The Low End Theory

Really good album. Great rhymes and flow.

Probably one of my top rap albums of all time, there are so many great songs on this. The vibe on this album is essentially the best overall.

Couldn't kick it but was aight

Fav Song: Vibes and Stuff

A tribe called quest is awesome. Early '90s backpack rap always makes me nod my head.

Classic hip-hop beats. Good stuff

A band I really need to listen to more. Hooks you within seconds.

Great music, but not for work.

Surprisingly enjoyable. I remember back when this was released thinking that the singles were kinda bland. It all works much better as a full album though, and there are lots of fun jazz samples. Highlights include: Show Business What?

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! 😎

Fitting that I got this album on MLK day. Definitely one I'd listen to again.

good rap, just like JF used to like... traitor!

Not my thing, but I respect the old sound.

good vibe and flow

So much flow and creative. Midnight Marauders is also cool.

Nice. Funky rap.

not my jam, some swearing, but overall not bad

I don’t know why I’ve never listened to this before. Awesome stuff

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

Enormously influential in its day, but just sounds stale and dull today. In the same genre, Blowout Comb is a vastly superior album, and still sparkles and entertains.

Good shit

Good!

Cool super early rap/hip hop. Obviously not my favorite but not bad at all

Effing loved it

Classic 90s hip-hop, top 10 hip-hop album of all time

Not Nice

This is a jazz/hiphop gem! Must listen.

Great hip-hop.

one of the best hiphop/jazz rap records of all time.

i already listened to this it's great

All time classic from the legendary Tribe.

30/09/2020 Sat in room when the water went out and phys got cancelled. Really enjoyed this album and was excited for my first hiphop piece. However, some of the album has not aged well at all, although it was part of a genre defining movement at the time. Songs like 'infamous date rape' in particular are not an easy listen. Tempted to give a 3, but because I am so aware of the position ATCQ have in hiphop, and the general influence of this album, I feel inclined to give a 4. Sugar Hill Gang/Grandmaster Flash influences run through the blood of this album.

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.

Classic cerebral rap. Best track: Scenario

Connor: it's a decent album. from the beginning, the first verse is incredible - but it's probably the best on the album. Q-Tip flows great throughout, but the lyrics are a little weak in the middle songs and the beats use cool jazzy instruments but are a little too sparse

listened to it before baby

A mix of good and bad lyricism. Samples not that amusing.

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.

1991: Check the Rhime, Scenario, Excursions

A hip hop classic, more of a place in time album then what I consider pinnacle for me personally, however a great introduction to the world for Busta Rhymes, would go 3.5

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

Junk

Old school hip hop perfection.

Not for me

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

One of the best hip hop album ever.