Reviews (page 5 of 14)
This is super chill hip hop and I am here for it.
Perfect. Midnight Marauders bolji ipak.
Fun lyrics, recognized some songs and the album cover.
This was absolutely stellar all the way through, and one of my favorite listens so far. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg just have buttery smooth flows on every single track, but the wordplay was fantastic and made you really want to hear what they had to say. Meanwhile, the production from Q-Tip mostly was awesome. Most of the record was quite chill and laid back vibes, with a lot of simple minimalistic beats mixed in with some break beat moments and my favorite was the little jazzy samples and instrumentals mixed in. Every song had a great head-bobbing groove to it. My favorites were definitely Show Business, Butter, the first three tracks, and What? (which I especially liked with the clever rhymes throughout). This should be a listen for folks who think they don't like hip hop or think little of it, because from front to back it's a incredibly clever record.
Yeah. 9/10
stone cold classic 5/5
Love this album and really bummed I just listened fully now in 2023. Easily 5/5. Great production and lyrics are on point. RIP Phife! 5/5
жирный сочный бас с рэпом алкоальбом: бейлис с коньяком
From a point that Hip-hop was becoming the best version of itself, this is one of the best.
Good album
Awesome LP !!!
Phenomenal
This won’t be my first listen this is a hella good album. Least fav excursions/everything is fair Fav vibes And stuff/scenario
okay, need to listen again, didn’t feel it much
good Album it Kinds Dips in quality in the middle,but it’s a fun conscious rap album.It feels weirdly dated but in a good way.Don’t hear rappers rapping about “africa being the motherland” a lot anymore.They make two arsenio hall references for some reason.Check the Rhime is great.The whole Albums has this very relaxed chill vibe to it.
Based Album
This album starts with the observation that hip hop is like bebop. The music itself is classic New York hip hop and includes jazz elements such as walking stand up bass, horns, and the occasional use of a ride cymbal in place of high hats. Lyrically, this is a socially conscious album which includes criticism of the rap industry, discusses violence, and critiques misogyny. Overall, this album predicts the rise of progressive rap in the 2000s and 2010s and is one of the best and most cohesive hip hop albums of the 90s and all time.
So good.
This is absolutely one of the best albums we'll get on the 1001 albums list!
This is life. 5 Stars. Magnificent.
Definitely my favorite Tribe album. I really miss this era of jazz heavy hip hop. As I continued to listen, it went from a 4 to a 5 cause it just flows. It's like butter baby.
legendary artists from a legendary time in music history. Setting the bar and breaking the mold for future artists to build and tear and dissect to their needs.
One of the best hip hop albums ever.
Peak of rap
Avant-garde. Textes positifs, optimistes. Promotion d'un panafricanisme. Album de rap très, très jazz.
Astounding. Amazing. Legendary. One of my favourites. Love love love
This being the first hip-hop record I really listened to probably explains why I like it so much, but man, it’s just such a fantastic record. Timeless beats from Ali Shaheed Muhammad and the signature playful yet pointed lyrics from Q-tip and Phife Dawg, who now has come much more into his own as a sideman compared to their debut, making for a balanced and entertaining trading of rapping styles. I often find certain lines or phrases from the record repeating in my head, sometimes not even realizing where they’re from. From the attention-grabbing bassline and introductory narrative that starts things off to Busta Rhyme’s career-making verse closing things out, it’s a joyride the whole way through
Undeniable classic. From lyrics to beats to the cultural impact, this will forever remain an all-timer. Rest in Power Phife Dawg.
Great album! Mixture of Jazz and hip hop is immaculate.
It’s pretty hard for a rap album to remain relevant and listenable over time given how much styles and sounds change. It’s crazy that this album is over 30 years old and still sounds so fresh. The raps from Q-tip and Phife are poignant and powerful and surprisingly don’t sound dated. The jazz production is timeless and love the fact they used a real bass player. Probably one of the best early rap albums.
One of my favorite hip hop albums. They perfect their style here, with no second feeling wasted. They get straight to the point, with one song immediately getting to the action and leading straight to the next. It's harder to find a more consistent album. I felt excited for every song with tons of highlights that stand out as some of the most iconic songs hip hop has to offer. The jazz samples and beats sound incredible, deep and dark, distinctive from what everyone else was doing. It sounds really cool on top of Q-Tip's and the others' raps. Q-Tip is by far my favorite rapper. He's funny and conscious, clear and precise. His flow is smooth and aligns with the samples. I'm obsessed with his cool voice. But the other rappers aren't bad either. They contribute to a vibrant and lively vibe, and several of them give a passionate performance without coming off as too grating.
Goat
Liked this album back in the day, love it now.
Pretty different from what I am used to listen, I also really like the production on this album!
Best: Jazz (We’ve Got) Worst: Skypager people gotta stick their nose in the business
All time great hip hop album, an absolute masterpiece
Just absolutely amazing hip-hop.
One of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. From the first subdued seconds of "Excursions", with its iconic basslines, to the blast of "Scenario", here's a record that ages like fine wine--the sort of jazzy rap album that even foretells Kendrick Lamar's forays into similar subgenres decades after the fact. Other reviews in here just perfectly encapsulated how essential this album is. Just to give you one example, "(We've got) Jazz" is proof that this record looks into the past while being of its time, and yet can still be considered timeless. And almost each track from this masterpiece shows those sorts of assets. As I'm writing this short assessment on my phone, a friend of mine just looked over my shoulder and said: "Oh this is *The Low End Theory*, by A Tribe Called Quest, right?". It just took him two seconds to recognize the cover. This is how iconic this album is for a whole generation (and hopefully, for many others to come). Number of albums left to review: 655 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 173 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 82 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 96
Så jävla bra
One of the best albums there is!
A Tribe Called Quest, and Q-Tip in particular, really paved way for a new era of hip hop with The Low End Theory blasting it’s way into the 90’s. The beats are kept to a jazzy minimal with Q-Tip and Phife Dawg providing almost flawless lyrical performances one after another. When it comes to hip hop, Quest truly is something else.
I was but a small child when this was released (9 to be precise) and really would have only heard this from the environment around me. In discovering Tribe in college, I spent more times with Midnight Marauders than this one, but always thought this was a classic. Nowadays, I think it is a matter of my mood as to which one I prefer. Regardless, a classic album without really any weak points. An album that's certainly among my 20 favorite hip-hop albums of all time, this is an easy one to score and rate.
A classic. No notes.
One of my all time favorite hip hop albums. I don't know if it was the first, but it was the first one I noticed a real Jazz influence in. This was the peak of golden age beats and lyrical invention.
FUNKY, FRESH, and an absolute CLASSIC. Happy to listen through this album again, it's good vibes every time. Rest in peace Phife, modern day masterpiece.
Love them
The low key beats, the flows, the whole package. What more do you want?
Back in the days on the boulevard of Linden We used to kick routines and presence was fittin' It was I, The Abstract And me the five footer I kicks the mad style so step off the frankfurter Yo, Phife, you remember that routine That we used to make spiffy like Mr. Clean? Um, um, a tidbit, um, a smidgen I don't get the message so you gots to run the pigeon One of the best. Rhymes like literally no one else has ever produced and the purest east coast hip hop that the 90s ever had. 5/5
So good
I've listened to this album enough to know it's a five-star. It speaks for itself. RIP PHIFE DAWG. 5/5.
I’ve never been the biggest hip hop fan, but Tribe has always held a special spot for me. So good.
Very cool, very smooth. Clever lyrics and a great vibe. Not too many standout songs, but you can jump into any part of this album and you will enjoy it. The only criticism I have is that it can be a little repetitive in parts. 4.5 stars
Never heard a full album from Tribe Called Quest. I loved it
Funky and jazzy early 90s hip-hop. Very enjoyable.
An incredible melding of hip-hop and jazz, each track flowing seamlessly into another. A Tribe Called Quest adeptly make social commentary both fun and funny.
Eu ouvi The Follow End Theory quando era bem mais novo. E é incrível ouvir de novo.
These Jazz sonorities really are hitting hard. The Bass is so groovy this really puts you in the mood. The flow is also super catchy. The prods tend to be on the minimalist side though and yet they manage to be efficient. The voice is really used an extra instrument which gives a nice result. This is a vibe from start to end. Listening in one go might be a bit repetitive but I guess this is a bit symptomatic of the boom bap prods. 4.5 / 5
Hehe 5/5
I'd heard of TCQ but never given em a go, really enjoyed the album.
Easy to listen to as an intro the style/genre. Definitely needs another listen or 3 for the lyrics to really hit home.
Another one of my favourite albums, and one of the best hip hop albums ever in my opinion. The instrumentals and samples throughout this album are flawless, particularly the bass and drums. Love the live jazz feel! The rapping is great also, and has a lot of variety between Q-Tip and Phife Dawg sharing tracks, and also the several guests featuring here and there. There are a few lyrics that haven't aged well, but not as many as other albums from the same era. The "gold digger" trope rears its head a bit in a few songs, and "Infamous Date Rape" starts off very well but loses its way a bit towards the end. Maybe men weren't really ready to talk about menstruation in 1991? At least they tried, I guess. On another note, "Skypager" aged poorly in an amusing way. Kids listening today probably have no idea what's going on with that track. Overall though, there's fantastic songs all over this album, and it's both relaxing and fun to listen to. In my opinion it's the best hip hop album from this scene, and it's interesting to follow this branch of the hip hop tree as it grew throughout the 90s and 00s.
Loved it
Great Album
HOT DIGGITY DAWG! THIS ALBUM IS HOTTT!! These guys just got the flow, their rhymes and the beat oh my. The rhythm is bumping and the lyrics go hard. The album cover is dope too. So good. 55/5
Not no Parkay Not no margarin Strictly butter Strictly butter
Absolute classic hip-hop album. Their bears are next level.
Didn't really get TCQ before. this is a great album. pity wasn't more mainstream and drive the direction of hip-hop in the 90's
one of my favorite old-school hip-hop albums and I think it’s safe to say A Tribe Called Quest is my favorite old-school rap group (Lauryn Hill is my favorite old-school solo rapper) just an amazing album so much to appreciate here too good to rate
10/10, best rap album of all time
Banging. So good. One of my fave hip hop records
Very good! 👍
What is there to say about LET that hasn't already been said. Foundational hip hop. Smooth, soulful, insightful- eminently groovable from top to bottom. Worst thing you could say about it is that maybe some bits and pieces lyrically have not aged well- but I don't think that's worth nitpicking over in the face of the rest of it. Phife and Tip were kings of the craft.
MOTHER FUCKING TRIBE I've heard this a thousand times over and will listen a thousand times again. The most influential hip hop album of all time and for good reason. 5/5
My first true love. Where it all began for me.
A Tribe Called Quest has a very smooth style of rapping. I often don't listen to the lyrics and focus more on the flow, which makes their music good for background music imo. The songs cut off super quick at the end, making it hard to discern the end of one song and the start of another. Favorite song: Butter Worst song: Scenario or What
So good! A true hip-hop classic.
A classic. Very good addition here. Happy to have been nudged to listen to it again.
I sport New Balance sneakers to avoid a narrow path
What can I say that hasn't been said about this album? One of my favs from this era, probably my favorite A Tribe Called Quest release, and I love pretty much everything The Native Tongues collective did during this period. It made me want to listen to more from the time and I'm still angry none of De La Soul's early work is on Spotify.
One of my all-time favorites!
one of the best rap albums oat
Just a great vibin' album
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Buggin’ out, butter, Verses from the abstract, Check the rhime, Everything is fair, What?, Scenario
Loved this; has and rap go so well together. Amazing sophomore album for Tribe
A must-listen, often replayed.
What a great album. I haven't heard a bad album from A Tribe Called Quest. Every song is good and my favorite song "Scenario" they've saved for last. Give it a listen!
When this album came up on the generator, I knew what rating I had to give it. A quintessential classic in the hip-hop genre and a all time classic album of the 90s. Being introduced to this record all those years ago whilst confused about my musical tips (hehe) was the push I needed to not only get into hip-hop but into jazz as well, as Tribe's cutting up, sampling and incorporating of various jazz legends (Ron Carter is on the bass!) does more than the work necessary and required for the album. From the 91 decade to the 2000 decade and beyond, The Low End Theory remains a significant part of the Tribe lore and one of the greatest albums of all time.
Absolute genius, from a band who knew for sure who and what they were.
Really enjoyed the easy flow of the music
La producción, los beats y los flows son irrepetibles. Un álbum sin un solo skip.
Really chill. I loved it.
5.0 + There are hip hop records I like better but none that brings the flow, bars, beats and bangers with such consistency. This is a record that's equally effective in the front-and-center as it is in the background. There's not a single bum rhyme or questionable moment on this record. I love the nods to jazz legends that make this heady, sophisticated fun.
J’adore cet album. Je pourrais écouter Q-tip pendant des heures, son flow est tellement naturel. Cette formation utilise aussi beaucoup de sample de jazz, en plus d’engager Ron Carter pour jouer la contrebasse sur une pièce. Ça, ça me rend heureux. Finalement, les sujets abordés sur l’album sont intelligents et exempts de violence gratuite ou de propos sexistes.
Un classique que j'ai découvert tellement trop tard, grâce à la série Hip Hop Evolution sur Netflix. J'écoute régulièrement cet album qui est brillant et tellement bien fait. Mon meilleur du groupe.
Ok some hip hop. I have heard this album front to back many times and it's a classic. Giving it another spin. What a banger album. I gotta find this one on vinyl too. Just makes you want to nod your head. 5/5
Качественно
One of my all time favorite hip hop albums. This is one of the albums I always tell people to listen to when they’re starting out with the genre. 5/5 Tribe is one of my personal favorite hip hop groups of all time Favorites: Buggin Out, Check The Rhime, and Scenario
I listened to it five times in two days. What a revelation! Undeniably booty-shaking. (Prior rating)
I'm hard pressed to think of a more perfect hip-hop album. The flows and wordplays are sublime. The subject matter of the tracks covers a range of substantial topics with a perfect balance of seriousness and humor. The backing tracks are a genius fusion of jazz, break loops and samples and an art form unto themselves, which have influenced countless artists and genres since. An absolute gem!
Classic beats, with a twinge of jazz and funk. Classic rhymes and bars from tip and phife. Check the Rhine is top 10 rap songs of all time and there are amazing features from an upcoming Busta Rhymes, and honestly this album is a easy 5. If your not into stripped down rap though this might not be your thing.
Absolute MASTERPIECE. Oh boy. This is one of the most breakneck, flawlessly funky rap albums ever. I'm convinced "Scenario" is the most fun I'll ever have listening to a rap song. "Everything Is Fair" is also a highlight, and features one of the MANY heart-stoppingly infectious samples/instrumentals on this album. Perfect!
Dang, these guys can rip! I’ve actually heard a number of these songs before but have never heard of the band before. Great album.
Un classique découvert tard pour moi. C'est intelligent, Jazzy et ça groove. J'ai écouté en boucle et j'y reviens souvent. Mon meilleur du groupe.
THE GOAT. Electric. Groundbreaking.
n tem o q fazer
This album is so ridiculously good. The writing is witty, the production is innovative, just fantastic
I may not be too well-versed in hip-hop but I know that this album rules.
YES YES YES YES YES!!! Perfect album
Best rap album ever. Easily just listen to Buggin' Out.
Even though this does not have the wow factor that most of my 5 star albums have, the album as a whole has such a nice flow to it. It has a very clear jazz influence, sounds funky with very cool bass lines, and the delivery of the lyrics is flawless.
Maravilloso
Amazing album.. Hip hop at it's finest.
Love me some Tribe Called Quest. MmmmmMmmm
CLASSIC
The ingenuity it took to make beats and adding samples in early hip hop is a great example of my favorite kind of art. I don't know if there is a word for it or not, but the type of art made by people who just want to make art no matter what. They may not be classically trained in music or painting, so they create their own style, they use whatever they have around them or can figure out. Almost like the spirit of the piece is so powerful it will find its way out even if the artist doesn't have a traditional set of skills.
Listened twice through on a flight to Sydney - perfectly suited to the occasion.
lo AMÉ literalmente uno de los mejores álbumes que me ha salido acá en un tiempo. me tuvo todo el tiempo que duró cantando y vibrando aunque no conocía ni un tema, 10/10
A great rap album. 9/10.
Hip hop gold - simple but very effective
A veryold favourite
Smooth hip hop that still stands up decades later. Timeless
Coming from one of the most influential hip hop groups of all time, this album is at the very least a top ten hip hop album of all time. Along with De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest invented the acid jazz sound.
In terms of rap music, as a whole, I genuinely don't think it gets much better than this. A step up from their debut, the beats are just as fresh as the day this came out. The rhymes are great, lyrics great. Thirty years later, and it's still amazing. "Check the Rhime" is still one of the best rap songs ever released. Favorite tracks: "Check the Rhime", "Buggin' Out", "Jazz (We've Got)"
I just might have found my favorite hip hop album. And no it's not only because it's 48 minutes long with short, succinct songs ... I love the vibe they create with their jazzy samples. And the rapping is intelligent and creative and I don't think I heard the word nigga or bitch ot even once. Great creative al bum that I loved from beginning to end 5 🌟
Smooth beats and great flows. Stellar showing from Special Ed and Q-Tip on this timeless release.
This album bumps
Maybe the best album by a band with mostly great albums
Smoothest beats of all time. A timeless classic.
Always fun to get an album on here that you're familiar with. I love this album and their sound/style. Favourite songs: Excursions, Verses from the Abstract, Show Business, Check the Rhime
This album renewed my faith in rap music and made me start exploring true artists instead of pop rap.
Perfect rap album. Phife’s voice is incredible. Rhymes come at you fast. Have to work hard to catch all their lines. Super analog sound. When I think hip hop/rap, this is the sound I think of in my head.
Brilliance. 90s rap at it's purest! You can find the abstract listenin to hip hop. 5 stars listen to this one a lot!
An absolute classic. I listened to this album years ago, but I don't know if I ever heard it front to back. I don't know what I was thinking, because every track is fire.
8th November 2021 Listened on the living room speaker while working, chilled one. Love it, as ever, 80s/90s rap is the best.
A classic. A legend. I'm not cool enough for this album.
No notes needed
Probably one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.
Badass
Class, know this one well. Already had an older Tribe album. This is sick though, a classic. Not even started listening and know it's gonna be a 5. Yeh, 5, easy.
classic!
Old schull good shit
Flat-out classic album. Six stars.
Chance el mejor disco de rap de la historia.
The jazz influence on this album really amazed me the first time I heard it. Some excellent lyrics as well, and I really love the delivery. Unrelated to the music, but I also love the album cover.
I've heard this before but one of the easiest 5s on the list. Such a good and important rap album
Nothing needs to be said
“Bust a nut inside your eye to show you where I come from” …cmon now
a classic
I listened to it five times in two days. What a revelation! Undeniably booty-shaking.
Awesome 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
old school hip hop honestly all bangers
One of the best rap albums of all time, and one of the best albums regardless of genre. Just so good.
Old school 90s rap viiiiiiibes! Wholesome <3
Smooth flow. Game changing beats. Very relaxed and an incredible play off each others' strengths. All 3 voices flow so smoothly. As they say: "We got the vibe"
This album just blew me away. The production is phenomenal and is the perfect complement to the incredible, complex rapping. I think this is probably the best thing I've heard while doing this so far.
Just classic
This is a group I’ve always wanted to get into so I was excited to dive into this one today. This album is so awesome from beginning to end! Love the combination of jazz and hip-hop with intelligent lyrics. Wish I’d discovered this sooner.
Best tracks: Check The Rhime, Buggin’ Out, Verses From The Abstract, What?
The best
Always good.
Tribe called quest is legend.
Good one
This is great. Considered a 4 star as I didn't think there were any standout tracks but that's only because they are all great
So gooood. Groovy rhythms.
Excellent hip hop, fun rhyme schemes and superb flow
What a surprise! I loved it!
Sehr geil
Very good jazz hip funk shit
Listened to it 10 times loved it
Very nice finding! I loved it!
One of my favorite rap albums ever, and my favorite by ATCQ. About as close to a perfect rap album as you can get. I love ATCQ.
All day Phife and Tip. 5 foot Cypher and the Abstract. Love love love the Young Zulu Nation.
Rhythm and jazz and hip-hop with such distinct world-view and atmosphere--really, really, really good.
Near perfect.
Full of bangerz
This was epic!! I LOVED it!! Great great hip hop album!! Will most definitely listen to this again and again!!
Despite being the least favourite of the Native Tongues, still a classic in rotation.
One of the best rap albums of all time.
Just a powerhouse album, beats too good and rhymes masterful
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.
A tribe called quest is awesome. Early '90s backpack rap always makes me nod my head.
A band I really need to listen to more. Hooks you within seconds.
Fitting that I got this album on MLK day. Definitely one I'd listen to again.
So much flow and creative. Midnight Marauders is also cool.
Nice. Funky rap.
I don’t know why I’ve never listened to this before. Awesome stuff
Effing loved it
Classic 90s hip-hop, top 10 hip-hop album of all time
one of the best hiphop/jazz rap records of all time.
All time classic from the legendary Tribe.
Classic cerebral rap. Best track: Scenario
This is the hip-hop I can stand by and enjoy thoroughly because it's fun, it's different, and it's extremely smart and fun. Where Wu-Tang were just absurd, and De La Soul were like a kindergarten version of the genre, A Tribe Called Quest are well aware of their prowess both in terms of producing jazz-influenced beats that rip and flow together flawlessly well. They don't shy from jokes, wordplays or social commentary, which is great. Still, this being a hip-hop album, it is not something I connect with easily, but it is a bop and I can imagine myself playing it multiple times.
Surprised me a bit as not really a rap fan but I did enjoy the lyrics. Clever without being crude. Can talk about relationships without being misogynistic. Definitely enjoyed the listen. Where did rap go?
As Anthony Fantano would say, classic/10
Cool. Gets repetitive toweds the end.
Tribe largely missed me when they came out and were popular, but was incredibly impressed and entertained by People's Insitinctive Travels when we had it previously. This one held serve well, with the same groovy, playful tone as the first, one that flew in the face of the emerging gangster rap genre with a predominantly wholesome and educational message. However, it did turn a bit long-winded, which in turn didn't quite carry the same punch and fun as the previous effort, so I'm less inclined to round my 4.5/5 up this time.
180. The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest (1991) 8.21.26 Variety: 4 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 5 Emotionality: 3 = 4.4 rounded down to a 4 "I never half-step 'cause I'm not a half-stepper/ Drink a lot of soda so they call me Dr. Pepper" It seems a rare occasion when we have gotten albums by an act in chronological order, but here were are. Almost exactly 4 months ago we listened to People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, the group's only other album on the list and I came away from that one having had an overall pleasant and nostalgia-filled trip. For whatever reason, this is one that did not see as much play in my friend group as the previous one back in middle school, so I'm less familiar. There are a couple of tracks I remember, and some of the singles will occasionally pop up on satellite radio, but other than that I honestly can't say I've ever heard this the whole way through, so other than it's reputation, of which I know a little bit about, I'm not sure what to expect. THE TRACKS "Excursions" - Let the headnodding commence! This was instantly groovy with Q-Tip opening things up for us with a jazz-infused base provided the platform for his INSANELY influential organic and smooth flow. He makes it feel effortless and casual. This track feels like it might be more than an intro, and is doing some table setting. We got name checks to jazz, afro-centrism, positivity, and a call to uniqueness and not following the pack. Sampled: - "A Chant for Bu" by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1j6du02Qx8 - "The Soil I Tilled" for You by Shades of Brown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-z3wuyQNeY - "Time Is Running Out" by The Last Poets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTQlhXij66g "Buggin' Out" - One of the ones I remember hearing as it had a memorable music video that would pop up on MTV all the time that was mixed with another track. Pfife Dawg takes the mic to start off this one and we get a preview of his harder, more energetic and animated flow that contrasts so well with Q-Tip. If you don't find yourself at the very least tapping a finger to the giant bass line with the hi-hat accents, you should go see a doctor. In addition to some slf-hype, we also get lots of social paranoia all over this one. Sampled: - Spinning Wheel by Lonnie Smith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oca2-uumYyI - Minya's the Mooch by Jack Dejohnette's Directions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9XiP29PQAY "Rap Promoter" - A breakdown of what sounds like some awful live performance experiences, and a takedown of shady rap promoters, underhanded practices and the like. I'm sure not much has changed in this regard, and is probably a pretty evergreen message. And all withc a funky as hell scratch guitar line underneath. My favorite part is the verse where Q-Tip breaks down his rider demands. Sampled: - Keep on Doin' It by The New Birth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owTH56PL5rI - Leaving on a Jet Plane by Peter, Paul & Mary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2m--R3J6f4 - 8th Wonder by Sugarhill Gang: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2gv5_aC5gQ "Butter" - Another one I remember, I think from the very memorable and ear-wormy chorus. We get a tale of a player who gets played, and who maybe is a bit more hurt than he let's on, falling into some displaced anger. Overall, I'm getting the vibe that in the yin-yang of the group Q-Tip is the Ego and Pfife Dawg the Id. Sampled: - Gentle Smiles (Saxy) by Gary Bartz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHpIMDYFyUg - Young and Fine by Weather Report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXgkDw0ieJ8 - I Like Everything About You by Chuck Jackson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8fDBdXdess "Verses from the Abstract" - My favorite track so far, and possibly my favorite track from the group overall. Q-Tip absolutely KILLS it with some very smooth and unconventional ( for the time) lyrical acrobatics, and supported by legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter, who gets a call out along with a murderer's row of other names. Vinia Mojica also gets a shout out for her great vocal feature. The delivery on "and you're coming to The house of the jazz, of the funk, of the rhythm" is SO GOOD. Sampled: - The Star of a Story by Heatwave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yypRefD6PFg - Upon This Rock by Joe Farrell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0oq763amX0 "Show Business" - Diamond D, Sadat X, and Lord Jamar guest on another warning to the curious about the ins and outs of the record business. If any of the stories are accurate, I'm sure this is probably one of the most autobiographical of the tracks on here. Guest tracks on a lot of hip-hop albums tend to lose the thread and end up leaning too far out of the vibe of the hosting group, but everyone here is very on point and this still feels exactly like a Tribe track. Sampled: - Midnight Cowboy by Ferrante & Teicher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI0PPWc_a9Q - Wicki Wacky by The Fatback Band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgN2ekXfuBM - Mandamentos Black by Gerson King Combo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGknEh80NZc "Vibes and Stuff" - We're back in it with just Q-Tip and Pfife Dawg, who give us a more laid back slice of life sort of track, that doubles as an ode to their stomping grounds, their influences, and the ladies. One of the best rhythms so far. Sampled: - Down Here on the Ground by Grant Green: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVvYwx2DbyQ "The Infamous Date Rape" - And we had to come to it eventually. Easily the most controversial track on the album, and for good reason as it's chick full of mixed messages, and clumsiness that does not hold up well at all today. Q-Tip's verse seems to be some generally good intentioned, if graceless advice on respecting a flat out "no", but it all still seems very self-interested. Pfife Dawg's verse is much more uh... problematic, playing out the worst case scenario, and by the end both dudes come across with a bit of a misogynistic stain upon their legacy. While still of a very high musical quality, it doesn't work as a screed against casual sex in any way, and maybe it was meant as more to scare people off, but it's a pretty unartful and uncharacteristically skeezy track from the guys. It's also still not as bad as something like you might get off a 2 Live Crew album, so...? Sampled: - The Steam Drill by Cannonball Adderley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am40orqx1H8 - Is It Him or Me by Jackie Jackson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U7i9W5HqeU - 10% Dis by MC Lyte feat. Audio Two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcHtHzFPGjI "Check the Rhime" - Now we can get back to the good stuff. Another memorable track with a memorable music video, and we get some nostalgic vibes as Q-Tip and Pfife Dawg takes us back with a little bit of their origin story. This might be the best representative of these two guys as a team. switching back and forth and dipping in and out of each other's verses, and meeting in the chorus. All over a thunderous beat. Sampled: - Baby, This Love I Have by Minnie Riperton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vuYaozki_Q - Love Your Life by Average White Band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-yhagoYugw - Hydra- Grover Washington, Jr.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdoxlgcu4fs "Everything Is Fair" - A P-Funk vocal sample starts us off for this one, and we get some social commentary in a story about crime and consequences, with a side of infidelity. Decent enough, if a little outside of the scope of the stuff I've really liked elsewhere. Sampled: - Let's Take It to the People by Funkadelic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=159V7ssrjYA - Don't Knock My Love by Willis Jackson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yxlb7_o2Wk - Ain't No Sunshine by Willis Jackson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Stn8HOlY39Q "Jazz (We've Got)" - The gas tank is not empty yet though, as we get the, appropriately, smoothest and jazziest track yet. The topics are all over the place here, but overall things are laid back, and music itself seems to be the bit that ties it altogether. This one is hovering just below "Verses from the Abstract" as far as favorite tracks go. Sampled: - Green Dolphin Street by Jimmy McGriff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-z4mGzjOqw - Don't Change Your Love by Five Stairsteps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpzWk2qt2KU - Light My Fire by The Doors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoX6AKuYWL8 "Skypager" - This was fun, and despite the outdated topic, it funky as shit and added a bit of levity to the whole affair. Sampled: - Advice by Sly & the Family Stone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sFOSiSr9l8 - 17 West by Eric Dolphy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94c99kgdb5o "What" - A short one this time, very uptempo and built over a great sample ( see below) that adds a buoyancy to what, on the surface, seems to be a very flippant song. But there the mentions range from silly to profund, even if they are mentioned quickly and tossed away for the next one. The sort of fortune cookie philosophy on display here was playful and fun. Sampled: - Uncle Willie's Dream by Paul Humphrey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOcfFcgrI2A "Scenario" - A posse cut classic, with some great guest verses, most notably from a pre-superstar Busta Ryhmes, and featuring a TON of cameos in the music video including Spike Lee, Redman, Fab Five Freddy. Busta BY FAR steals the show here though, and it seems set in stone that he would become hot shit in a few years. Great as it is, as a Tribe track though it feels a out of place. I can see why they placed it at the end though. And by this time it wasn't as common for singles to not be on albums, so if they had to put it anywhere... Sampled: - Little Miss Lover by Jimi Hendrix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faty99ema9w - Oblighetto by Brother Jack McDuff HIGHLIGHTS - "Excursions" - "Buggin' Out" - "Rap Promoter" - "Butter" - "Verses from the Abstract" - "Vibes and Stuff" - "Check the Rhime" - "Jazz (We've Got)" - "Skypager" - "What" - "Scenario" MIDLIGHTS - "Show Business" - "The Infamous Date Rape" - "Everything Is Fair" LOWLIGHTS - FINAL THOUGHTS This held up INCREDIBLY well. This came out right smack in the ascendence of Gangsta Rap and seems almost diametrically opposed to those vibes. And while it seemed to ebb in influence initially, by the end of the decade and especially into the 2000s I think the eventual takeover of alternative hip-hop styles that were infused into the mainstream by acts like the Roots, Fugees, and even OutKast owe a huge debt to these guys. To me, they were the second art of the twin-headed monster of what would come to be called "conscious rap", with De La Soul seeing like the more hippy dippy psychedelic guys, and Tribe more cool jazz. De La Soul only gets one entry on the list, which maybe speaks to the other's more lasting mainstream appeal and influence. Overall, this thing was top notch, from the beats, to the performances, samples, and even the production. This is A-Level stuff, and I enjoy it SO much more now than I do the stuff from Snoop, Dre, and those guys who I think have aged very poorly, if not music-wise, then most certainly lyrics-wise. The lyrics on this cover a broad range of subject matter, but over all I got a message of positivity, community, individuality, and the importance of artistic integrity. I think this is one of the few hip-hop albums from the era that you could hand off to young person, and not get too many raised eyebrows ( aside from that one GLARING track). Musically it's very fresh as well. Of it's time, sure - but untethered from the most easily mockable aspects of that time and still relevant I think. A classic for a good reason, and it's postives FAR outweigh the negatives. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - "The Infamous Date Rape" might get dropped if I were to send a custom playslit to someone FURTHER LISTENING - Organized Konfusion by Organized Konfusion - Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) by Digable Planets - Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde by The Pharcyde - Buhloone Mindstate by De La Soul - Do You Want More?!!!??! by the Roots - Call Me If You Get Lost by Tyler, The Creator - To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
The album was recorded on the same Neve 8068 mixing console previously used by John Lennon, which the engineer later called the Sgt. Pepper's of hip hop. Two Beatles references in one sentence about a Queens rap group is either cosmic coincidence or proof that great equipment recognizes great work regardless of genre. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg recorded the whole thing between 1990 and 1991, with Q-Tip's self proclaimed perfectionism stretching sessions across six to eight months. Jarobi White, the fourth member, left the group between albums to study culinary arts, which is either the most practical career pivot in hip hop history or proof that some people simply know themselves better than others. Ron Carter, who played bass with Miles Davis, recorded his parts alongside the samples and loops, giving the album a low frequency physical presence that most hip hop of the era was simply not attempting. Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, The Roots, and OutKast have all been named as direct creative children of this album, which makes The Low End Theory one of the more quietly significant records in this entire project. Without it the OutKast album I gave a 4 probably sounds different, which means Tribe deserves partial credit for Stankonia and will never receive it. Phife Dawg passed away in 2016 from diabetes complications. Q-Tip delivered his eulogy. The final Tribe album, released the same year, was completed without him and remains one of the more genuinely moving documents in hip hop history. The Low End Theory is where their chemistry was at its most effortless, two people in conversation, warm and funny and completely in sync, which is the rarest thing in any genre and the thing that makes a high 3 round up to a 4 without any argument. 4 out of 5. One star for Check the Rhime, which is as clean and confident as hip hop gets. One for Scenario, which closes the album with Busta Rhymes arriving like a freight train nobody ordered. One for Ron Carter, who played with Miles Davis and then showed up to a Queens rap session and made it better. One for Phife Dawg, who deserved more time and left anyway.
quite good
fav songs: excursions check the rhyme jazz (we've got) cool, smooth, dusty 70/100
Smooth and flows (like butter), a classic through and through. Hard to pick standouts cause the flow between each track is seamless
Stand-out tracks: Excursions, Butter, Show Business, Check the Rhime, Jazz, Skypager, What?, Scenario
4.5
LOVED this album. 9/10 near perfect.
Very cool! I like all the jazz samples even if the rapping gets a bit monotonous toward the end for me. But then I’m not really a rap guy.
Classic!
Really close to a 5 star but it doesn't quite do it. This was hip hop that I really enjoyed though.
Jag gillar den asså bra vibe och så
I mean….. it’s a tribe called quest lol
good. liked it. instrumentals were really good
This was fun, definitely a must listen. But I’ll be doing more of a deep dive to navigate that song title…
i like the Excursions song and I think I'll listen to them again.
7.3/10 The album cover is really cool and so are a few of the songs, excursions and buggin out were my favourite songs. I think the main issue I had with the album is that hip hop music usually just has the same sounding beat carrying the song along, so sometimes it’s not easy to tell if the song is a new one or just the old one continuing on .
8/10 = have listened to a lot of these before but not the whole album all the way through, quite nice to have on in the background and i like the style of hiphop but i wish it had more sampling in the backing to actually differentiate and make them a bit more interesting
Fav songs: Check the Rhime, Jazz (we’ve got), Scenario
(5/7) I thought this was pretty good for hip hop
237. nice, should listen again
This album is fantastic. So smart, and kind of progressive actually. And the grooves are killer.
Second album of A Tribe Called Quest. I liked their debut People's Instinct more than this solid effort. This one is a little bit less playfull, but a nice listen it was
Bardzo, bardzo fajne. Lekko jazzowy klimat miejscami, klimatyczne bity. Jeden z klasyków. Takie na 4 mocne.
I liked it, surprised i liked it that much
4 Not as amazing for me as I know a lot of other people find it but still a really good album
This was fantastic and deserves another listen.
Stone cold classic. I forgot how many great songs are on this.
I can't put my finger on why I like ATCQ so much: is it the smart lyrics, the jazzy beats, the hooks...probably all of the above, but I love this album. Solid 4 for me.
Even better than the first album. I can feel the jazz influence
Feels like clean sheets, shaved legs, and a water bottle with ice water.
I did not think I'd enjoy it as much as I did. Some of the best hip hop beats I've ever heard. I liked the Maryland call out in Vibes and Stuff and North Cakalacky in Scenario.
Exceptionally good, and I’m not into rap.
I actually can't believe I hadn't listened to this album in full before. I loved it, its exactly the kind of music I could listen to whenever, and it reminded me of Xavier which was sweet!
Dope.
Tribe tickles a lot of my spots. A fair amount of the flow has not aged super well, but the production has held up for sure. A bunch of good tracks on this one including Check the Rhime, Vibes and Stuff, and Scenario.
sick
Primera vez que escucho Hip Hop, y muy bueno! Fresco
An amazing album with great flow and incredible funk. I really enjoyed What? and Show Business
Actually listened to this one a few months ago, which is rare for me. It seems these hip hop albums follow a pattern of sounding great, but a lot of the songs just sound too similar to each other and they're not something I'd come back to.
There's something kinda quaint about how these early entries in rap and hip-hop compare to today's vulgar and heavily auto-tuned music from the same genre. Ground-breaking, smart, catchy as all hell. This whisked me right back to my teenage years.
Honestly I was gonna skip this album because my abusive ex’s favorite artists was a Tribe Called Quest but fuck that guy, this music is amazing idc. Very buttery album I love it.
It's jazzy, it's fresh, it's solid.
Just a classic old school hip hop album. One of the best, and a cornerstone to the hip hop I love. The sound is smooth, cool, and infectious, the lyrics are thoughtful and full of soul. I have and will continue to listen to this album over and over again.
One of those albums that sounds effortlessly cool. The jazzy beats, smooth flow and laid-back vibe just work from start to finish. A timeless hip-hop classic.
you’ll always find me giving every black artist a high rate bc why are they so good at everything
I like this one better than the debit. It's classic for a reason
#376 I’ve always liked Q-Tip but that’s usually come via well known Tribe songs and Chemical Brothers collaborations, and of course, there is one song very much in vogue right now. Of course, he’s not the only rapper but he’s always been the most notable to me. It has been good to dive a little deeper into their albums, both of which I have got on well with but a quick check and realise I only gave their debut 3 stars and wonder if I’ve been a tad harsh. Anyway, this must have landed better but I’ll revisit both. Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ✅ Listen before you die? ✅ Fave track(s): Vibes and Stuff; Scenario Rating: 8/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shout out to Scott Skiles for being immortalized in hip hop history. This is one of those records where I wish this site gave half stars. A very strong 4.
I really loved this. I’ve heard about Quest for a long time and this was my first experience listening to an album in full. It was exhausting trying to follow the lyrics but worth it.
Bought this recent enough, very cool album. Solid, great beats and rhymes, might be too laidback sometime, but overall a classic. 4 Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes, 92/345 (26%) Will I get: Already have
Great album
It's a really really good hip-hop album but there is not much variety. I gave all the songs a 4.
*guy who's only listened to MF Doom* Getting real MF Doom vibes from this
Amazing rap album, A Tribe Called Quest never misses. I’ve listen to songs on the album but the is the first full listen. Scenario is the highlight of the album for me!
As much as I praise this album for being so lowkey and laid back without coming off lazy, I don't think people should ignore the problematic track 8. I feel like this song doesn't lay down it's motivates well enough thus making it seem very predatory and insensitive. In case you didn't know there is also original lines for Show Business which were also very controversial and homophobic but thankfully the label rejected that song and made them rewrite their lines. You can still find the demo online and I highly suggest you check it out to educate yourself on the controversial recording of this project. While yes I very much love this album it does really hurt to say that Track 8 really holds this down from being something I consider excellent.
Gran hip-hop y jazz álbum de Quest, sobretodo las letras y storytelling es sumamente enriquecedor de escuchar atentamente, hay cosas que no entiendo, sea por contexto, historia, etc. Fuera de eso, es un álbum bastante disfrutable e histórico. Escurridizo, misterioso, discreto y directo.
Simple beats yet effective classic songs and a good time
Groovy.
Haven't listened to this since middle school. Lots of bangers
Man this was such a great 90s hip hop album. So many good beats and tracks, and the flows were great too.
Already had listened to but not in a while so fun listen
Back in the early 90s when MCs liked rhyming plastic, spastic and drastic. This was great!
Great hip hop album! I can't believe I haven't heard this before, but it's right up my alley. Has a very Jurassic 5, early Black Eyed Peas feel to it; it's great!
WOW
was my one and a halfth time around with this one. absolute banger. perfect go-to album in time of emergency. captivates you from the beginning to the very end. very good very cool. at least 8.5/10
Prime rib of OG rap
It’s like butta baby. Good beats, very chill. Same vibe as Q-Tip that I listened to yesterday, but 90’s style. (4)
Very good. I like this type of boom bap and jazz influenced rap. Only marking down a star as it was a tad samey but still great
Okay, I love Tribe very much, and while I adore the sound and composition in this all-time record, I can't give it a perfect score. Usually, Tribe is super respectful and progressive, but this one ain't great to women. Tracks like butter, infamous date rape and what? feature some low-key misogynistic lyrics. I want to give this 5 stars, but I just can't. 8/10
Goat unc rap
A beautiful period in music history. Crackling jazzy samples and people pushing into new territory. Scratches an itch the brain.
for me its kinda boring. just boom bap, just rap, nothing else. prolly ts album is important for hiphop history but its gave me nothing new. And lyrics not resonate with me either
High 4, such an easy listen.
I liked the vibe of old school hip Hop and mix of Genres with jazz and funk
classic. funky beats
great instrumentals
Beats too good it made my fall in love with the abstract. Much bigger fan of this compared to where rap is at today
Great album, my kind of hip hop
goated
Пьяное ожидание жирного бургера. С первого вступления и басового проигрыша, ты понимаешь тебя ждёт что-то цепляющие. Я никогда не слышал настолько четкого и структурированного фристайла - вообще ни в одном треке не чувствуется выжимка или натянутость. Все согласовано все легко и свободно. Не покидает ощущение какого-то опьянения или сонливости, но при этом наполненность энергией до краев. В конце прослушивания я ушел в свои не очень позитивные мысли и на удивление альбом показал себя утвердительным, утешительным и что самое интересное - благосклонным к будущему. Обязательно нужно отдельно выделить подход к выступлениям - они настолько продуманы что кажутся идеальными, а в треках вас ждёт множество умопомрачительных пауз, которые придают всему альбому нужный антураж и движение. Этому альбому ставлю 7,5/10, неожиданная даже для меня оценка, с учётом описания, мне показалось что как альбом его нужно было сделать немного короче на пару песен, потому что как бы хорош не был подход - к концу альбома притирается.
Fun album- old school radio rules!
Não conhecia, mas gostei. Bem jazzy
Interessante
A trule great old school hop hip album, innovative, Q-Tip flow is smooth.
Got to be a little samey, but a good listen
unbelievable album, love the vibe and the low bass
8/10
They weren’t lying about the low end
Undeniably a rap classic, and the album that put jazz rap on the map. The beats and the flows on this album are, in general, insane. I say in general because I think the first half is a bit weaker than the second one. Still very good, and has "Excursions", which is one of my favourite tracks, but I believe that the latter half is way more packed. The album itself I would say it is very straight forward, but also incredibly well done. The beats are not very busy yet incredibly infectious and super smooth, specially the ones where the double bass is more predominant. The vocal delivery is also on point, mixing very well with the beats. As one of the songs says, they flow is basically like butter. In addition, there are also some bars that go incredibly hard, and some really interesting lyrics and storytelling, like in the already mentioned "Excursions", "Butter" and "Check the Rhime". Another thing I want to point out is, despite of the sound being very chill, there are some tense moments as well. While not incredibly intense, still noticeable compared to the smoothest parts. So in the end, a great album. I wish some of the songs in the first half hit as hard as everything from "Check the Rhime" to "Scenario", but it is a great and fun experience nonetheless.
Iconic bassline starts. Q-Tip seems to have hyperrhythm somehow when he raps, like more rhythm than rhythm. And I like their little stories and nonsensical observations, and surprise references to things like chemical compounds and Ralph Kramden. And Busta is here! Overall, this is fun :)
😎🆒👟🎧🔮
I like Tribe. I like their flow and lyrics. The mixed vocals helps add variety.
pretty peak
isk vatra, za sad samo dve pesme al je opusteno i zanimljivo u isto vreme rap i jazz? u isto vreme
My fourth or fifth time trying to listen to this and it finally clicked! It bounced all over my cab and I fell in love with it! What I don’t understand is the hip hop and rap types aiming most of their music about sex, but this worked and I was bobbing along. The production was on point, I can only imagine how many layers there is to putting this album together. One thing that gave it a bonus over other albums like this on the list is the ability to showcase their talents without having to do those stupid intros every few songs so that was nice. Best track- I absolutely loved the blatant not caring what anybody thought about what they were writing and rapping about in ‘infamous date rape’ Worst track- ‘skypager’ I didn’t need to hear a pager noise in a track 😂 Surprised myself here but 9/10
I know this is an iconic album, but it’s just not quite five stars for me, more out of personal taste than anything. Clearly great rappers, can’t fault them there even if the lyrics don’t always connect with me, and I did enjoy it. Most of my gripes with this are down to genre preference, and my ratings are based on my feelings not technical analysis.
historically never cared much for tribe called quest. but it’s working for me today. didn’t feel nearly as corny this time.
#144/1001 🇬🇧 This is an album that i regularly see propped up on display on the shelves of record collectors. Its genuinely my first listen and first impressions are stripped back beats, jazzy samples and great lyrics. Best tracks: Jazz (We've Got), Excursions, Bugging Out.
Overall: 8/10 There was a lot of jazzy stuff going on with the first Quest album, but this one goes all in on the jazz rap concept and they absolutely kill it. The flow is always on point and while the lyrical content isn't perfect, it's always interesting. I think I like this one slightly more than the first album. Fav Song: Jazz (We've Got)
bamger
groovy
Intelligent and interesting. I need to slow down and listen.
*Solid hip hop album but like the genre for me, it can get similar sounding at times.