Reviews (page 3 of 13)
Great album indeed. Not their best though. Still solid 5 either way.
Beats are amazing. Lyrics are effective, thoughtful but sometimes come off corny by todays standards. At the same time, TCQ does a great job of creating a cohesive identity and sound during their music. It's such a calming type of hip hop which is lovely in the midst of a popularity of screaming and hype music. As we seem to be continuously chasing new highs in our music, it's refreshing to hear something so music which is calming but with powerful social commentary.
Was not prepared to love this so much
Rap in its purest, most distilled form. Impeccable bars, and a stripped back production that is so clean you could eat off of it.
Classic
Instant 5 stars. One of my all time favourites.
A really solid 90s rap album, probably one of the best. Every track is so good, melodic and solid, surprising for rap form what I’ve heard. I’m conflicted on being 5 stars, but it might be a really strong 4. Id say it’s essential listening
i was waiting for the other shoe to drop as i was listening to this: when was there going to be song that's a stinker? imo, there aren't any. what a treat to listen to a 1001 album and experience a growing sense of disbelief that EVERY song is an instant save. highlights - excursions, buggin' out, verses from the abstract, show business, vibes and stuff, check the rhime, everything is fair, jazz (we got), skypager
Goated
A true no skips classic. 4.5/5
My favourite of ATCQ. Highlight: Jazz (We've Got)
A masterpiece. The heavy bass driven beats meats timeless and engaging lyrics. The dynamic between Q-Tip and Phife peaks here, and they seem so damn confident. It's a project with no real skips, and it has aged so well. Best song: Excursions Worst song: What? Cover check: Minimalistic and iconic
90's hip-hop built on top of jazz samples. Ever found hip-hop beats boring and repetitive? Try this. It's the foundation of alt-hip-hop for a decade. 'Buggin' Out' and 'Check The Rhime' are excellent.
Hip hop with classic jazz sampling and smooth lyrics? Sign me up. I was really hoping this album and their debut album are on this list and I'm not disappointed. This album is mandatory listening for anyone who claims they love hip hop/rap. 5/5 stars.
There are ways this album hasn't aged well, but those things are mostly minor and it's still pretty brilliant. One of the classics of it's era.
Wow this is another one which I've heard so many times that its hard to take a step back and hear it from scratch, but I tried. This album feels a lot different to any other rap albums both at the time and since. I think the choice of samples and the way they are integrated quite minimally feels quite unique, more as if there is a band playing, because it doesn't feel too crowded. The drum breaks are excellent, the often dusty, slightly low-fi vinyl sampled quality makes them a bit saturated, and the sampling in general is quite warm feeling. I think that if you had no idea what sampling was, you could definitely think that there was a single band playing, because of how well pieced together the samples are. I've always been interested by the way that they approach the choruses of the songs, as they tend to just repeat a certain phrase, like on the first 2 songs in particularly, I think that's great, as sometimes rap songs get aimlessly stuck in verses with no real structure. I also really like the choruses which revolve around a sample, like everything is fair. The rapping and wordplay is incredible, a lot of social commentary, but also mostly story-based. It definitely gives a look into their personal lives. I think I slightly prefer Q-tip over Phife, but that could be because Q-tip appears much more, and I quite recently learned that he was the primary producer, I thought it was the Shaheed Muhammad guy, but seemingly he only did a little bit of the production on here. What I think is a totally unique feature to tribe is how well each of the rappers compliment each other, especially in songs like check the rhyme where they are quite literally going bar for bar and both of their verses mirror each other. Not even to mention the features, which I think make Q-tip and Phife have a slightly different approach, something like a friendly competition. The guys on show business are great, and Scenario introduced me to the Leaders of the New school, who I also love, and they also have totally different approaches to wordplay like Charlie Brown's jokes and cartoon references. It just makes for a totally full-feeling, very diverse in terms of rapping themes and references, but still very consistent pallet in terms of the funk and jazz-based samples. Favourite songs: All - but I think the date rape one is more ok than the others (mostly instrumentally). Overall around 10/10
An effortlessly cool classic. Like most of Tribe's output, this is just operating on a different level to anything else in the genre, starting with its emotional register: it's positive & upbeat and even though it's a serious record with serious things to say, it never loses sight of that optimistic core. And everything else Tribe does well is at its best here. The flow, writing and production are sublime, with Phife Dawg and the basswork being particular standouts. Not only that, there's a confident restrain to this which is why the decades have been so kind to this: it is timeless.
This was the start of modern rap and hip hop. Cornerstone piece of art right here.
10/10
Timeless. This is true hip hop.
Tribal power
Solid album top to bottom. Never realized they made Scenario. Really liked first few tracks too.
A true classic. Brilliant from beginning to end. One of the favorites in my collection and always fun to give it another listen.
Love this style of rap
Timeless classic!
Just an all around amazing album. World class production, jazzy beats, great story telling and all without taking itself too seriously.
Завжди складно визначитись який альбом у них найкращий, але цей дуже сильний претендент на це. Тут ще більше розкручується джазовий семплніг, динаміка між Кью та Файвом на вищому рівні. Хороші тексти, особливо на фоні тем, які вже були в мейнстрімі. Куплет Басти Раймза в Scenario - краще фінішер складно уявити
As good as rap ever gets.
This one is like the pinnacle of 90s Jazz Rap
Hip Hop masterpiece. One of my favorite albums ever!
Super smooth, super funky, one of the best hip hop albums of all time.
This is not really my genre, but I absolutely loved this. Very cool, very slick and just a fun listen. I was surprised to see that it's from 1991 because it sounds like something from the late 90s -- I assume because Quest was just ahead of their time. The musicianship on the backing tracks was really on point and the rapping was just very good (in my mostly-uninformed opinion). I listened to it twice -- five stars.
Nice sound but a bit boring
A timeless classic, one of my favorite albums of all time. A great way to start this challenge. I especially love how effortless and laid back the album is with punchy instrumentals and ELITE wordplay. There is a series of essays about a tribe called quest called go ahead in the rain that I highly recommend if you’re into them.
Very solid and consistent, nary a skipper in sight.
The album leadoff “Excursions” is an all-timer, with lyrics seared indelibly into my brain along with much of this smooth-like-butter LP. It certainly wasn’t the first hip-hop release to use jazz, but none did it more seamlessly, employing the legendary Ron Carter to play his double bass specifically for the project. Phife Dawg spits incredible lines like, “I never half step cause I’m not a half stepper / drink a lot of soda so they call me Dr. Pepper” (which took on a tragic tone in the wake of his death from diabetes complications). The beats are slammin’, the raps are tight, and the vibes and stuff are exquisite. Also, I forgot how great the video to “Scenario” is. One of my favorite releases from that decade and a high water mark of the golden age of hip hop.
I'm sorry but this, to me, is basically the First Great Hip Hop record. Low End Theory was record that made this a real genre and ensured that rap music wasn't going to wash out as a fad. They absolutely had important antecedents, don't get me wrong, but this changed everything. I still think that Midnight Marauders is their masterpiece, but this is an EASY five-stars from me.
Any list of albums can be improved by adding more Q-tip to it. Not sure what to say about this one that hasn't already been said. A perfect album. As an aside, if you have not seen the 'Station Eleven' miniseries, I highly recommend it. 'Excursions' plays a fun role in it.
Gran disco. Otro que hace mucho que no escuchaba. Estas bandas norteamericanas de hip hop siempre representan un desafío para los que no hablamos inglés de manera nativa. Siempre hacen mucho hincapié en las letras (naturalmente) y exceptuando tal vez los estribillos, son siempre una ametralladora de versos: uno atrás del otro. Como discos de Bob Dylan pero reproducidos a doble velocidad. Al menos personalmente, siempre me pareció más sencillo escuchar discos más producidos (Kanye West), más cercanos al rock (The Roots) o al Pop (Eminem). Y siempre es así, excepto cuando no. The Low End Theory es un disco perfecto. Incluso las canciones que me gustan menos (Vibes and Stuff, Skypager) tienen algo para mostrar; las letras, si bien personalmente no me interesan tanto son ejecutadas con un flow perfecto (hasta donde entiendo la mayoría hablan sobre el hip hop, sobre ellos cantando hip hop, sobre ser trues y demás cosas que conforman uno de los tropos del hip hop, eso sí, hechos con buen gusto y sin putear demasiado). El disco además omite uno de los grandes vicios del género (especialmente en los 90s), al no tener ningún desagradable skit Lo que caracteriza a este álbum (y donde creo que radica su originalidad, si bien un especialista del género me podría decir que estoy siendo un imbécil) es en su mezcla de hip hop con jazz: y ahí los tipos encuentran oro. Si no recuerdo mal, es en la primera canción donde Q-Tip nos dice algo como que "mi papá escucha hip hop y nos dice que eso se parece al be-bop" (igual me doy cuenta que en varios de los precursores del hip hop como The Last Poets o Gil Scott Heron esta continuidad ya está explícita): más allá del paralelismo entre ambos géneros, lo que hace maravillo a este disco es la producción minimalista con samples muy bien elegidos de jazz. Todas las canciones tienen algo para mostrar: ¿Mis favoritas? Posiblemente la primera, la ya mencionada Excursions. Pero también quiero destacar a Verses from the Abstract, Jazz (We've Got) y Scenario. Pero realmente son todas las canciones buenas. Este es el primer disco 5 estrellas que me tocó.
Ahead of its time. Excellent.
so good!
So many great songs on here that I’ve listened to for a while now. Very jazzy album with some great sample usage. Started listening to A Tribe Called Quest back in high school but never thought to listen to a full album. Glad I got started with this one.
Loved this hip-hop masterpiece. Funky and fun delivered with consummate skill.
Masterpiece of an album and Q-Tip is such an incredible producer
All killer no filler, brilliant samples. Cool verses.
Was brilliant when it came out and it’s brilliant now. Production, beats and rhymes are first class
One of the greatest hip hop albums of all time by one of the most innovative rap artists of our lifetime. Extremely minimal cursing, honoring other rap artists, collaboration, original, lyrical pioneers and you can dance to pretty much the whole album. Current day rappers are pitiful. They should learn their music history instead of singing about themselves, bitches and their money. RIP Phife Dawg
All time
i love this album!!!! it’s one of my ALL time favorites.
I don't trust anyone who doesn't like this album. This is jazz rap perfection. Favorite track: Buggin' Out 4.5/5
Just brilliant both lyrically and musically. You’re still hearing their influence in music today. I’ve always got time for double bass and hip hop.
Microphone check one two, what is this? Just one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever.
The Low End Theory – A Tribe Called Quest (1991) | Jazz Rap / East Coast Hip-Hop | Avg: 9.00 | Favorite Song: “Check the Rhime”* Alright, so let’s talk about The Low End Theory, an album that really doesn’t miss. From front to back, it’s one of the cleanest, most cohesive hip-hop records I’ve sat with. The beats are warm, minimal, and locked into that jazz pocket in a way that gives every verse room to breathe. “Check the Rhime” was the easy standout for me, but honestly, you could rotate that with “Buggin’ Out,” “Jazz (We’ve Got),” or “Scenario” and I wouldn’t argue. This is Tribe at their most fluid, with Q-Tip and Phife trading bars so naturally it feels effortless. What really sticks out is how the album manages to be chill and energetic at the same time. There’s no need for overproduction or flashy hooks; the confidence is all in the groove and the delivery. I never found myself bored, even during the deeper cuts, which is rare for a rap record this long. It’s smart, stylish, and unbelievably smooth. As far as sophomore albums go, The Low End Theory doesn’t just live up to the hype—it resets the bar for what “timeless” sounds like in hip-hop.
One of the best
Compelling and interesting grooves, thoughtful yet cool lyrics. Repetitive style is its only short coming.
Jedan od najboljih hip hop albuma općenito
This is insanely good - if you told me this album was released yesterday I'd believe it. Timeless.
Really great album. Interesting and easy to listen to beats. Clever and interesting lyrics. This is not my usual genre but It left me wanting to listen more. I was dancing along. Top notch. 5.
One of the best hip hop albums ever
Songs feel a little samey but it still works so absurdly well
Dope.
Probably the peak for neo-soul rap. A Tribe Called Quest have several 5 star albums in their discography and here is where they have their best sampling and production. Also refreshing to here more Phife Dawg across here. 1. JAZZ (WE GOT) 2. EXCURSIONS 3. CHECK THE RHIME 4. SCENARIO 5. BUGGIN’ OUT 6. BUTTER 7. SHOW BUSINESS 8. VERES FROM THE ABSTRACT 9. VIBES AND STUFF 10. EVERYTHING IS FAIR 11. RAP PROMOTER 12. WHAT? 13. THE INFAMOUS DATE RAPE 14. SKYPAGER
The world needs this album to exist.
5/
One of the best styles of rap album with simple beats, clear vocals, good writing, and excellent production.
I still can't really put into words what I like and dislike about hip hop but this is exactly the style I really like. Cool, classy boom-bap beats (especially backed with double bass) The quite simple production is very appealing to me, the repeated beats are quite entrancing, but not to the point of being tedious and boring. Its kind of sparse, I rarely put hip hop on as something on in the background as it is usually very attention grabbing, but this can easily be listened to in the background, or focused on through the lyrics Highlights: Show Business, Buggin' Out, Excursions, Check the Rhime
One of Tribe's best albums.
TOP TOP TOP hip hop
I do love A Tribe Called Quest, they're up there with the absolute finest in the genre. Every track here is a delight, my particular favourites are the first (Excursions) and the last (Scenario). There are some great collabs too, with Brand Nubian and Leaders of the New School standing out. In short, if you're looking for hip-hop that's smooth, you'll find it here. Want a bit of a harder edge? You'll find it here too. Effortlessly brilliant.
It's like jerking off - nice, smooth, horny, and you feel sad when it's over 5
One of the all-time great hip hop acts. If anything highlights the stupidity of the Grammys it is that these guys have zero and Will Smith has four. This is the perfect blending of lyrics, delivery, beats and production. Rap came about after the era of the album was already past, it's definitely a singles driven genre. This is an album though and a great one at that. It has a vibe and style that holds the album together without everything sounding exactly the same. Vibes and Stuff has the same beat as Cypress Hill's Stoned is the Way of the Walk and I am here for it. Check the Rhime is a great song, great beat, great lyrics...perfect. It all builds to Scenario...introducing Busta Rhymes to a major label audience.
mmm me likey
Ohhh yeah!
Such an awesome album!!!
Interesting influences of jazz on this record, never the biggest rap fan but i can make an exception here, splendid rhymes as well.
Genuinely amazing
8.5/10 - this album is such a pleasant listening experience, rap combined with some funky beats can never go wrong. I love how one song seamlessly flows into another. Some of the lyrics can be a bit nonsensical but that is easily overlooked
Only comparable rap group is wu tang Goated shit Verses from abstract is amazing
Loved every second of this. Embodies exactly what hip hop is about. Storytelling woven into excellent musicianship. Can’t get much better than this
Quest is the best. Timeless
Perfect
A great classic, I had totally forgot about them
Good album
Perfect, no notes. I wish I had known their music better (and been somewhat sober) when I saw them at Lollapalooza.
Excursions Check the Rhime Jazz (We've Got) Scenario
it good
One of the best
Always loved this album so coming back to it and really *listening* to it was a joy. The double bass, the way Phife and Tip interact with each other is just a joy. 5/5
Very swingy hip hop - reminds me of De La Soul
The jazzy grooves and the super smooth rhymes are still super fresh.
Ok I was about to give Low End Theory a 4 (to give myself a little headroom to give Midnight Marauders a 5) but then Scenario came on and I’m jumping around my living room thinking I can rap the Busta Rhymes verse. (I cannot). Scenario is the greatest posse cut in hip-hop. Also, sick Ron Carter bass. 5 stars.
Tribe's style is my favourite flavour of hip hop - if you throw in jazz samples then I am likely going to like it. The godfathers of everything that I love in this genre.
still my favorite tribe album
Top 10, hands down.
love love love
Another dope 90s boom bap.
The Low End Theory is the second studio album from A Tribe Called Quest, a hip-hop trio from New York City. The band made down-tempo hip-hop, based in jazz samples and rhythms. They were the center of a "conscious rap" trend of the early nineties, with lyrics based in social commentary and well-crafted rhymes. The Low End Theory is regarded as not only one of the best alt-rap albums, but also as one of the best albums of all time. A Tribe Called Quest features rappers Q-Tip, Phife Dog, and Jarobi White, and DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammed. This collection of songs is incredible. The samples and rhythms make the track worth repeating; the lyrics are well-considered enough to impress, even after many repeats.
This is a classic hip-hop album that has truly stood the test of time. They kept it simple in the best way, with Q-Tip handling most of the production. I love the old school style of beats, because they hit hard and carry real weight, but the jazz samples balance it all out, creating a laid back musical landscape that flows perfectly with the vocal interplay between Q-Tip and Phife Dawg.
Esenciales, brillantes, influyentes y sobre todo excelentes compositores. De lo mejorcito del hip-hop, y eso es mucho decir. Otros destacados de Native Tongues fueron De la soul, Latifah, Black Sheep, Monie Love o J Dilla, y obviamente los Jungle Brothers. Yo prefiero el debut y sobre todo Luck of Lucien, pero este segundo es otra joya a lomos de Check the Rhime y otros lujos como la inicial Excursions el tremendo final con Scenario. Mi favorita? Verses from the Abstract. Portada excelente. Un disco de ATCQ es imprescindible y puede ser este, el debut o exquiisto retorno y epitafio We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service. No son Stetsasonic o Digable Planets pero eson imprescindibles.
Absolutely love this. I remember a few years ago I was one of those people that would only listen to 60s and 70s rock and never really opened up to other genres. For some reason, I listened to this album one day and I think that was the start of a change in my music taste. This remains one of my favourite hiphop albums. Also, this cover is one of my favourites, it’s so pretty
Great album, thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. I was aware of some of their songs, and listened to their newer material growing up, but hadn't gone into their catalogue before.
that’s more like it
Better than Coldplay
This album was one of a few that made its way to me in High School and changed my perception of Hip-Hop. I've made reference to my transition from "everything but hip-hop or country" guy in High School to having separate multi-year 'hip-hop only' and 'mostly country' (nothing after Willie Nelson) phases later in my 20s. I can say for a fact that this album influenced the musical tastes of weed smoking white boys from suburban MA forever. The sample on 'Excursions' is legendary. "Skypager" is hilarious. Man's got duracells. This could be a longer review, but it won't be. This album is amazing. The lyrics are funny, the flows are smooth, and the beats are funky. There's nothing wrong with this album. 10/10
Really a 4.5 but great album
I love the tribe almost as much as q-tip loved his pager in 91’ ”Yo Phife, gravity don’t flow”
A classic and a personal favorite of mine. The Tribe somehow improve upon their debut from the year prior. Still and always jazz-oriented, the production is also notable for its crisp drum programming and double bass (hello Ron Carter!) this go-around. This created the perfect backdrop for the main acts: Q-Tip and Phife Dawg. Q-Tip was no stranger to many at this point, but Phife Dawg sort of broke through here and became more prominent as a vocalist. Phife's somewhat silly, yet self-assured lyrical delivery paired with Q-Tip's mellow and contemplative delivery makes for entertaining lyrical interplay and flow. A smooth listen that never gets old. Early 90's hip-hop classics such as "Excursions", "Buggin' Out", "Check the Rhime", and the greatest posse cut ever in "Scenario" (hello Busta Rhymes!) are found here. I implore those who don't consider themselves hip-hop "fans" to check this album out, as I'd consider this jazz-based, "alternative" hip-hop sound to be pretty accessible. But if this isn't a needle-mover for some, then that's fine too. Hard to argue against the immediate and lasting influence this album had on the genre as a whole, though.
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.
Just what I’ve been looking for. Smooth beats. Can’t believe it took this long. The story telling the sampling. Such a great listen.
Excellent, I enjoyed this one a lot! Fun instrumentals and vocal work. 'Excursions' was my fave track.
This is great; already a favorite. I love the interplay of Q Tip and Phife Dawgs voices.
All killer
Classic!!!
The Bars are so on point and a tribe called quest is one of the best aging old school music to me. Really love the album. Smooth like butter and thats a Fact!
a quintessential hip-hop album. not only one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time but it's one of the greatest albums ever!
Milestone album, this came out in 1991. Insane! 5/5
Tribe was one of my favorite hip-hop groups, and this remains arguably their best album. I loved that they were socially conscious and provided an alternative to the gangsta and hardcore rap, much of which I've struggled to connect with. Tip and Phife are great lyricists, and their respective vocal deliveries allow them to stand out among their peers. The music across this album displays their influences while perfectly accompanying their words, and I love the uses of humor as much as the serious messages. I'd give this top marks based on songs like "Buggin' Out" and "Scenario" alone just for how those songs make me feel. When those hit, I've gotta move with a smile on my face, every time.
Fantastic. 5/5
Classic rap.
One of the all time best albums and ny favorite hip hop album. Just fantastic. Favorite track: Check the rhime other picks: jazz we’ve got, excursions, buggin out
Lowkey Banger after Lowkey Banger. I'm not a Boomer Puritan, but the lack of any kind of crude language on this thing really impressed me. Socially conscious jazz beat Rap? Sign me up. 5 stars.
When hip hop was getting popular I was waiting for an album like this - one that has someone rapping over live instruments. This one features the legendary Ron Carter on bass and the groove is delivered so solidly. Q-Tip is the smoothest! Liked Songs Added: Excursions Butter Infamous Date Rate Jazz (We've Got)
Exceptional as exceptional gets. Really hard to top this Best Song: Check the Rhyme Rating: 10/10 Stars: 5/5
9/10
I gotta listen to more of their stuff.
Hippity hop but a classic
generational
I love Tribe and was very happy to have this one popped up in my list. An immaculate hip hop classic and a contender for the GOAT record in the genre. Possibly Busta Rhymes best verse ever in Scenario as well. I could listen to this all day every day. RIP Phife Dawg. "A man of the fame, not a man of the people. Believe that if you wanna but I tell you this much, Riding on the train with no dough, sucks."
buggin out, butter, scenario, jazz, rap promoter, so many great songs on this album. classic tribe beats and great vibes. my favorite project from them. wish we could do half stars. 4.5
Probably the best hip hop album I've heard. No duds the entire album. I'll be playing it again.
9/10
My favorite from ATCQ! This is where Qtip really perfected his producing craft and it’s still a constant inspiration for me. I’d put this one in my all time top 100, not sure where I’d put it within that 100 but it would crack that list for sure. It’s worth noting that all 100 within that list would be evenly ranked and 5 star albums, so it’s basically tied with 100 of my favorite albums. The beauty of hip hop is that it’s constantly evolving. Even today there are artists who are pushing the genre to new dimensions and in that respect they have much in common with ATCQ, but Joey Bada$$’s 1999 from 2012 is one that looks back at what hip hop was in the 90’s with really solid results. Definitely worth a listen if you like these old school hip hop artists. While there are better albums that have come out since this albums release, The Low End Theory still remains the perfect snap shot of where hip hop was in the early 90’s and for that it’s an easy 5 for me.
This is the one. This is early 90's hip hop. The chill, trip-hop jazzy rhythm. Other groups followed, but this is the standard. This immediately takes me back. By far their best album. Buggin' Out and Vibes and Stuff are my favorites. 5, no doubt about it.
This album is a hip hop clinic. Such great story telling. Excursions and Jazz are masterpieces. A descendant of Trinidadian immigrants made the list. RIP to the five foot assassin. It's a real skill to be able to sample and build these songs the way Tribe does.
Generational sounding album. Can tell it’s a precursor that inspires music like mos def and Wu-Tang in the following years. Even 3 decades old, this album is still fun to listen to and feels fresh. Very fun listen with great lyricism/artistry. First I had heard the cypher or group rapping. (It deleted my previous notes, pieced them back together quickly)
One of my favorite albums of all time, hands down. Show Business, Check the Rhime and Butter are all classics and part of my DNA. It is the ethos of 90s hip hop to me and shows the genre is more than just "bitches and hoes" like the critics would like one to think. This is instrumental listening to anyone wanting to appreciate music.
Immagina dare 4
A fucking classic. The production on this album is unmatched, just a genius move to pair lyrical acrobatics with such trad jazz instrumentals. There are MCs still living in Phife and Tip’s shadows, their level of skill on the mic still rivals most of the rappers working today. And to end it on that phenomenal Busta Rhymes feature - this album is firmly one of the all time greats.
one of my all time favorite albums front to back. I wish I was a teenager during this exact time but was born 3 years after this release. either way, i’m so happy I got to enjoy this during my time in high school. they started the 90’s era of rap search that I hold dear. “Bust a nut inside your eye, to show you where I come from.” REST IN POWER PHIFE DAWG
The perpetuality of the flow, the grooviness of the samples, the grittiness of the beats, the seriousness of the lyrics - A golden discovery for me, and already one of the best hip-hop albums I've heard.
A shining example of rap. The flow and lyricism hits melodically and the jazzy tracks make this a record I can listen to whenever. Check the Rhime is a goddamn classic. Go listen to this one.
A classic album.
This is what I think is when somebody says hip-hop. Just an incredible album that oozes with coolness Really love the jazzy vibes.
Slaps, love the song about pagers. It’s 1991 forever
Fantastic start to finish, great samples, smooth deliveries
Really good Loved electro bass Good lyrics Good melodys
A complete revelation. How did this ever pass me by as a teenager? So many factors - peer group, ethnicity being two immediate thoughts - but goodness, the musicianship, the lyrics. Pure poetry. LOVED IT!
Great beats Great Rhymes
5 big booms easily
Q-Tip and Phife, legendary
superb album start to finish
I have such an admiration for older rap albums, and just the way you can hear the flow of the freestyle and it’s all just authentically good. This album was really enjoyable. I could tell they were getting some inspiration from the N.W.A. album I listened to, and it’s cool because I noticed that new gen rap like Nicki definitely got inspiration from this one :)
industry rule number four-thousand-and-eighty, record company people are shadyyyy
This rules. Probably my favorite album up to this point.
The Low End Theory is genuinely one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, and it's still a toss-up between this and Midnight Marauders as the best Tribe album, somehow. A Tribe Called Quest were really on to something special. Every track they put together during their run (even on the later albums when tensions were higher between Phife and Q), feels like they're discovering something new. As true pioneers to the genre, it feels like they push boundaries at every turn and craft something truly unique in the process. The production on this is as crisp and interesting as possible, Q is in his prime form, and somehow Phife rises up to meet him right where he is. The tracks are unique, diverse, and expertly crafted. This, in my mind, is the real first Tribe album. It was the start of something incredible, and it's put together damn-near flawlessly. 10/10
Great old school hip hop.
Huge record. Jazz, buggin out, and check the rhyme some of my favourite hip hop tunes ever
That the shit I like. Good, creative, unique (in it's time).
Kjempebra!
Already listened, many times.
Come on now. Easy 5.
I've listened to this album more times than I care to remember. I have original vinyl copies of this album, their debut album Peoples Instinctive Travels and the third album Midnight Marauders. All of them are incredible, and 5 stars in my opinion. If I have a slight preference it is for Midnight Marauders (which probably puts me in a minority).
Classic. Maybe my most played high school album.
Hell yeah
I don't listen to a whole lot of hip hop so this is basically uncharted territory for me This album is perfect, 10/10 Favorite song: Verses From The Abstract Least Favorite: None
The sample based production is so warm
Great Tribe album
It appears I like more hip-hop than I realised. I’d forgotten how good this album is. The first track compares hip-hop to bebop and that’s really apt, not just due to the jazz samples, but also in the fast riffing throughout. One of the most musical hip-hop albums I’ve heard.
Loved it.
Iconic 🔥🔥🔥
Lyrics from a time when everyone was proving their foothold in the rap world. Good times, nostalgic to that era.
DAMN this starts so well, I love it from the first song! Jazzy hip-hop? Yes, please, sir!
Fantastic - Jazz is an all time classic
Jazz and 90s rap is a good match
Incredible stuff.
Flyest beats and flow in all the land, though some of the lyrical content can get a little predictable, and at their worst, slightly cringey. With that said, there aren’t many rap albums I can listen to all the way through, but The Low End Theory is one of them. Any points taken away for their bars is easily replaced with the flawless, buttery flow and the incomparable jazz beats. 4.5/5
Classic 90’s rap!
More props than Arsenio Hall, you say? On point!
Rhymes and rhythms smoooooth as butter
Easily the best Tribe album. After my 20th re-listen, I am still finding tracks that I forgot I loved. A Tribe Called Best
90's hip hop is just so much fun. This album has a great energy and flow throughout. The beats are also infectious, I love when jazz and hip hop mix. Mid 5.
Great album!!!
The epitome of cool. The low end theory defines and encapsulates the Jazz & Hip Hop blend so distinctly well, that the artistic movement that came after was defined as the soulquarian movement. Which gave way to Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Questlove, D'angelo and so many more. Tribe's playful adlibs, rhyme schemes and destinctive voices all add to the "jazz ambiance" of this album. Its seriously good jazz inspired hip hop. Laid back and cool as all hell.
Thoroughly enjoyable
90% Best: Excursions; Buggin' Out; Verses from the Abstract; Vibes and Stuff; Check the Rhime; Jazz (We've Got); Scenario Must-Hear? Yes
It’s a jazz-rap classic that has aged exceptionally well. Every beat sounds great. Scenario introduced the world to Busta Rhymes. The lyrics are fun and it’s just guys being dudes for most of it. One of the first hip-hop albums that doesn’t sound “old”. So relistenable.
Hip-hop amb bases jazz, molt guai!
Absolutely love this. Positive, inventive, playful and life-affirming. Great production, and Q-Tip must have one of the most alluring and distinctive voices in Hip Hop.
Smooth like butter. Tribe are so good at producing catchy beats and charismatic flows with the simplest of ingredients. Engaging with it more consciously I appreciated this album more than ever before. 4.6/5
GOATS.
Classic 90s hip hop that is ridiculously listenable and great for vibing. What else can you ask for? Flows and rhymes on fleek.
I'm pretty biased because I love this style of hip hop. This album is proof that you don't need anything fancy to make enjoyable music. Just a beat with crispy drums and some smooth lyrics over top. I like artists that start with what sounds good and work backwards to make music out of it.
Absolute banger and a classic. At one point in life this was one of 3 albums I had on repeat, I hold this album very near and dear to my heart. Funky, smooth and jazzy, what's not to love
It may not have suck a nigga on it, but this sucka loves these niggas!
Love it!
Fuckin love this album!
Great
A perfect record. Funky and fun and awesome.
Love it!
ATCQ !!
I first heard this as I went backwards in my discovery of the Native Tongues. Deserves its 5 Mics for what it meant for the soundscapes and the era. But what they started here was perfected on Midnight Marauders.
own
Magnificent
Excellent album, some of the best hip hop to come out of that wra.
The goatiest goat
- Endlich A Tribe Called Quest!! Ein fucking Phänomen!! - Ich habe mich irgendwann schonmal hingesetzt und das Album von vorne bis hinten gehört, weil mir bekannt war, dass das Album als eines der besten (wenn nicht sogar das Beste) Hip-Hop Alben gehandelt wird. Ich erinnere mich an die Bezeichnung "Das Sgt. Pepper des Hip-Hop". - Was soll ich sagen. Ich kann gut nachvollziehen, dass es im Hip-Hop Olymp steht. - Ich finde die Gruppe unglaublich faszinierend. Habe mir zu der Zeit, als ich das Album durchgehört habe auch den Dokumentarfilm über die Jungs reingezogen. In einer Zeit, als Gangsta Rap das gesamte Genre übernimmt und alle über Schwanzvergleiche, dicke Karren und Knarren rappen, machen die Jungs einfach fucking Kunst. Rappen sozialkritisch und philosophisch über die Themen der Zeit (bis heute aktuell) auf Jazz Samples und Oldschool Beats. Einfach so, wie es ein Albumtitel auch besagt: Beats, Rhymes and Life. - Geile Texte, geile Samples/Beats, geiler Flow - Großartiges Albumcover Rating: 4,5/5
Classic
One of the best rap albums I have ever listened to. I really have to confess this.
This is such a sick record. I love the beats and the jazzy aspect of it. It flows well and is a pretty easy listen but it also has stuff to sink your teeth into.
Enjoyed it very much!!
I absolutely love this album. I love the beats, I respect each member of ATCQ. Each one of them brings their talents to this album to make something amazing. Easy 5 stars.
i'm still a firm tribe called quest defender, and just like the last album i listened to quite a while ago, this one is just as good! poetic and clever rhymes are perfectly blended with the coolest beatflips you've ever heard in your life. it is physically impossible to listen to this album and not bump your head to every single beat. these guys are a master of their craft. from beginning to end, this album is a hip hop masterpiece.
issa classic one of the best hip hop records of all time
Enjoyed it!
Excellence. Fantastic jazzy hiphop beats with socially concious raps. This is so good.
- Bars/lyrics are significantly less mysoginistic and violent than the East/West Coast gangsta rap coming out at the same time (The Chronic, Doggystyle etc). IMO, that helps the record as a whole stand the test of time and encapsulate the black experience of the early 90s - Combine that with the slick beats/production and overall incredible flow, and it’s no wonder ATCQ is still one of the best known and respected rap groups of all time
Minimalist hip-hop with heavy jazz influence. Easy, infectious grooves. Feels natural and unforced.
It’s like butter, it’s like butter, baby.
Top tier hip hop. Really. The flow. Jazzy samples. Love it.
10/7/24. Classic rap album that still carries its weight. Love this.
I really love rap. My biggest regret on this project thus far is giving Stankonia 4 stars when it clearly deserved 5, and I will not let another hip hop masterpiece go by without its rightfully deserved 5 stars. This is one of those albums that makes the rounds in the music nerd subculture as a must listen, and rightfully so. Well produced, smooth, well written, and influential for essentially every other hip hop artist that followed. Incredible.
Amazing.😻
I always liked this album for standouts like "Buggin Out", but once I gave it a closer listen I came to appreciate how the sound and details of the deeper cuts make this a very complete sounding album.
Such a dynamic hip hop album, very fun to experience!
Love this album already.
A banger the whole way through, not a single skip on this album. Epitome of the 90s hip-hop vibe.
Such a great album. I didn’t even need to listen to it this time to know it would be five stars, but I did because I love this album so much.
5/5: A classic
First 5. This album is so fun, the jazzy-hip hop samples flow well, the back and forth raps can pack a punch, and the album as a whole can fit several moods. Pretty influential for 1991.
One of the greatest of not the greatest Hip-Hop albums of all time. Nothing more to say.
Now here's a funky introduction of how nice this is. I already know the greatness of this album, but I'm more than happy to listen to it again. A milestone record in the history of Hip Hop. The chemistry in this group at this time was uncanny and Tribe truly set themselves apart with their content, production, delivery and cadence. You can tell how much fun they're having with creating it and presenting it to the masses. It's energetic, positive, fun, and entertaining. Absolutely love this one. Easy five stars.
No idea how people call this album boring. There's a lot of variety in there. Really liked this one, big fan of this Jazzy Hip Hop in general.
Smoother than a mercury milkshake
Jazz jams, hold the gangta.
Good start. Really liked the cool grooves. Sounds like it would be good when high
Definitely on my short list of best hip hop albums of all time. This one settles into a groove a maintains it all the way to the end. Five stars.
goat hip hop
"The Low End Theory" is the second studio album by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest. East Coast hip hop, alternative hip hop and jazz rap are the Wiki-listed genres. It is further defined as "a minimalist sound that combines bass, drum breaks and jazz samples." That's better. The lyrics are social commentary, word play and humorous interplay between rappers Q-Tip and Phife Dawg. DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad rounds out the band on this album. The album was produced by Q-Tip and Skeff Anselm. Critically, it is considered a mile stone in alternative hip hop that bridges the gap between hip hop and jazz. In 2022, it was put into the Library of Congress for its artistic significance. And, commercially, it hit #45 in the US and #58 in the UK. A sample by Art Blakely opens "Excursions." Q-Tip comes in ultimately stressing be true to yourself. A drum beat sample from Shades of Brown and a horn sample from the Last poets are also inserted. "Buggin' Out" gives us humorous interplay between Q-Tip and Phife Dawg. Layered drum beats. More of a hip hop beat and pretty chill. "Check the Rhime" uses clever samples from Minnie Rpperton and the Average White Band. More back and forth between Q-Tip and Phife Dawg as they rip the record industry and comment on the inner city. The message is to just enjoy the jazz, the music, in "Jazz (We Got)." Samples in the melody from Jimmy McGriff and the drum beats from the Five Stairsteps' "Don't Change Your Live." The third and final single "Scenario" closes the album. Q-Tip, Phife Dawg and a host of other rappers are on the mic. One of those other rappers is Buster Rhymes and this appearance helped to kick start his career. The overall tone of this album is pretty chill. The selection and use of the jazz sampling partcularly in the drum beats and bass helped that. Very strategic placement of those samples too. The interaction between Q-Tip and Phife Dawg is fun and humorous. The lyrics cover the record industry, drugs and violence of the Inner city, date rape, rap and violence and to just enjoy music. There are some very clever and funny pop culture references (Arsenio Hall, Ralph Cramden and Duke Ellington). This is one of my favorite hip hop albums and a strong recommendation.
the combination of jazz and rap has been and always will be one of the coolest combinations. Total trailblazers that didn't get their due at the time and are now the precursors of some of the greatest rap albums of all time.
One of the best of all time.
Albumi #44, 10.09.2024 Yksi kaikkien aikojen hienoimmista rap-yhtyeistä ja kenties heidä hienoin albuminsa.
10/10
Is this possibly the peak of hip hop jazz sampling? Stunning album all around, the beats/samples and the excellent lyrics. A masterpiece for sure.
One of my favorite albums from the 90's. For some reason the line, "I want chicken and orange juice, that's whats on my rider" has been in my head since the 90's and I frequently blurt it out at inopportune times to the consternation of my family. And, of course, one of the best Busta guest tracks ever!