The Low End Theory

No

Smooth. 4/5

Another good rap album from the 90s. Pleasant surprise!

Loved it from the day it was released.

classic 90s east coast rap good flow but garbage lyrics imo

You on point, Phife? All the time, Tip Well, then grab the microphone and let your words rip

Favourite tracks: skypager; what?; everything is fair

4 爵士饒舌，非常新穎，很放鬆

Better than average example of the genre. This, more concerned with the story to tell.

This is a really easy listen, classic hip hop and classic early 90s. Enjoyed in the background this morning and then listened to again in detail. Great beats. Maybe I like hip hop as I have enjoyed a few of these albums now. Favourite song: What Least favourite: all good songs. Album artwork: Cool cover

A classic hip hop album.

Great stuff. Love the bass.

Amazing Album, played it 5 times in a row. Honestly, I fell in love with it the first time I heard the line "Back in the days when I was a teenager."

Tribe really knows how to blend clever lyrics with smooth, head-nodding beats. Their writing always has that tongue-in-cheek edge to it, and the production here is clean, jazzy, and laid-back without ever feeling boring. I didn’t like this one quite as much as their debut, but it’s still a solid listen. Songs flow well, the vibe is tight, and the whole thing feels polished without losing its soul.

Banger!

Bit of a lull in the middle but first and last thirds are really really good.

Listenable. Nothing special to me

Easy 5

Yes

Great rap music

Pretty decent album.

very smooth and funky but honesty quite dull

Tedious!

Period piece of rap, strong flow and exceptional beats. The style can get a little tired, but that’s just a product of the age. Not a constant rotation for me, but a solid album.

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

Chad rap

There's some great songs on here but so many songs' beats sound exactly the same. 3.5

Achei ok

Я слышал этот альбом кучу раз. "Величайший хип-хоп альбом в истории!" "Джаз-рэп, сделанный правильно". И каждый раз я чувствую себя абсолютным идиотом, потому что не слышу этого ни разу. Теперь же, на фоне дебютника, прослушанного сотню альбомов назад в этом листе, я совершенно не понимаю, в чем такая уж резкая прорывность. Альбом неплохой, но видимо не совсем для меня. Лучшая песня - Jazz (We've Got).

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.

A fuckin VIBE. I wish I would’ve listened a little harder but it did start to get a little monotonous. I did really like it though.

4.5

Favourite Song: Show Business

Love this album. One of the greatest hip-hop records of all time.

Really good A strong 4

Really cool album, perfect for just chilling and having in the background

Listening to this for the first time in more than 20 years is interesting. Simple, boom bap beats and decent (though uncomplicated) rhyme and flow for the most part. Also interesting, you can see emergence of more modern rap styles on songs like Show Business.

Such a great time in hip hop!

Start and finish songs are masterpieces but the middle songs weren’t as good in comparison but there were some good ones better than the rest

Love Tribe, but never listened to this the whole way through. Love this era of rap and acid jazz, trip hop, etc. Reminds me of listening to the radio as my main source of music. Such a great vibe.

I wasn't particularly into this at first listening but I was semi comatose second time around, feeling a bit ill and somehow I stayed awake for the whole album again and it dug it's way into my brain. It's a damn cool album which I've listened to a few times now.

Good, but long and ultimately repetitive.

Really great hip hop album. Qtip has a nice flow.

So far this is the only Hip Hop I’ve listened to that I can appreciate. The rhymes and the simple beat get a little too monotonous for the entire album, but there are moments that truly made me think I misjudged a genre. I get it more after listening to this, but still isn’t something I want to turn on and listen to regularly. I appreciate the talent and can see how it influenced others.

I prefer Midnight Marauders honestly, this album is still a great classic

I had never heard of A Tribe Called Quest until today. I didn't mind it. :)

Really liked this one- great beat and bass-lines with a real jazz feel mixed with some of the smoothest flows from any hip-hop album I've heard. The lyrics seem a bit dated now at times, but honestly that kind of adds to the charm.

So earnest and so human. I didn't get into downtempo hip hop until almost a decade later, so this album was off my radar for a long time. It's really a triumph.

Enjoyed listening to the album. Never really clicked with these guys but do appreciate them.

This albums clips right along with few palpable breaks. It flowed and flowed and was over before I knew it. I have always loved Q-Tip’s flow. It was a pleasant surprise to hear Busta Rhymes on here.

No notes.

Great lyrics!

IDK what anyone says, this shit DID NOT hold up. Sure the beats are fun and cool, the production specifically I'd top notch. But these lyrics?!? I get it's the 'conscious' 'afrocentric' vibe but cmon, this is nursery rhyme bullshit. Look, I love Tribe, had this record when I was 12, but it plays like grandpa rap

Butter- track 4-horn line ⭐️ Verses from the abstract sample ‘heatwave- the star of a story - Ron Carter- bass

Groundbreaking, authentic

Really enjoyed this one! Clever rhymes and good rhythms. I don’t have much knowledge of hip-hop and have not been a big fan of some previous albums in this project, but would definitely come back to this one.

One of my all time favourites.

Just really unexciting

Noteworthy songs - 808080808 Magical Dream - Kinda catchy synth, but the rest is bland. Ancodia - Good background noise. Cobra Bora - Actually kind of cool, reminds me of Bomberman Hero. Pacific 202 - N64 vibes, but melody isn't great. Donkey Doctor - Nothing too special, weird ending. 808080808 - Really cool beginning. A little slow in the middle but stays interesting enough. Sunrise - Nothing remarkable. The Fat Shadow - Eerie. Very short.

Great

"Go get yourself some toilet paper 'cause your lyrics is butt"! Aside from that amusing lyric, I didn't particularly care for this album.

Ok but every song sounds EXACTLY the same?

Me gusta como Shaheed usa el bajo a lo largo del álbum. A mí parecer los beats son cerebrales. Q-tip es S tier MC. El flow del álbum es increíble.

You could isolate either the vocals or the instrumentals and either one would be a good album on its own. So fun to listen to, very upbeat, and you just want to bounce along.

2nd behind Midnight Marauders only cuz the cover lacks a penis :/

Jazz and hip hop fusion? What's not to love!

Rap/hip hop

Good album P jizzy

Probably the best flow on a hip hop album I've heard so far, and consistent maybe to a fault. Kinda wish they took a little more risk creatively

se questo benedettissimo sito mi rifila un altro album hip hop anni 90 nel prossimo mese giuro che mi faccio saltare. bello eh, bello, ma anche basta. tre politico pure a loro.

Quando ho letto che l’album era una commistione di hip-hop, jazz e funk mi ero fatta tante aspettative, che purtroppo non sono state davvero attese. Il jazz si trova solo in un paio di punti in tutto l’album (forse). Sicuramente mi è piaciuto più di altri album hip-hop che abbiamo ascoltato, ma non abbastanza da farmi dare 4/5.

Mh

Not a HipHop fan but this was good 👍

the songs i knew i liked. not big on rap 4/10

rym 4.16 ho idea che dovrò ascoltare un sacco di album hip hop linee di basso assurde lo trovo troppo monotono ma semplicemente non è il mio genere di musica le basi mi piacciono abbastanza 3/5 ma solo perchè sono troppo stupido per capire l'hip hop

Very good

Masterful east coast rap. It must be one of the first hip-hop albums to incorporate so much jazz too. Not all songs hit, but the ones that do really hit. Also has one of the best closing songs of any album. Best Songs: Excursions, Butter, Check the Rhime, Everything is Fair, Scenario Worst Songs: Infamous Date Rape, Skypager,

5/5 - say the whole thing

Hard to fault this. 5*

Excellent. Second listed of this record. Got way more out of it this time around.

When that fat and chunky double-bass sample hits at the beginning of 'Excursions', a feeling of unfiltered joy rushes through me knowing I get to listen to this thing again. This was one of the many albums that had me falling in love with old-school hip-hop back in the day. There was a period in my life where every morning kicked off with that bass sample on 'Excursions'. It's "hip-hop" and "rap" music in its purest, unadulterated form. The beats are blunt and dusty - never feeling too clean or calculated. Their jazzy components are spacious, dark, and warm enough to effectively form pockets for the rhymes of Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and all the features here. 'Buggin' Out' is one of the greatest songs. Period. I mean holy that bass sample kills, the drums slap, it's mixed beautifully, and the witty back and forth between Tip and Phife is unconventionally addictive. Their rapping is so perfect here: "'Oh yo he's acting stank' really on a regal?". The light touches of synth driving the Phife-exclusive 'Butter' highlighting his women's trouble is another flawless cut. I love the stark criticisms of the music industry on 'Show Business' featuring Tribe affiliate Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian. That guitar interlude on 'Vibes and Stuff' is serene, the way the beat coasts on 'Check the Rhime' rules, and 'What?' is consistently hilarious and witty. Then of course we got the posse-cut standard that is 'Scenario' with a memorable verse from a young Busta Rhymes closing off the entire album. Perfection would be an understatement - this is how you tightly package a sonic idea and conceptual motif into something bite-sized yet still grand in its presentation. It's an album that masters the art of consistency. In other words, rap didn't sound like this until 'The Low-End Theory', and rap hasn't sounded like this since 'The Low-End Theory'.

Scenario is the only reason this got 3 stars. It'd have been more if every song didn't sound the exact same.

Bravi

Incredibly influential hip hop album. Some of the best production of the genre

Decent

It's fineeeeeeee.

In the running for #1

Oddly enough I had this just one week after the other tribe album on this list. I do think the rapping on this one is a lot stronger, better usage of Pfife, but the production seemed to go down. If you could put the best elements from both albums together it’s an easy five, but I don’t think it’s all there on either album.

I have a few Tribe albums on vinyl but for some reason I can't remember ever listening to this one. As always Tribe perfectly incorporates the best jazz music and rhythms with their own brand of hip hop. The lyrics are great, the music is great. Great album front to back.

Certified hood classic

I’m beginning to think that there’s too much Hip Hop on this list for its own good. Don’t like it. Never will. End of. Have tried to explain why previously and getting tired of repeating myself. In future will give similar albums a straight 1/5 without comment. 1/5 29/5/24

Album gains steam and by the end hits harder than 2 day old shits. But Fife was there another way to show me where you come from?

Glad I finally listened to this one. It’s been hyped through multiple reviewers and deserves all the acclaim. A stage setter for future rap/hip-hop.

Maybe the best album of one the greatest musical acts of all time. It's always hard to write when I come across an album like this that maybe changed my whole life and I'm so close to because it feels like I can't say anything that I haven't already heard others say. Everyone has there own niches of what makes them understand what music can truly be and what it can make them truly feel and for me that falls within Tribe's whole discography and community, reaching out to De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes. My whole life I have had an affinity for art and music particularly that's worked in contrast to the more sensible and "normal" environment I was raised around, and moreso in my contrast to be able to express myself. This is why ATCQ has always been so important to me, they create everything that makes me feel the music sooo hard yet they never lose their sense of humour or their ability to just be silly and it makes the music so much better for it. But my own random personal feelings aside, this album really is that good. Not necessarily the first to tackle Jazz within hip hop (RIP Guru) but they were the first to clean it up and package it the way they did. By all reports this was due to Q Tip being the perfectionist he is and it really does show. Hours sitting in a studio listening to potential records to sample and tweaking the mix as you run back and forth between the studio and your car to see how it sounds is all that can make an album this minimalist and sparse sound like something that can undeniably move heads. I can still vividly remember the first time I heard Buggin Out as I was leaving my house to walk to school and it was just the perfect moment as that snare hit so crisp and Phife comes in with one of the greatest verses of all time. I rewound it and played it over and over again and didn't hear the second verse until I was halfway to school. And despite hearing it that many times I'm still bumping it regularly years and years later. Scenario is maybe the greatest posse cut of all time, rivaled on its own album by Show Business which in my opinion may be the most underrated posse cut in hip hop. But beyond just my personal experiences with it, this album is an ode to jazz and the culture from which hip hop was born. There's a large voice often saying that hip hop and sampling culture is somewhat "stealing", but when Q Tip specifically makes a point to shout out Ron Carter on Verse from the Abstract, this is more love than individual musicians were usually shown within Jazz itself. People don't regularly talk about McCoy Tyner, they talk about John Coltrane (and his quartet) despite the fact that without the lush and rhythmically dense piano on those records, they simply wouldn't be what they were. But this is because these musicians are tools used by an auteur (for lack of a less wank word), and this is crediting how important the arranger and organiser and conductor of musical performances is, while displaying great trust in these musicians to do in knowing they cna do what you require while adding their own flavour to it. This is the culture that was passed down to hip hop and I think is displayed so beautifully on this album, with moments such as the one I mentioned not relying on you having prior knowledge but telling you where this music came from and why, transforming the musical sphere from simply self-referential, to self-preserving. But this is taking the piss! No one wants to hear people talk about jazz like this and really what's important to me is that this album is intrinsically intwined with my whole life at this point, the highs, the lows, hanging out, hyping myself up, meeting new people, this album is more than music, it's a constant, it's gospel, it's just fucking awesome.

In awe from the first From bass lines on down to flows Masterclass of cool

4.5 This great and I really wanted to give it a five but couldn’t

Liked it a lot!

Classic

Foundational for sure, and an absolute blast to listen to.

Strong hip hop.

I'd enjoyed their debut a lot but this wasn't for me.

Can’t say my life was enriched in any way by hearing this and I’m unlikely to bother again.

My foot tapped along but nothing really stood out

Un rap normal, totalmente olvidable, con ninguna vuelta de tuerca.

So chill and fun

Heard this but haven’t listened to it 1) f*** yeah 2) f*** yeah 3) f*** yeah 4) aight 5) f*** yeah 5 star

One of hip hop’s great conscious-rap outputs. It’s great beginning to end.

actually pretty mellow. obviously they have a huge talent to rap, but the music itself is pretty one note, but still nice and mellow for relaxing times.

Good hiphop with good beats and some clever lyrics. Don't know if I would go back to listen but definitely wasn't bad. The album had a more chill vibe than most others I've listened to.

Not for me

One of the all-time hip-hop classics. Styles upon styles upon styles is what they have.

One of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.

The first Tribe album came up long enough ago that I can’t say for sure if I prefer this one, but I think I do. It’s pretty consistent and both music and vocals are super smooth (like butter). I wouldn’t say the ‘jazz’ thing is inherently better or worse than other types of hip-hop production, but these guys make it work in a big way. The double bass-led tracks are particularly ear-catching.

Basically fine intellectual hip hop, not I soured to have another go

3,5

What we had previously heard the few years earlier before low end theory was gangsta rap with ice-t, 2pac, nwa, eric b and others this was the album that started the movement of experimental rap that lead the way for fugees, wu-tang and other rappers attempting to create a fussion between rap and other generes, styles and cultures. The smooth jazzy low key relaxing vocals of Q-Tip and the contrasting more hard and powerful delivery of Phife and Jarobi with an extreme influence a knowledge of jazz made this a totally different sound never heard before in rap. De la soul had already had a different approach but this was a jaw dropping album cause the mix of styles simply killed it. This should be a top 10 rap album of all time. It has not been given the credit it deserves because of the way it changed rap music

Just feel like this didn’t age too well, beats are great, rhymes sound corny

What's a Tribe album without 5 stars?

hørte det ik lol

Nice beats.

Cant get into Tribe like that, great production aged pretty good for 91

I knew this was a 5 star album approximately 20 seconds into the first track. Come on man, how can it be better than this? Tribe gets into some of the most addicting grooves in music history.

Not really much of a rap fan, but really enjoyed it.

Another first time listen. From a great era at the start of a brilliant decade for music. Well constructed, produced, performed and worded. This is another on the ‘must investigate further’ list. Who knows what doors this may open. Can I kick it? Apparently, I can…

Nostalgic to hear this again

Waar Floris het al had over 'The White Album der Hip Hop' van De La Soul, kent dit album de prestigieuze titel de 'Sgt. Pepper van de rapwereld'. Dit vooral vanwege de immens progressieve aanpak op het gebied van productie en engineering, en niet zo zeer op esthetisch vlak. Al kun je de vrijgeestige artiesten uit Queens wel bestempelen als de hippies van de East Coast hip hop scene. Dit album bouwt voort op revolutionaire technieken en de storytelling filosofie die we al hoorden in 'Paul's Boutique' en '3 Feet High and Rising', waaraan het een hoop te danken heeft. Maar al die elementen, van de gelaagde samples tot de cultuurswitch van gangster rap naar humoristische boom bap, worden naar een legendarisch niveau getild. Dit is peak early 90s hip hop, het walhalla wat talloze acts na hun tevergeefs hebben proberen te bereiken. Bijna 33 jaar na dato is dit album fresher dan de freshte pannenkoeken die bij je lokale record store over de balie vliegen. Dit album - en A Tribe in het algemeen - was voor mij een essentiele pionier, die mij de fascinerende wereld van de 'Golden Age of Hip Hop' introk. En alhoewel de (letterlijk) kraakheldere productie en de organische wijze van mixing, waarin live instrumenten en samples samenvloeiden, de earcatchers zijn op deze plaat, is het voor mij allereerst de timing, de flow, en de wordplay van de mannen die mij deden overtuigen van zijn centrale plek in de hip hop Hall of Fame. Hoe de rhymes met speels gemak voortvloeien op die overheerlijke double bass (s/o naar Jazz-icoon Ron Carter). Dit album belichaamt de brug tussen jazz rap en neo-soul, en is een voorbode van Q-Tip's monumentale werk met de 'Soulquarians' tegen het einde van het decennium. Dat die double bass een dodelijk wapen is op dit album wordt direct duidelijk in de openingsfase, met 'Excursions' en 'Buggin' Out'. Twee van de sterkere songs op het album; de eerste als een afrocentrisch anthem dat als geen ander het ATCQ-universum tekent, de tweede vanwege de vocal performance van Phife. Het contrast tussen de twee rappers, die samengaan als milk and honey, wordt nogmaals duidelijk bij het duo 'Butter' en 'Verses from the Abstract'. Deze laten zien dat de groep een ongekend oor voor hooks heeft. Het middenstuk neemt een beetje gas terug, waarin een aantal nummers iets te veel leunen op de zalige productie, zonder echt iets nieuws te brengen. Maarja, ze komen er ook wel weer gewoon mee weg, omdat ze de flow weigeren te doorbreken. De tweede helft van het album pakt de draad weer volledig op, met de fameuze tracks 'Check the Rhime' en 'Jazz (We've Got)'. De Average White Band's loop van de eerste is het uithangbord geworden van de groep's gogme op gebied van sampling. De tweede is jazz rap perfectie, smooth like butter. En al die elementen - de één revolutionair, en de ander juist retrospectief - komen tot een explosie van jewelste in de laatste fase van de plaat. Met hoeveel souplesse de humor wordt geleverd in 'What?', en hoe die De La Soul-achtige track z'n transitie maakt naar het charismatische boom bap anthem 'Scenario', is tekenend voor de uitzonderlijke muzikaliteit van de Tribe. Phife en Q-Tip leveren nog één keertje, maar moeten uiteindelijk hun betere erkennen in de featurings. Dinco D van Leaders of the New School pakt de microfoon en zet een tandje bij, wat één van m'n favoriete verses van het decennium oplevert. De lat werd hoog gelegd, maar niet te hoog voor een jonge Busta Rhymes. Wat een manier om én één van de meest iconische Hip Hop albums ooit te eindigen, en je eigen carriere te kickstarten. Er zijn weinig verses in het genre te vinden die zoveel persoonlijkheid uitstralen als deze. 'Scenario' staat voor de continue drijfveer om elkaar te pushen naar nieuwe hoogtes, de ideologie die 'The Low End Theory' gebracht heeft waar het staat. 9,5/10 Highlights: Excursions Verses from the Abstract Jazz (We've Got) Scenario

Opzich kan mijn review van De La Soul hier ook zo worden toegepast. Ik kan met veel hiphop niet goed uit de voeten maar door deze vette fusion van jazz en hip-hop heeft het album een heerlijke groove. Dat komt ook dat - net als bij De La Soul - de rap niet zo luid en agressief is maar meer als instrument past bij de groove die eronder zit. Dat ligt mij beter dan al die 'rapbattles van tegenwoordig'. 8/10 Highlights Excursions Verses from the Abstract Scenario

Geweldig album, veel goede nummers, origineel, want echt anders, en invloedrijk.

Old school hip hip that brings me back. Some fun and clever stuff.

Didn't completely hit the spot, but definitely some standout tunes in there.

Solid classic rap.

Quite a funky bassline on the first few tracks. Same with the drums so i can see where the jazz references come from. Lyrically, hip hop and the like usually has quite meaningful words. But other than that it seems just a very average album from a first listen to me. Repetitive samples used throughout. None of them are particularly stand out either. although i do like the jazz feel on a few tracks. It wasnt a bad album but i struggle to see how this is a classic on a first listen. Maybe its more in the lyrics and commentary of the time. Because i thought it was an OK, and im unable to remember or think of a single stand out track, id give it a 2/5 based on a first listen. I know this album is well thought of so i will probably come back and give it another listen.

I never knew I liked early 90s hip hop till today. Great!

Not for me.

I liked it!

I still don’t understand the need for the cussing and sexual overtones. They had some solid songs that did not include either, so they are very capable of it. I liked the jazz sound.

Some of it didn’t feel like sampling. It felt like straight up plagiarism. This album was not good with an awful cup of cheating on the side

Pretty solid hip hop rap album. The lyrics were pretty solid and I liked how they actually told stories for a lot of the songs. Kinda sad to see where hip hop has gone since this album.

generally hip-hop is not my style but this was not bad. enjoyed the flow from one track to next (tho it started to get boring in a couple spots), liked the jazz vibe & samples.

I'm sorry, but I can't get into this music, if you can call it that. I like some of the jazzy sounds but the spoken 'singing', nope! I hardly understand anything and I have to say, I'm not interested in it either, it's not my world

Such a good album. Easy early 90's hip hop with a through line. Good jams all around. Worth many more listens

While I have a lot of respect for early 90s hip hop, growing up in the modern era has primed me for more lush, complex beatmaking, making it difficult for earlier albums to be top-tier unless the lyrics are exceptional. I much prefer Tribe's later output, as the production and delivery here is quite samey and the subject matter is oftentimes too referential to specific individuals or places without additional context. Phife the standout as usual. Listened to: walking in Prospect Park. Favorite tracks: Verses From the Abstract, Check the Rhyme

First time. 1.5x.

A classic.

This is one cohesive album! Mellow jazz vibes and in the pocket rhyming. Super smooth and a landmark album where the Jazz meets the Hip Hop in the perfect package. This is really good, but not hitting me personally. 3/5 -5/6/2024

I really have enjoyed the 2 Tribe records I’ve gotten so far. Funky, jazzy, Afrocentric beautiful rap. None of it feels too aged.

one of my favorite rap albums and thats thanks to the beats. the songs are all so short that the beats never get boring and every one is unique and groovy. 8/10

Muy bueno.

Yeeeessssssss

not bad it’s okay 3/10

How do you rate an album that was formative to your tastes, but that you rarely revisit any more? I’ve had a really hard time trying to gather my thoughts on The Low End Theory. It was the second hip-hop CD I ever bought, right after Ready to Die. I know this album like the back of my hand. Once I started to drive, it was the one CD that never left the CD changer. It was maybe the first album where I had to research what the lyrics meant, because the references were to things that happened 2 years before I was even born, and also because I am very white. Along with DatPiff, it’s probably the reason why I was actively on the hip-hop blogs in the late 2000s. As an introduction to hip-hop, this album taught me not only to love the genre, but *how* to love the genre. It shaped my teenage love for backpacker hip-hop, and also nudged me toward jazz before my ears were probably even ready for that genre. It is the definition of a 101 Course on hip-hop, and remains the best example to throw to someone who “likes everything but rap and country.” But I’ve grown a lot since then. I still love hip-hop as much as ever, and I listen to basically all of its subgenres, from modern cloud rap and trap to Golden Age to Bling era 2000s rap. And I like a *lot* of “conscious hip-hop,” both classic and modern. But something about this album on a relisten rubbed me the wrong way. 
Objectively, it’s good – Tip and Phife are excellent rappers, with strong pens and great flows. The beats hit, the features are cool, and the style of mixing jazz with hip-hop still sounds modern, even if the mixing feels a bit quiet for my loudness war ears. There are some standout songs – “Buggin’ Out,” “Jazz,” and “Scenario,” plus “Skypager” as a personal fav. So why the hesitation? Maybe it’s the fact that the mere existence of the unlistenable, homophobic “Georgie Porgie” gives this record a certain stink that makes me realize maybe it’s not as socially aware as it claims to be. But critiquing an album for a song that isn’t there is dumb. Maybe it’s all the inside baseball talk about the music business, which feels very lame and very omnipresent when compared to the less-frequent but more impactful story-telling songs like “Butter” or “The Infamous Date Rape.” Maybe it’s the fact that Q-Tip gets over 20% of this record all to himself, which feels…egotistical, and kinda weird? Maybe it’s the built-in censorship, and while I know it had to happen to get Ron Carter’s immaculate bass playing, it still feels a bit holier than thou. And that’s maybe the issue. The Low End Theory just feels…preachy now??? Like, I got into rap too early to get on the “rap is crap” train and complain about its vulgarness, which is all based in racism, internalized or externalized, but there’s a sheltered nature here that The Low End Theory can appeal to, especially to white listeners. It feels deep and complex, and in some ways, it is, and on some tracks, it is, but it’s also not *that* deep, and has some complex problems baked in. And acknowledging those issues doesn’t make it a bad album, or even unlistenable, but it also brings it down a notch from the canonized pedestal I placed it on when I was 12. Because I think sometimes it’s totally fine to think an album is good, great even, and still feel like you’ve outgrown it. Besides, Midnight Marauders and We got it from Here… are both better albums, easily, and I stand by that statement because they’re both still heavily in my listening rotation, while The Low End Theory just isn’t.

#208. Pretty decent overall. I particularly liked Scenario. 3/5: I'd touch it with a ten foot pole. Song added to playlist: Scenario I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

All. Time. Classic. Hip. Hop. Nuff said.

Loved this. It was so catchy and I found myself dancing along. Best lyrics: “All I do is write rhymes, eat, drink, shit and bone.”

I liked this OK, kinda cool it’s just DJ, bass, and vocals. The tracks with Muhammad as a co-songwriter mostly seemed alike. Would never need to hear again.

So, some of this hasn’t aged well. And what are the odds that 2/3 of the NBA players name checked on a song called “infamous date rape” are infamous for sexual indiscretions that came to light after the song’s release? But apart from problematic sexual politics, this is such a fun album. I feel like you could put this on at any party and it would work. It’s on point (phife) all the time (tip).

4+

Ik ben geen rap fan, maar deze meneer heeft wel een aangename stem.

Amazing

Awesome album, loved it.

I'm not a hip hop guy and this is not the album that is going to change my mind. It was okay at first, but by the end I was ready for it to be over.

I love this album and it’s a very different hip-hop album than Maddie that I have heard. I have always thought this is one of my favorite albums in this genre because it is so fun, relaxing, and playful to hear. There are many great hooks and beats on this album and the wrapping is awesome. Five out of five.

So fun and sing songy.

Excellent, I know nothing about this group, but have heard the name for years. Excellent chill hip hop.

Gear: Hifiman Arya Artwork: schwarz, sexy, ikonisch Mix: smooth, funky, fett gezupfter double Bass, organische Beats, groovy Vocals Musik: Legendär. Wertung: klare 🪙🪙🪙🪙🪙/5

Incredible

Time is an inanimate object

Why is all 90s hip hop boring and misogynistic?

I could understand the words!

This is my kind of rap, love the style and the beats

I can’t believe I slept on this. I think I still prefer Midnight Marauders, but holy shit this is undeniably amazing.

Good flow but pretty mellow. Nothing really exciting.

3.5/5

A real vibe I love this album

I really liked it! Kinda spaced once I got used to the flow but I enjoyed it!

Absolutely fantastic. Great grooves, lyrically diverse.

Legendary. Still Hits.

3/5

Not listened yet but

Man. This was pretty incredible.

I love A Tribe Called Quest, this album is incredible. 4/5

I really enjoyed the first Tribe Called Quest Album- this one wasn’t bad but I didn’t enjoy it at the same level. The sound on this album (a year later) definitely sounds evolved/more edited/minimal/slower paced from where they started. I personally enjoyed the journey the first one took me on much more. The influence they were to have on contemporary rap/hip hop is becoming more apparent by this album to me. Still a solid album but more repetitive to me than their previous album.

3.75

Was sitting around with a bunch of guys who aren't into hip hop and I put this on in the background and even they enjoyed it.

Deserves every inch of hype it receives. Though it lacks my #1 Tribe song, Award Tour, it has more than enough undisputables. Verses from the Abstract, Check the Rhime, Scenario, Excursions, Buggin Out, all god damn classics.

This is one of the albums where rap/hiphop got more musically complex while also being fun to listen to. It's one of the first rap albums that still feels fresh, where as, for example, even though Straight Outta Compton is great, it does sound musically dated.

I see why this is an important album, but it wasn't for me.

Super fun album. Enjoyed it much more than I expected to!

A CLASSIC.The best hip-hop album ever.

Is it racist not to like hip-hop?

An all-timer, this album has such a distinctive sound and compelling irrepressible energy. Simple but totally captivating beats with a smooth laid back funky jazz flavor keep your head bobbing along gently. The production is clear and crisp and balanced and everything comes through just right, like a live jazz trio perfectly captured laying it down. The vocals are the really stand out part though. Keeping the choruses to a minimum, Q-tip, Phife Dawg, and Busta Rhymes swap verses relentlessly and joyfully, they each have a unique flow, playing around with cadences, going off on wordy excursions, spinning out elaborate stories, bantering, conjuring images, and having fun with the language. It starts and ends on a high and never lets up in between.

This album feels like one I should like, but I don't, it's dull and the jazz/ hip-hop fusion leaves me cold. I've tried a few times to get into it, as it's consistently hailed as a classic. But nothing stands out as even slightly interesting to me. I love hip-hop, but this is just far too drab to get anything more than 3 stars, and even then I'm being generous.

This album is wild. It almost feels like it could just run forever with one song. The lyrics are so casual and then so poignant all over the place. I could see a dozen very different people all love this for different reasons. Masterful album but I'm putting it at a strong 4 vs weak 5.

That boom bap. Strong opening track. I don't claim to be the biggest Tribe fan. Not a huge fan of QTips voice, but the energy is so good. And sonically overall it works. My favorite track has always been Scenario. It's the track off of this album that I have played the most. It's an album.

Incredible 90s rap, has a great flow in the lyrics and seems to filled with passion and love for the music their making. Has a heavy focus of Black culture and position in American society, plus cool jazz vibes to go with it. Super fun and intriguing listen.

klasyczny hiphop z 90s, ale nic ciekawego na playliste, bardziej takie do puszczenia w tle, ostatni otwor to bardzo znany klasyk

All-time favorite. Great beats and verses.

It's 1991. Storrs, CT. UConn's West Campus. Lancaster Hall, 4th floor. This is the what you hear coming out of the windows on every nice day. It's the soundtrack to every party. This is the album you put on when you bring a girl back to your room and awkwardly try to get her in the mood. '90s hip-hop was full of experimentation and this is some of it's best. Stripped down beats and jazz samples under chill conscious rhymes delivered with precision. I think about this a lot because it's exactly the trajectory I wish hip-hop would've taken. Unfortunately the record industry thought it would be more profitable to glorify gang violence, crime, misogyny, and consumerism instead.

A perfect, cool hip hop album. Filled with poignant lyrics and sick beats.

Great mellow vibes, old school hip hop with some R&B

Second favorite Tribe Called Quest record. Flow is unmatched and the 90s Tribe is all about the damn vibes!

Has some low points but I do really enjoy this album. Favorite track: Scenario

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

Nice HipHop

Das ist wohl mein erstes Hip-Hop Album, dass mir richtig gut gefallen hat. Auch wenn oft der Rhythmus ziemlich ähnlich war in den Songs, so war die Art der Arrangements richtig cool gemacht. Abwechslungsreich.

This one is one of the best 90s rap records. I wanna get it on vinyl

I already had this album on my spotify favorites. It's really good, reminds me of younger days. I'm sure I will listen to this again.

Rap is a waste of listening time! I like the music but don't appreciate adding the words.

Holds up way better than almost every other 90s hip hop since there's not skits bogging it down.

Probably my favorite rap album not by the Beastie Boys.

Hip-Hop - not really my taste

👍🏻

Undergrad discovery. all rippers, no skippers

I listened to this 4 times in a row if that means anything.

Eh

First listen Saved 8/14

Some of the best of what was at the time considered new school hip hop.

There are exactly zero flaws on this album. So incredibly influential. Q-Tip might be my favorite. This is really excellent.

Really solid, although I’m always more partial to Midnight Marauders.

Man, A Tribe Called Quest was such an awesome influence on early hip hop. Great music, wholesome messages (Infamous _ _ comes to mind). I like the jazz samples within the beats on this album! I also didn't know this was where Scenario came from. I think a 4.5 for me.

influential and obv really good and chill record, its not in my top records but doesnt take away from the enjoyment

Not as good as the other album we had

classic.. to think new generation is likely to rediscover rock n roll of the past... will they do so for rap? Out of their catalog i probably have heard this the most. It just flows like the Downward Spiral. Beastie Boys had Paul's Boutique as their opus... this is tribes' opus

Stripped down sound, giving the lyrics some breathing space. Listenable for sure with terrific, hypnotic beats. All this and Ron Carter(!).

Rap bores me. Misogyny, braggadocio, materialism, name dropping, I miss melody, and hooks. The production quality is admirable. 2*

Brilliant. The smartest, grooviest thing to come out of 1991, and still one of the c-o-o-l-est albums ever made. This is the album you give to your friends who claim not to like hip hop. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Check the Rhime, Jazz (We've Got), Buggin' Out, Skypager, Excursions, Everything Is Fair, Verses from the Abstract, Vibes and Stuff, The Infamous Date Rape, What?, Scenario, Rap Promoter, Butter, Show Business

Amazing flows, solid beats and lots of innovation.

Quality beats and flows, somewhat repetitive but a distinct sound

Rest in peeace phife dawg

A timely follow up to Nevermind- both of these albums released in the most important year of 1991. “The Low End Theory” is great 90s hip hop, very enjoyable! Four stars

Not really my cup of tea, but enjoyable nonetheless

Just so very cool. Flows so well and the instrumentation is the perfect amount of minimalist. Just a vibe that can go on forever.

Favourite song - Jazz we've got

Да мимо ушей. Фоновая музыка на расслабоне, ничего такого. Not good not bad, норм рэпчина.

a tribe called quest only make peak albums. this ain’t their best but i’d still give it a 4.5/5

Couldn't rate this yesterday because I was working. You can't appreciate this record properly while doing something else. This is absolutely headphones music. Drink it in. Tribe just might be the greatest hip hop ever. Completely magnificent.

Classic. Jazzy vibes, good rhymes. Will listen again

Fresco y funky, beats relajados

Enjoyable enough for a hip hop album. Reminded me of de la soul

Enjoyed reading the wiki on this album, enjoyed the hip hop more

Rekindled my love for Hip-Hop Rap. You must hear this before you die.

As a Tribe fan this album isn't super memorable. The production is great but the lyricism doesn't stand out IMO

Not my favourite album by them but still banging

You know it’s the nineties when they tell you in every song.

Decent

The Low End Theory is not just an album; it's a cornerstone of hip-hop history. Released in 1991 , it's a testament to the group's mastery of the genre. From its funky beats to its slick production, every aspect of the album is crafted with precision. One of the standout elements is the use of live double bass, which adds a layer of richness to the tracks. The minimalist approach to production allows each element to shine. But what truly sets The Low End Theory apart is the interplay between Q-Tip and Phife Dawg. Their chemistry is undeniable, with each verse complementing the other seamlessly. Beyond its musical prowess, the album also delves into socially conscious themes, offering thought-provoking commentary on issues such as race, identity, and society. Yet, despite tackling weighty topics, the overall vibe remains laid-back and easygoing. This juxtaposition between profound lyricism and relaxed beats is what makes The Low End Theory a masterpiece of hip-hop. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 9 STAND OUT TRACK - Buggin' Out

Karen recommended me this album when i was working at BRI. Thought it was well good, giving it a five stars cos i really like the beats and the rap FLOW

Good stuff! 4.

WOW. I think exposing me to more jazz with this project led me to appreciate this album more. The blending of hip hop and jazz is perfection. Lyrics are insightful and reflect NYC life of the 80s/early 90s.

Great hip hop album. Love the jazz influences. It still sounds fresh even now.

Pretty good, but not something I'd go back to

Ja ik vind dit gewone echt heel hard

Smooth, sharp, tight, beats and rhymes with a soupcon of jazz thrown in to top it off. Very nice.

Masterpiece

5 is for the artist. My personal favorite rap group of all time. Its not their best album cause there are a couple stinkers, but its also a jazz album so it kinda just goes with the flow.

I get why it's in the list, but it's not my thing

Good in places 3.5*

slow and boring

Hands down one of the best hip hop albums I’ve ever heard

If it just had Scenario it would have five stars, everything else is good too.

Pretty good, but at the same time no stand outs.

Very strong start on this. It has a classic, minimalist alternative hip hop sound. I know a bit of Q-Tip's later stuff and have liked his style. The quality varied a bit, but I can definitely see the influence that this album has had, given that it was released in 1991. The standout track here stands out for questionable reasons though. Is 'Infamous Date Rape' social commentary, or celebration of misgony? Given the group's messages in other songs, I can entertain the idea that it might be the former and that there is a hidden message against sexual violence. However, the fact that that same song is riddled with period jokes makes it harder to buy that message. It's an odd miss on an otherwise great album, but it's striking enough that it's hard to ignore.

Really good but maybe slightly overrated

DOPE

“ANOTHER TRIBE ALBUM?!?!” This is what I said, with excitement, when I saw this pop up last night. I’ve listened to their third and first albums (in that order) and was thrilled to be handed their second. Tribe is just…incredible. The whole package. Masters of flow and vibes. Clear messages, often with social issues in mind. Smart lyrics with clever rhymes. Their demeanor or attitude just creates this feeling like you know them, like their songs feel familiar even if you’ve never heard them before. I adore Tribe. And I adored this album. I didn’t like it quite as much as their first, and so I’ll give it 4 stars. But that’s not to say it isn’t incredible in its own right because it really is. Standout tracks: Excursions, Buggin’ Out, Butter, Show Business, Vibes and Stuff, Check the Rhime, Jazz (We’ve Got), What?

The album is brilliant, but hip-hop is not mine.

Bra innføring i en sjanger jeg aldri hører på frivillig.

Love jazz rap and the Tribe were the best at it. Catchy groovy beats.

A masterpiece by every measure.

appreciate the cultural and musical significance of the album. however, I'm not a fan of hip hop and this album didn't change that – the beats are nice for background music, but that's about it

Definitely not their best album but still a solid 4

This is the second A Tribe Called Quest album I’ve listened to, and this one is just as boring and as formulaic as the first. Nothing sounded terrible, but there was nothing of interest either. Every track sounds almost identical to next. An hour of whale song would’ve been less of a sedative.

Top drawer for me

Favourite hip hop album so far.

This was ok, but I didn't enjoy it as much as their other album; the only thing that was better than the other album was the album cover.

Didn’t like it as much as there other album but it was good. Happy to hear it but there’s other music I’d rather listen to most of the time

Excellent old school hip hop. Great beats, great flow and a lovely little taste of the ODB on the last track.

Sounds so modern. Bass lines are groovy. Great flows and can understand.

I’m so glad this one made it on here. I got into tribe a few years ago and found myself really loving this one and Midnight Marauders. Funny enough I already have memories with this album, it became part of my late night fall asleep albums. It’s such a chill album and the jazz pieces of it really make it seem special. Like a real late night jazz club hip hop. Since I was up late last night and saw this, I listened to the album while going to bed.

Love this album, so glad it's on here. There's always been a debate as to which is the ultimate Tribe masterpiece, and it's typically between this and Midnight Marauders. Me personally, I'm going Midnight Marauders, but this one has a cool jazzy edge to it that elevates things. The energy on the intro track is so perfect, can't overstate how awesome that baseline beat is. The album maintains the jazzy feel pretty well, with some great upright bass lines, but there are also a couple tracks that depart to more of hype territory. I was thinking this fell shy of the five-star rating, and I'm not sure why. Listening back to bangers on here, like "Check the Rhime," I mean how could this not get five stars? I thought it lost some steam, but in reality I think I was just not as engaged as I needed to be. As far as the rivalry goes, Midnight Marauders is still my winner. To me, that album is a brilliant ride start to finish, with no skips or bumps along the way. This one's arguably just as excellent, but it's just doesn't hit me in quite the same way. Nevertheless, a legendary album, and very deserving. Favorite tracks: Excursions, Buggin Out, Show Business, Check the Rhime, Skypager, What?, Scenario. Album art: Easily their best, right? I mean holy cow. The fact that this woman would make an encore appearance on MM is so cool too. Just a perfect art style and color combination, this one is elemental, essential. 4.5/5

It's like butter, man

okay, but nothing special

So so so so good

Great album, but can get a bit repetitive. Easy album to throw on and get lost in, but not great for background noise as the sound lends itself to blending together.

Couldn't finish it

Uh fangt schomal groovy ah. Oha?! Rap?! Hani wie ned erwartet. Das album isch so guet😭😭 wie hanis ned kennt

pke erste song schomol huuuuere hard. beboptönt echt wie hip hop?? buggin out weniger cool. aber immerno cool. nocher machter dengdidengdigigigi!! butter maaad geile beat bruuudi. aber de q-tip isch schochli de besser rapper als de ander guy. uuuuuh s sax im refraaaaain. verses from thea stract mega happy gfallt mer. q tip huuuere coolesiech. uuuuh ron carter on the bass??? show business au saugeil. vibes and stuff isch meh so chli afoch en vibe halt? beat geil jnd so aber nöd viel meh. infamous date rape uui ok würi hüt nöd nomel so mache. aber gege sexuelli gwalt schono harde shit. check the rhyme rieese samples riese beat. industry rule #4080 industry people are shadyyy. nocher en mc hammer diss lesgoooo jazz time.

okay scho vill vo ihne ghört ich lieb de bass, so hot "once had a fetish, fetish for some booty" DANKE also ich find es groovt ultraaaa. nöd mega catchy oder so aber z vill catchy würd au d atmosphäre störe? vibes and stuff isch halt fr fr vibe and stuff check the rhime insane mengisch hend sie so abrupti wechsel, was für mich nöd megaaa sinn macht, bi somene album wärs doch nice wenns chli würd inenand flowe statt so herti wechsel aber naja schlimm ischs nöd KLARS 4

Me sorprendi fuerte con este rap de la vieja escuela a puro sample

Hieno tiedostavan rapin klassikko josta ei puutu mitään! Tykkään tosi paljon kyseisestä levystä vaikka bändiltä ja aikalaisilta löytyy myös muita hienoja levyjä. 5/5

Luulenpa, että tämä on mielestäni kaikkien aikojen paras rap-levy. Aivan tajuttoman hyvää musiikkia. Se miten vokaalit on kuin yhtä biittien kanssa ja flow jatkuu biisistä toiseen. Kahdesti kuuntelin läpi eikä se tuntunut riittävän. Toivottavasti muitakin TCQ:n levyjä on listalla, koska ei ne hirveästi huonompia ole.

Todella kokonainen levy! Rennolla tavalla varmaa suorittamista. 4/5

I kind of like Show Business and almost like Jazz (We’ve Got)

Relaxte rap

Jazzy East Coast Hip Hop. Boom baps out in full force. Low End Theory is full of smooth jazz bass lines and sick drum beats. Incredible flows and lyrics from everyone involved. Even though all the songs had similar feelings, it's a feeling you never get tired of. For me, it's like I'm nostalgic for a time I was never alive. It's cool I got to listen to The Chronic before this to really see the difference between between coastal styles. Definitely an all time classic Will for sure revisit.

Some good stuff but feels too long, lost interest

3,5

Today's album is fantastic! Really solid early 90's hip hop. Apparently this album helped garner Busta Rhymes notoriety and led to him breaking out on his own. Busta wasn't actually a member of the band but was featured on some songs, and was always hanging around with them. Their beats are mixed with jazz, and it just works so well. This whole album is a vibe! Favourite songs: Scenario, Show Business, Excursions, What?, Buggin' Out, Rap Promoter, Verses from the Abstract, Check the Rhime, Infamous Date Rape, Butter, Vibes and Stuff, Jazz (We've Got), Skypager Least favourite songs: if forced to pick, Everything is Fair 5/5

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I'm not a hip hop fan by any means, but this was one enjoyable ride from start to finish. Love the jazz influence heard on this album, and the lyrics are somewhat positive and fun.