible to not move to the opening track "Excursions" - there's a hard jazz element with heavy drum loops (no 808s - and although these are samples they sample the real deal which IMO is always better. Always.) and the album never lets up at all. The music mostly isn't loud and in your face, but at the same time it propels and is never dull. I want to hear and see them performing this entire album with a full band - I can hear it translating brilliantly. Moving to the actual vocals I *love* the attack of multiple rappers (and as big a Public Enemy fan I am, and Chuck D is the best, Flav is a sideshow...) - it works so well on every song - including the guest spots (e.g. "Show Business"). I think my favourite aspect of the rapping is how rhythmic they are - accentuating, complimenting, and becoming *part* of the music - so much more than a ton of modern hip-hop that I just haven't been able to connect with. It's hard for me to find a favourite, but some other standouts are "Verses From The Abstract" "Check the Rhime" and "Jazz." Tribe feel like a BAND on every track here, rather than rapping over a beat - it's an integrated experience. This defines cool in every way and I'm psyched to add this to my collection - if there's any negative, it seems to tail off on the last few tracks - nothing bad, just loses a little steam. But the highs are so good that for only the second time in ~150 albums I've gone in completely blind and come out looking at 5 stars... 9/10 5 stars.

listened to it before baby

Not my bag but some great history. Enjoyed it,

Banger

a true beginning for a tribe that had its eyes set on being the one rap group to be preachy as hell but also really cool at the same time . experience flows here and is conveyed with a degree of mastery in terms of flow and beat making that is virtually impossible to match . a collection of songs trying to stop the descent of a sub culture set to exclude every one except the ones who match the people who popularized it and pleaded for life above anything . i could talk at length about the idea that some of the ways its worded are out dated but its undeniable these 20 year old dudes probably know better than other 20 year old dudes and will continue their excursion . the title implies a continuing quest rather than one with a set destination . pretty sure this is a 9 !! won me over seeing in all of its totalities . casually has the best beats of all time probably

I could have sworn that I already had this album suggested but that might just be because I have it in semi regular rotation in my personal collection. This record is so damn smooth and buttery, a bona fide staple of early hip hop and also absolutely timeless. For a laugh, check out "Rap Promoter" if you want to hear what Kid Rock tried to rip off..

this was, for me, my first introduction to 90s hip-hop, and i don’t think there could have been a better album. the lyrics, which provide a social commentary, without being too harsh, are set against a backdrop of dance-inducing beats, creating the perfect balance between perfecting the album sonically, and getting their points across this album and the group as a whole has also had a vast impact on similar artists, with influences still evident today in hip-hop, rap and r&b. their legacy is immense, and defined the 90s hip hop scene. a rarity in this album is that i believe it has no skips - something that cannot be said for many. therefore, i rate it five stars

its so cool if you own this on vinyl (i own this on vinyl)

ATCQ created a style like no other. Choosing jazz samples in a lot of their work brought a fresh groove and laid back swagger to their music, quite different from anyone else at the time. Q Tip and Phife Dawg bring some of that verse swapping from old school hip hop whilst pushing into subjects, rapping about damn near anything. The two are so great together and it is a sad loss to music we have lost Phife so soon. The Low End Theory is one of a few hip hop albums that could convert the hip hop non believer. Its sound is so good, its rhymes are so quotable, its mood is fun, its rappers charismatic. A fine, fine record. Bump this on a summer day.

Reaching backward with that double bass, Low End Theory is both a perfect 90's rap album and a bridge to an older peer music. Never frantic, Tribe is able to keep their pace up: The number of strong tracks on the second half is notable in itself.

One of the greatest, RIP Phife Dawg

Amazing. Just fuck me up with this over and over and over.

Very solid album. I am tempted to give it a 5, but I think at times their rhymes and beats are so pleasantly rolled out that they can run together. Still, some excellent songs and talent.

Very good, I enjoyed the atmostphere it set and some good music on there

I actually really like this album considering it’s genre I thought it was fun I like the music and I also like the singing aspect so I was thinking about giving a four or three I would give it 3.5 but I think I’m going to get before just because I don’t think I would like any other music that sounds like this this one is just different

If Arrested Development were a Hip-Hop artifact to be seen as a relic of how the genre used to sound, A Tribe Called Quest is a Hip-Hop database that you still hear referenced to this day. I've heard so many artist bite not only the flows but the literal lyrics from Tribe songs, I don't know how many times. All paying respect to their originators of course. This album is peak 90s Hip-Hop and I couldn't have been more pleased with a return listening. Only thing I will dock for is that the vibe is pretty samey throughout.

On ne peut qu'être reconnaissant envers A Tribe Called Quest d'avoir composé la bande-son du jeu Monstres et Compagnie sur Game Boy Color (cf morceau What?). Dans celui-ci, Bob Razowski avait la possibilité d'effectuer deux sauts consécutifs en appuyant sur la touche A, tandis que Jacques Sullivan ne pouvait en effectuer qu'un seul.

As music, rap has never moved me. Adding a jazz bass line doesn’t make it much more palatable for me. The social commentary is sometimes quite powerful, some of the pieces are humorous. But it’s more speech performance to my ears than music. Sorry…

Not my thing. Why is rapping considered singing?! #oldwoman

There was a time when I considered myself a connoisseur of rap, especially 90s rap. How wrong I was. Sure, "The Low End Theory" has been on my radar for a long time (an embarrassingly long time), but I've never actually put the time aside to listen. This was a mistake. The rhymes (e.g. "Bust a nut inside your eye/to show you where I come from"), the beats, the humour, the wordplay, the attitude. Everything a rap album should be.

I have listened to this album many times, one of my favorite hip-hop/rap albums of all time.

Suck mes 5 étoiles bitch

Mes amis disent que c'est bon.

Microphone check one two what is this? This album is great but you already knew this.

Awesome listen, classic

great beats...... date rape song wtf

Dated sounds, but love instrumentals and rhymes.

SO good. Love how minimalist and dark it is. The jazz samples just work so well and you can hear the influence on a ton of later stuff.

This is hands down the best sounding record of the 90s. Fight me. For real though, if you're (for some reason) reading this before listening to the album for the first time, go find the best set of headphones you can find, even if you have to buy some, light up a spliff, lay down on your couch with nothing but a candle providing light, and turn this album on. I promise you'll have the best night of your entire life.

The Big Bang decoded the cosmos, natural selection decoded evolution, general relativity decoded physics, and The Low End Theory decoded how hip-hop could simultaneously expand its universe while honoring its origin.

Usually not a fan of rap but this was goooood

Yes

Loved it, I hadnt listen to them before

Incredible shit

Now I understand the hype around this group… really fun and interesting album that gets bonus points for a typically great Busta Rhymes feature

Baaaang. Finally got to listen to it in full after years. 5 stars. One of the best hip hop LP’s ever

Also enjoyed. Midnight marauders album maybe edges it for me, but both are great

90s hip-hop, minimalist sound that combines bass, drum breaks, and jazz samples. Considered one of the greatest and most creative alternative hip-hop albums. Hip-hop over jazzy beats is indeed incredibly cool. Fantastic beats.

It’s a simple formula: bassy jazz, drum line with non-stop rhymes, it should get boring after a while but it doesn’t for me. The laid back amalgamation of hip-hop drums and beats with jazzy undertones works for me and I love actually hearing what they’re saying even if the meaning does go over my head sometimes.

This should be required listening before you can be exposed to Hamilton. You can hear this sound echo through nearly every rap album that's come out since.

What am I going to say that hasn’t already been said? It’s a classic, one of the absolute greatest hip-hop albums of all time.

I feel like this was easy. One of my all-time favorite albums. Classic to the max. Go read "Go Ahead in the Rain" right now. Do it!

Intelligent hip hop. Listened twice.

Fat, smoove and fresh fun to the max.

I love them so much. Their flow. The two MCs going back and forth. “Check the Rhyme” is forever one of my favorite rap songs. I will forever have a little crush on Q-tip too.

I'm not sure which is a more perfect album in the annals of prog hip-hop between this and "New Refutations of Space and Time" by Digable Planets...they're both perfect.

Absolute brilliance....

Fucking classic.

Tips on point

Absolutely foundational.

Not enough Lou Brock shoutouts in the rap game these days

The bass and lyrics have gotten better with time; Wine. Makes me feel like I’m riding through a melting pot stacked with busy city streets, the colours of different cultures glowing amongst the greyscale streets No skips

Pre-listening thoughts: oh man I am SO excited for this one. I loved the last album by ATCQ so really high hopes for this Post/during listening thoughts: there’s almost a jazz element to a lot of these beats which I find really interesting. It’s minimalistic (but not boring) and draws more attention to the actual rapping when it needs to. This group has such clever lyrics and engaging delivery. This is a brilliantly cohesive album!! Embarrassed to say I heard scenario from Pitch Perfect before here 😭 9.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: this is so unique that I kinda want to say yes Fav tracks: Butter, Verses From the Abstract, Show Business, Check the Rhime, Jazz (We’ve Got), What?, Scenario Least fav tracks: n/a

Sorry Pete

I never had a pager

No notes.

Ain’t gonna rain on this 5 parade. The lyrics flow, the beats have my head bobbin’

Tribe covers a lot of topic, with full emotional range. Every song could be a hit

Dope ass album. Might be my favorite hip-hop album of all time. Five out of five stars. Still as relevant today as it was in 1991

In my mental game called "What's the best Hip-hop album of all time?" I go back and forth between this, Enter the 36 Chambers, and 3 Feet High and Rising. Which is to say, this is a classic of the genre. Jazz influenced conscious rap? Yes please. It also transcends time and genre. This is an album I refer people to who say they don't like hip-hop. It's just that good. From the production to the rhymes, 100/100, perfect album hands down.

Jazz hip hop at its finest. My second favorite album of all time

Geiler Oldschool Hip Hop, vA versteht man da noch jedes Wort

A classic, and a huge piece of my teenage years. I am so glad this one has stood the test of time, too.

❤️

as someone who isn’t much into hip-hop, this album is awesome

Out of all genres rap is the one I’ve listened to the most when I’m writing this, and this album was really good. It was very chill, easy to listen to, and there was nothing bad about it. I really enjoy when there is jazz in rap and this album had it.

Classic hip-hip/rap album, great beats and lyricism, absolute must listen for rap fans

Probably the best 90s rap album.

Nice - haven't listened to this in a while

Trying something a little different here. Excursions - what an incredible start to the album. That upright bass sample will forever be stuck in my head. I’ll never let it go. Perfectly captures the vibe and feel of the rest of the album. If you only listen to one song from this album and want to understand what ATCQ is… make it this one. Buggin’ Out - Incredible opening verse from Phife here. It’s a great introduction to his style and really sets him apart from Q-Tip. And their chemistry is on full display here. I take it back about Excursions being the only song… you need this one too. Rap Promoter - that guitar sample is everything here. Tip is absolutely right - “this one’s a fly love song”. Butter - the horn on the chorus just makes me melt every single time. Phife does his best to take the moment for himself with a couple incredible verses ,but that horn just swoops in and snatches it from him. Verses from the Abstract - this beat is so nasty. I get why Tip says funky like 12 times in his verse. How can you think about anything else with those drums!? And the vocals on the chorus with Tip shouting out everyone Native Tongues adjacent gives me chills every time. And why is the funkiest part when the beat just drops out and it’s just Tip. I love this album. Show Business - I have no idea what the sample is. I think it’s a guitar? Either way, it’s the kind of thing that Tribe does so well. They don’t overuse it. It comes in only right when you need it. Little moments like that are all over the place here. All of the little things that come in for a beat or two and don’t reappear for another 10 bars. Lesser producers would try to a jam them into the loops for the whole track. How is the second best posse cut on this album? Vibes and Stuff - it’s verses like the first one on this track where Tip really makes the case for my favorite rapper. He is just so smooth over this beat. The little embellishments and layered vocals - he’s probably my favorite rapper to just listen to rap. Infamous Date R*pe - first and only “misstep” for me, if I can even call it that. I just get a little confused with Phife’s verse. Is this supposed to be an example of date r*pe? Or we complaining about a woman that has “changed her mind” after an encounter? It’s ambiguous enough to me that I can read it the first way since, the track ends with a verse from Tip basically saying “consent is important” so I guess I don’t know. Regardless, an attempt was made to be less misogynistic than other rap acts of the time (or even today) so props, I think? Check the Rhime - Phife and Tip’s back and forth the perfect encapsulation of their chemistry. They work so well together. I love a good horn loop… Everything is Fair - Why does the the vocal sample here remind me of David Byrne? I’ve always heard his voice here, just me? I love how the beat goes back and forth between 2 samples in a similar way Phife and Tip go back and forth in the previous song. Just a really creative approach to beat switches. Jazz - probably my favorite snare sound on the album. Just so punchy. It sounds like they are smacking the heck out of a trash can lid. Oh, did I mention a love a horn sample? This chorus has a good one. Phife flow on this beat is perfect. Skypager - lol it’s funny to me that the fact that a skypager can be flaunted as a status symbol is the most dated thing about this 33 year old album. This had to still be funny and silly at the time too, right? I mean Phife seems too proud that his Duracell batteries last for 3 weeks! Song still bangs though What? - I’ve always seen this an intro to the next track. I still feel that way. But I love the way Tip says knockin’ boots. Makes me giggle. I love this album. Scenario - this sample is so good. It’s constantly reused and for good reason. Every verse here is stellar. It’s probably Phife’s best on the entire album. PSA to anyone that wants me to do karaoke. Learn one of these verses and get 3 other friends to learn one too. I’ll take whichever one’s left and we can have some fun taking over the party. Best posse cut ever? This and Danny Brown’s Really Doe are neck and neck for my favorite. Hopefully it’s obvious that I adore this album and understand why Questlove calls himself that.

One of my favorite hip hop albums. The flows and the vibes here are some of the best.

This is peak hip hop for me. This is the good good stuff. Q-Tip might possibly be my favorite rapper. His flow is unmatched - he sounds cool as hell, and so smooth...like butter, baby. Then him, alongside Phife, and it's just undeniably great. They're all legends, and this album is legendary. Every song has my head bopping along to the beat. I didn't have to listen to this one to know I was giving it 5 stars, but of course I did! I'd listen to this one any day, any time. It's THE vibe, and stuff.

Loud and clear

Great album

Big De La Soul 90s vibes. Great sound overall.

One of my all time favourite albums and one of the greatest hip hop albums from the golden age. The production on this album is bass heavy and just right and they named it accordingly, although the name also was a comment on the status of black Americans. Almost every song is a classic. When I first heard this 30 years ago, it felt a little sparser than their other albums but I grew to love this sound. Pure hip hop. It’s like butter, baby.