Reviews (page 7 of 14)
Just bangers
very similar songs with each track but overall love
Word is what?
4/5
For some reason has never clicked like MM. 8.5-9 though
Took some lessons from their previous effort (like, some lou-reed-inspired lessons) and made a more complete album - but is it better? Still some slower parts here, and the highs are not as high, but it's a lot more even. I tend to dislike that, so caveat emptor. On the other hand, it's got Busta closing out on Scenario. I dunno, not sure I can give it the 5 but maybe I'm a mark.
Un àlbum que m'encanta i que em recorda moltíssim als meus primers anys de descobriment musical. Va ser una d'aquestes coses que vaig trobar per internet quan començava a tocar el baix i buscava tablaturas prou fàcils i alhora prou interessants, em vaig passar mesos obsessionat amb Excursions. Amb el temps vaig anar escoltant altres temes i a totes em continuava captivant els samples, el contrabaix i tot i que al moment no entenia gaire les lletres, i encara menys el rerefons polític que ara fa que m'agradi més A Tribe Called Quest, la manera que les expressaven m'agradava. Aquesta crec que ha estat la primera vegada que l'he escoltat sencer i no ha decepcionat. Top 3: Excursions, Rap Promoter, Jazz (we've got) i MH Check the Rhime
J’ai préféré Midnight Marauders mais honnêtement c’est juste chipoter: les samples de jazz sont très propres, et l’écriture de même.
Découverte totale et c'est grandiose, direct dans ma playlist
Yes Yes Y'all! This is some peak 90's hip-hop. I'm a fan of A Tribe Called Quest and the Native Tongues. Positive and fun to listen to, but still had a message, most of the time. Great album by an amazing group.
A fantastic followup to their debut in every way. The beats and jazzy samples are better, the rhymes are better, and Tribe continues to sound super chill. Great guest appearances from Busta Rhymes!
Yah this is just another example of ATCQ being easily one of the greatest rap groups of all time. This album has just got so much spunk to it and it’s got its own sound. The only other group that sounds similar to this is De La Soul, but they changed their sound pretty drastically after their first album. Still I’d say this is easily one of the best rap albums of all time. It has great beats and production and it also has super infectious and catchy lyrics. Seriously, wish I could give this album a 4.5 cause I don’t think it’s a perfect 5/5 like 3 feet high and rising, but it’s so close to being there. Personally it’s just shy of a 5.
4- great album loved the grooves
rule of this website 4080 / anyone who rates this album low is shady...vibey and important but it's so funny seeing what passes for conscious rap at the time because even the progressive takes on date rape are like oh! ok!
omg finally something fun!!!!!! the songs are good but the lyrics are a little scary sometimes LMAO but that's Life and i support them for that.
Verrrrry solid four here. Maybe a 4.5, my main issue is just it being a bit padded, I think? Very good and listenable stuff, just very similar much of the time.
Enjoyed this. Early 90s hip hop.
I knew almost nothing about this group before this. This album is great, each track flowing into the next smoothly. It’s nearly a 5, but kinda blends together over time. Still really enjoyed it though. 4/5
Such a good album vibes beats and soul. I can only mark it down because it’s kinda samey, but that may just be my opinion on rap
Very much not the style of rap I typically gravitate to, but the beats, grooves, and lyrics are so creative and clever - just can deny this classic.
Excellent hip hop with sampling that sounds way ahead of its time. Very enjoyable and first thing I have heard from them. Solid 4
A Tribe Called Quest's masterpiece, it has the characteristics that the Tribe are know for, such as intelligent lyrics, positiveness, wittiness, jazziness. The Low End Theory is definitely one of most important albums ever made, regardless what ever genre preference you might have - even if you primarily listen to something completely different like metal or electronic - you should still give it a listen, it's just one of those seminal albums every one should listen to. Below are some lines that really resonated with me, either because of the tone or delivery or the meaning of it: "Float like gravity, never had a cavity" (from Buggin' Out) "Progressions can't be made if we're separate forever" and "My people have been oppressed too long, no more will we be down" (from Verses from the Abstract "Ain't no one your equal, especially on the industry side" (from Show Business) "We know the job is done, when we hear a lot of cheers" (from Vibes and Stuff) "Now here's a funky introduction of nice I am, tell your mother, tell your father, send a telegram" and "Industry rule #4080, record company people are shadyyy" (from Check the Rhime) "Always sweet-scented, if it's business, she meant it" (Everything Is Far) "I'm all that and then some; short, dark, and handsome,"Don't ever try and test the waters little kid, yo mister Busta Rhymes tell 'em what I did" (from Scenario) This album is a example in favour of the proverb "less is more." It really is an extremely great example.
A really solid album, I don’t love it quite as much as People’s Instinctive Travels though.
a few good songs
An awesome album, but I'm only giving it 4 stars just in case their two albums I like better are on the list. RIP Phife Dawg.
This album sounds incredible. Super fun. Amazing production. Busta Rhymes rips on the last song. I am not a hip-hop fan, so the songs started to blend together and it got a little long. But this album gets 4/5 for how great it sounds.
This shit is great. Alt-hip hop is a really underserved genre now, and the early 90s had some good good. This is one of them. The writing and bars are all so fucking smooth. You can hear this style on a lot of artists afterward, and its evolution into the late 90s. For all the hard rap and aggressive sampling that went en vogue in the decade that followed, this is still the shit that hits harder with it's lack of hard hitting. Great shit.
--Excursions...love Q-Tip's flow --Buggin' Out...that bass --Rap Promoter...drum beat mixed with palm muted guitar. sick --Butter...feels like a lesser and longer version of the previous track --Verses from the Abstract...very smooth --Show Business...things were starting to get samey, so they smartly increase the tempo for this one --Vibes and Stuff...very cool production. I like the bell(?) sound --Infamous Date Rape...feels similar to earlier tracks --Check the Rhime...the samey vibe continues but I'm more forgiving of this one. the horns and the light keyboards add a lot --Everything is Fair...fun sample --Jazz (We've Got)...great groove but the similarities between are making this long album feel even longer --Skypager...here we go, this is weird --What?...not sure what that robot guitar sound is in the background but it's fun --Scenario...Busta!
04/11/2025 Check the Rhime bel pezzo
No. 5 The first hip-hop album from the generator. I'm no hip-hop expert by any means; really, I just know the basic artists of the genre, so I was really excited to get to know more musicians. Now about the music, I really love the jazzy vibes and the way they implement the lyrics with the sounds. For example, in "What," "Chill for a minute, Doug E. Fresh said silence (*four second pause)"; that was great to listen to the first time.
I really liked this! Had a very fun Brooklyn walk with this on. Weirdly, I went to a “sip and paint” thing like 10 years ago and we painted this album cover. I can’t really paint, so mine really looked like a crouched, battered woman made of bacon strips. I had that painting hanging in my house(s) until I moved to New York and people would ask… what is that? And I would say “my battered bacon woman”. Looking at the actual cover, this is some really cool art and a really cool album and that’s weird I tried to paint it?
I know Check the Rhime of course, but had never listened to this whole album. Rap is not really a go to for me because I can't work or read to it, but listening to this intentionally was great, and is a different kind of listening experience for me. It didn't move me, but it still felt gooooooood in a smooth way.
Always down for Tribe Called Quest!
I can kick it.
Funky
I liked this a lot. The beats were really cool, good lyrics. Jazzy samples.
Don’t remember this album coming out at all. Enjoyed it. Diamond D that’s a name from the past. Wow. I’m old. Ha ha
This is good, but my lord does Midnight Marauders do it for me like the other ATCQs don't.
First 60% of the album is incredibly good. The last 40% is alright. Overall 8/10 because the whole album is a 90s vibe.
4.5 Man the memories - I had this CD over 20 years ago, it’s still here somewhere. I played the hell out of it and am so happy to see it’s on this list, especially after two days in a row of 1 rating albums. The Low End Theory is so smooth and funky, I love the jazz samples and drums throughout that Q-Tip and Phife Dawg flow over with laid back ease using conscious lyrics regarding the entertainment industry, relationships, partying, society, etc. Their contrasting styles on the mic complement each other very well (the Abstract and the Concrete). Also shoutout to them for producing and writing most of the album themselves. And these beats are a little darker and harder than you’d expect, making them even more magnetic. This whole album of prime 90s east coast boom bap flows perfectly with not one skippable song. You can leave this on in the background all day and never get sick of it. Another perk of this project: it brings old classics and favorites back into your rotation. I guess the only thing keeping this from a pure 5/5 is the low fi, dated, muffled quality of sound.
Funky, jazzy, smooth. Some of the best of hip hop.
There’s a whole song on here devoted to a pager!
very good jazz-rap 8/10
This is like a 4.5. 🧈
They rhymed a lot of things with Arsenio but that’s not the only reason this was great.
I agree that DateRape song is weird, but the rest of the album really feels like the 90s in a wholesome way. They still excel with the sampling and the lyricism in this album. 3.5 rounded up
The flow and boom bap is top notch. The album could use a little more variety in sound and style, but since they're doing what they're doing so well, it's still a 4
I'm not sure it's quite a perfect, no-notes, 5-star album. But this was still quite good. The flow was good and the guest stars know what they're up to. My only quibble is that the songs do start to sound a bit same-y from song to song. But at least when they sound this good you don't mind the same-ness too much (That and the date rape song. That's a mild yikes from me bro.)
I used to like this a lot, but it’s been a while and I haven’t been much into rap lately. But I’m glad to say it holds up.
Not my favourite quest album but very good fun funky
The only thing holding back this album, in my opinion, is the lack of more stand alone hits. But the album flows so damn well and it's got a great sound.
I enjoyed this. It was interesting as a bridge between Public Enemy and a more modern hip-hop sound. I liked the choice of samples and the different styles of the vocalists.
I like the laid back vibe, strong jazz influences (particularly like the double bass I think was used for a lot of the beats), and relatively minimalist approach to the style. Lyrics were well delivered, the cadence and flow fit the music and both lyricists play off each other well.
As far as hip-hop goes, this is awesome. I'm just not a /massive/ hip-hop fan. I really like the jazzy beats on this album, the lyrical delivery is awesome too. I just don't reach for albums like this very often, so it's a 4-almost-5.
[Gordon Ramsay voice] Finally, some good fucking music. Smart lyrics with clean beats infused with jazz, this is great hip hop. Only minor critique I have is that a few of the sounds and references are a bit dated, which is to be expected from a hip hop album recorded in 1990, but Phife & Tip are so charming and smooth that you won’t care about any minor flaws. Super socially conscious material, humor, and the infectious grooves all combine to make this a great listen. A solid 4/5
Fire album Almost every song hit Didn’t blend together
At first it seemed a bit monotonous and definitely over long. However the second half was much better and overall I really enjoyed this album. Intelligent lyrics and interesting production. Will come back to this. 5 stars from Check The Rhime onwards but let down a little for me by the first side.
Third album I've already listened to in a row, I've listened to around 200 total how does this happen, but still great hip hop
Great classic Rap Album. Liked it!
Microphone check one two what is this? The five foot assassin with the roughneck business I float like gravity, Never had a cavity Real classics on this one. Young Busta to close it out. Some of my all-time favorites in "Excursions", "Buggin' Out" and "Scenario". Some of the middle tracks feel dated, but overall a great one.
Most of the songs kind of sound the same but the lyrics are EXPLOSIVE
Okay
Very good.
Catchy. interesting lyrics
Tribe's best album and one of the best hip-hop albums of all time. Jazz samples, funky drums, (as expected) great flow and intelligent rhymes - also, the tracks get better the further you get into the album. Best Tracks: Excursions; Check the Rhime; Everything is Fair
Funky from beginning to end. Check the Rhime is easily the best song here but not a bad moment
Good conscious Hip-Hop with some powerful messages. Loved how smooth it all flows together.
Excellent lyrics and harmonious rapping. Only gets a point docked for getting samey by the end. A couple more varied instrumentations or rythms could have helped to freshen things up
1991. Cohesive and consistent. This is Tribe's best album and stands up as a display of lyrical jazzy bassy talent. Easy to enjoy.
8/10
Good album laid ground work for modern hip hop. Nothing hard to listen to. But nothing ide come back to 4.1
A classic!
Classic.
bars. can see why it's a classic favourite track: Jazz (We've Got)
Jazzy hip hop, lovely vibe. Lyrical content is fairly clean too which makes a change from a lot of hip hop and means I don't get told off for playing it around the house.. Will probably take a delve into the rest of their catalogue.
I thought it was cool
that was a fun listen!
Otroliga vibes och samples
Jazz och Hiphop är bra combo!
A bangin' album, and I'm not even into rap.
I'm not a hip hop guy and even I liked this
Love the grooves, some really great wordplay here. Date Rape song seems a little bit ehhh.
4.4 one of my fave hip hop albums from the 90s faves: jazz, buggin' out, excursions
Good vibes, good flow, good beats, and the sun is shining in London.
Every track is a bop. It’s impossible to listen to this and not nod your head
Great
Yep, there was a reason tribe called quest got so much hype in the early 90’s. The flow , beat were ahead of their time when comparing it to other hip hop. Less angry that PE, Ice Cube, or the first 2pac. Im on the line between a 3 and a 4. Let’s call it a low 4 star.
I kinda just wish the double bass thing had been carried through a little harder? Bars go crazy though. 4*
Generational work, both in the sense of its influence and in the fact that if just a few things went wrong or with the wrong timing I could see this being seen as woefully uncool. Who gives a shit about all that when you cap things off with Scenario
I really enjoyed the beats on this, the drums and bass were putting in work. The lyrics fluctuated in quality throughout. Tribe has always been a vibe for me, this album is no exception. A few songs on this could have been trimmed out onto a B-side or something to refine this. Highlights; Butter, Excursions, Buggin Out, Check the Rhime, Jazz (We’ve Got)
Undeniable masterpiece that loses out on the 10 on it simply not being my thing alone. 8/10
This was quite good. I’m not generally a hip hop fellow but I enjoyed this quite a bit. The lyrics are solid and the performances are pretty good as well. This is a good album
The musicality is really wonderful, the spitting feels purposeful to the point of clumsy.
Wow
Great old school hip-hop album that I've listened to often. I really enjoy the fusion of jazz into the mix.
Love the jazz vibes in this hip hop album. Tribe is great all around.
Amazing. You already know. Tracks 1,13,14 are my fave
Just from the opening instrumental notes, you can feel the jazz. A flag bearer for Now York hip hop, and for a reason. Super tight, cohesive set list, and a head bopper from beginning to end. Recomended listen for everyone, and a very good gateway album into 90's hip hop. Very smooth and silky, you jst feel cool listening to it.
Un album de hip-hop plutôt réussi, qui s’écoute facilement malgré mon manque d’appétence pour ce genre musical!
Very cool listen. Maybe a but samey but fife dog and q tip sound so good over the jazz in the background. Album gets maybe a whole extra star for the Busta rhymes verse in scenario.
Banger after banger
I always liked Q-Tip's flow from hearing him guest on tracks--particularly The Beastie's "Get It Together." Though, when "The Low End Theory" came out, I was not a fan of old school hip hop. I’m still not a fan of old school hip hop, but I wasn’t then either. So I overlooked the early evolution fostered by bands like A Tribe Called Quest. I wish I had listened to the album when it came out. Super solid and groovy.
not my favorite from the native tongues era but still a damn good album
Jazz & hip hop what a glorious mix
Everything is Fair stood out. Great album!
*AIRHORN NOISES* You KNOW as a white 20 something I am fucking JAZZED to see this one. WOOOOOOO. Heavy bass samples await me. Some slightly dumb rhymes, sure but did I mention double bass jazz samples??? I feel like I could review this one from this side of this listen. Sometimes my opinion gets changed, but seeing the amount of green checkmarks (Sp**ify reference) on this bad boy, I’m in for a hell of a day. Excursions - THE PROPHECY HAS BEEN FULFILLED. This sample rips, Q-Tip is so incredibly cool and proves it with this smooth delivery out of the start. The saxophone jumping in as well? This is so far ahead of its time. I forgot that we saved “Phife Dawg” for the next track. Well, consider me as they say “addicted to the beat.” Buggin’ Out - UGHHH it’s the best. This is one of the top 5 hip-hop beats ever. So simple, so incredibly hard. Phife Dawg’s delivery is so electric. Always attacking the beat full-on as a stark contrast to the more cool & collected flow of Q-Tip. Man there are so many quotables. Has to be one of my favourite rap songs ever. Rap Promoter - Why can’t people do this anymore? Despite my noticeably white skin, I feel like I listen to a decent amount of hip-hop and this beat doesn’t come around every day. Like what is going on with this? Full chills. So unbelievably heavy. Butter - The review writes itself. That transition was smooth like uhh it’s on the tip of my tongue. I’ve lost it. Anyway, we’re listening to a story about how the rapper is a player. Not sure about saying “I used to abuse em’” but I suppose we love an honest rapper. Verses From the Abstract - Busta Rhymes is here. Supposedly. His name was mentioned, but I think it’s awhile before we get the infamous “chickity choco the chocolate chicken” bar. Ron Carter was here. This is the obligatory shoutout track. Show Business - Probably too many features here as the other rappers couldn’t really clean the microphone of the main two guys here, but this is a fun multi-rapper track. Love Phife Dawg’s verse here. So devastatingly funky. I mean the toilet paper line is a little cringeworthy, but the ferocity is so good. Vibes and Stuff - A quieter track. Almost feels like a break of sorts as we prepare for the avalanche of classics coming near the end. Nothing here is even close to bad. Still an enjoyable track. Infamous Date Rape - Uh oh. I’m hoping we will be on the right side of history here. Ehhh. It’s a little woman-blamey at parts. Just a weird departure. Waste of a fantastic beat. Check the Rhime - You on point fly MC who is very brave? Why, yes, yes he is. This is so quotable. The whole thing. The “on point” exchange with the conversational pauses and inflections is so god damn fun and will be stuck in my head for weeks. It always gets that way. Everything is Fair - What about living in a tenement structure in society Georgia? Is everything fair there? The answer may shock you. I have no idea. I would be more intrigued if the US state of Georgia seceded into a communist state. I would win a LOT of money. Jazz (We’ve Got) - The epitome of a jazz rap song. Raise up squire is the type of dumb word combo that I live for. There are just so many fun quotes I recall from this record. They roll off the tongue. I even like the shoutouts. I usually find them to be funny, but they have such a wholesome, cool quality here. Skypager - I still have no idea what a skypager is. Do you just use it when you want sexual relations? That seems overly simple. Loving the Duracell product placement on this one. What? - Some of the questions of our time. Scenario - The classic party track. Home to one of the best atmospheres ever to grace a rap LP and to be fully honest, some of the worst rhymes ever put to tape. Can you imagine writing the words is a “wow now how now brown cow” or “scooby doo ba doo boo” or whatveer and not only keeping it, but recording it in a studio. If I wrote that earnestly, I would be so embarrassed, that I would burn the notebook and never write again. The song still goes hard though. Obligatory praise for Busta Rhymes absolutely destroying at the end there, even though he brings his fair share of dumbass bars, he murders it. Q-Tip and noted short king, Phife Dawg are just so great. Are there hip hop records I enjoy more than this? Yes. Is this still a seminal hip-hop/jazz rap/East Coast/Boom Bap etc. record. Oh hell yes. The lyrics are hit or miss, but the beats are incredible and the delivery is electric. This thing is a monster. A million years ahead of its time while still being firmly rooted in the old school. Damn near perfect and a complete revolution for this type of music. 4.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Excursions, Buggin’ Out, Rap Promoter, Check the Rhime, Jazz (We’ve Got), Scenario
It's a good album with some dated lyrics
One word repeatedly came to mind listening to this: tight. On each track the vocal performances have this beautiful flow-like cadence that syncs up so nicely with the beats. Alongside the occasional jazz elements it all just clicks, track after track. Another hip hop gem I’d revisit thanks to this list. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kick ass
I liked this a lot it was catchy and very fun to listen to
An interesting, relaxed rap album. The piece entitled Jazz was particularly memorable
Some of the songs reminded me of Doechii's music. I wonder if this group is one of her influences. Fun rhymes and cool instrumentals, sampling from diverse genres. Didn't like "Infamous Date Rape" or "Butter."
First song is pretty good, afterwards it's becomes fine as the album moves along.
This was really good, I felt like I got more into the album as it went on too.
Good stuff
Even better than the last Tribe Called Quest album but still not a 5 cos it’s a little repetitive
Love these guys and the work they did. So much music during this period was HARD, or wanted to be. Tribe could be on point without being gangster and I really appreciate it. Amazing beats, amazing lyrics, great hooks.
Good vibes, slick rhymes. It's good, that's for sure.
There are only a handful of hip artists that I come back to regularly. ATCQ is definitely one of them. People's Instinctive Travels is my favorite album of theirs, but this one is solid too. Buggin Out is my favorite here. 4/5 #158
One of the best
A Tribe Called Quest was on heavy rotation in my late 90’s house party scene in PDX. Their music always brought a bit of a brightness…good vibes, and I admired their unapologetic approach and spoken-word style, which stood in contrast to a lot of the other hip hop dominating the time. I remember being both shocked and encouraged when they tackled taboo subjects like date rape and abortion - topics that my generation (and others) were quietly navigating. For me, Tribe bridged a gap as entertainment as much as music for human connection. They offered a [me] perspective that felt real when so much of rap’s ‘lifestyle’ image felt distant and didn’t always land. They carried a confidence, style and clever turns of phrase that I always found charming. Along side De La Soul, they were among the favorites that truly informed my ‘hip hop’ tastes.
Favourites: Buggin' Out, Butter, Verses from the Abstract, Vibes and Stuff, Infamous Date Rape, Check the Rhime, Everything Is Fair, What?, Scenario
Is not in my top 3 tribe albums, but is still very good. Good vibes, sounds great. I like less than others, but not really sure why
very nice
13/03/25 - morning 4.5/5 When I saw that today's album was the Low End Theory, I immediately knew I was in for a treat. As a well established fan, I believe their work to be the magnum opus of 90s hip hop. Highlights from this album include 'Jazz (we've got)', 'Buggin' out', and 'check the rhime'. The flow and lyricism is one component which makes this album work so so well. And a moment for the album design which is simple, yet so effective. Devastatingly cool and smooth (to use another reviewer's words), this is an album I expect to find myself replaying time and time again
Maîtrisé et habilement tourné. On sent le côté old school sans toutefois que ça sonne daté, ça tient très bien la route.
Fantastic. I've never heard anything quite like this. I don't know a ton about rap history, but this sounds like a bridge linking 80s and 90s era sounds. Every track on this album was an absolute banger.
Jazz and hip-hop just slide together here like they were born that way. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Excursions - Buggin' Out - Check the Rhime - Jazz (We've Got)
This is interesting hip hop. Love it when the music is interesting, the rappers aren't 100% angry, and the lyrics aren't limited in the scope of their topics. That's very old-white-man of me, but I'm an open book here. Great bass lines throughout, from the opening track to 'Scenario' the closer. Couldn't find a credit for the bassist other than Ron Carter on the one track. Just made the connection between the title and those bass lines, by the way. Not just an old white guy, a slow old white guy.
Best beats in 90s hip hop. A couple songs are a little problematic and dated.
Classic 90s fare.
I've always heard about A Tribe Called Quest but never got around to giving them a listen. I love how jazzy and smooth this album is. "Excursions" is an all-time opener in my opinion. 1. Jazz (We've Got) 2. Excursions 3. What?
I think what I'm learning on this album journey that I didn't realize before: I actually really love the beats of 90's hip-hop. I didn't even realize this IN the 90's, when I was alive! (Although hip-hop had a lot of different connotations back then, especially in the South where I grew up.)
Elsker Jazz rap og concsious hiphop. Dette her har også den der old school lyd som MF doom f.eks. også synes jeg. Det er simpelthen bare perfekt søndagsmusik.
fav songs: excursion, infamous date rape, everything is fair, jazz 7,5/10
Hard to miss w these dudes, very good
i ❤️ 90s rap
4/5
I really liked this album. A classic hip hop example that’s influenced so many that have come after
Ah [looks wistfully into the distance] the time when rappers were (kinda) wholesome and you could take them home to meet your Mum. I wasn’t into this sort of thing at the time, but the beats are impressive, real head nodding stuff. Generally it’s a nice allrounder album and I suspect real grower.
had the biggest smile on my face when i saw this was my album today. i love Tribe sooo much. they are such a special group and certainly a favorite of mine. any list you’ll find of Tribe albums ranked probably says this is their best album, which is totally fair. it was a game changer upon release and ground zero for Jazz Rap. but i think the track list isn’t as tight as Midnight Marauders or People’s Instinctive Travels (which might be a hot take? sorry i just love that one). Infamous Date Rape hasn’t aged well despite the message it’s trying to present, and i find What? to be weak compared to other songs on the album. but oh man when The Low End Theory hits? there’s nothing like it. from the chemistry of the MCs on Scenario, to the back and forth of Q-Tip and Phife on Check the Rhime, to the iconic opening verse of Excursions, this album is so important to the history of hip-hop and to many of its fans - including myself
I love Tribe.
cool
This album is just a vibe. It’s so consistently catchy that it’s equally entertaining the whole way through. There isn’t a single bad or underwhelming track. I like Q-tip's voice, for some reason. It's just so unique and atypical for rap. His flow is really pleasant to listen to. I feel like this album doesn’t peak particularly high, but the average quality of a track is great.
Some all time classic beats. Flows are solid but not quite on par with other stuff coming out around the same time. It all comes together into one of the smoothest jazz rap albums of all time. 4.5/4
This album for me has always been both amazing and frustrating to me (this is one of those albums that I go back to from time to time to see if it clicks, and it never quite does). A lot of the jazzy vibes are right up my alley. The first song kicks off fantastically along with Jazz (We Got). However, what frustrates me is the old school style of rapping. It's not quite as archaic or Hit. Every. Beat. On. The. Note style, but it's not far off. Beastie Boys kinda had the same thing going on, but the whole frat boy angle kinda blunted my annoyance of that style. That annoyance isn't blunted as much here, but like I said, the jazzy vibes are fantastic. All that said, I will say this album is clicking for me a little more this time. Dunno what it is, but maybe the jazzyness is just hitting a little harder this time. Dunno if it's an album I'll ever fully appreciate (The Roots provide everything this album does without the outdated rapping style), but it's a classic for a reason. Shout out to the album art though, easily one of the best of all time.
Honestly, this was about what I expected. Classic hip hop with captivating MC's and awesome jazz influences thrown in there. There's a few songs in here that feel like filler or that they were thrown into the album that made the album feel less cohesive. I still really liked this though. Phife and Q-Tip do a lot with carrying the album with their vocal performance especially with minimalistic approach they took with the production. The minimalistic approach with production is not something I'm usually a fan of but worked out well on this. They really worked their magic on this record. Great listen! Top 5: Butter, Excursions, Verses From The Abstract, Check The Rhime, and Scenario (unexpected banger) no bad songs maybe one or two mid songs but nothing bad 4.00-4.50/5
Klassikoita joita en ole kuunnellut koskaan. Vanha koulukunta rullaava flow sekä loputtomiin luuppaavat samplet ja rummut. Vaikea olla nykimättä päätä.
The perfect meeting point of early nighties hip hop and jazz. Along with De La Soul, Jungle Brothers and Queen Latifah, Tribe epitomised my early foray into hip hop. The chilled beats and fun lyrics make this album a must
Amazing and timeless album, though I would not consider it a perfect album. It is a rather strange situation, because I think the individual songs are flawless, but as a whole, the album feels like it is missing "something".
I fuck with this
i mean i kinda understand the reason that jazz hip hop is so poppular well you know they are all black genres widely accepted but still peaked at black performers so i guess this is decent 4/5 4/5
Best track: What? Worst track: The second half is pretty mid, except for What? itself Vibe: Lo-fi, restaurant jazz? Feels like I could study to it. I prefer the music to the lyrics here. Rating: 8/10 (would be 9.5/10 with better lyrics) I should re-listen to this at some point******
For an album that is as minimalist as it is, there is so much going on. Incredible word-play and lyrics keep every song engaging. The middle starts to feel samey with a very similar feel and tempo to the songs, but on the whole very entertaining. Top tracks: Excursions, Check the Rhime, What?
Great classic hip hop, amazing use of sampling that would not be possible today because of copyright.
Wanted to love this so much. I get that it was hugely influential on rap. It just doesn't age all that well. Rough on the edges by modern standards, but it is great laid-back rap. Lyrically dense, definitely need to be in the right mood for it but it has highlights. Still enjoyed it though, 3 stars would feel unfair. - A bit exhausting to listen to the whole album, it’s just so much vocals.
Good fun
the flow on this record is amazing as well as the beats and theyre just talking facts and life advice over chill beats the entire time its so good (but i dont really listen to rap so im giving this 4 star cuz i dont think im coming back to it anytime soon)
funky 8/10
I liked it.
Nice surprise. 4/5
Great album, but I like their first and third a lot better.
Ultra cool slick hop hop
i cannot believe i was listening to beastie boys when i could have been listening to this instead
I could have used a little more versatility in the musical arrangements. It had a tendency to sound all the same. I like it nonetheless.
Amazing rap album. Great flow and lyrics. Had never listened to A Tribe Called Quest before and was really impressed!
Ça rap ouuuuuuu call_me_hand
Pretty good hip-hop jazz rap album
Great
slick shit
Completely unfamiliar with the album (heard the name of the band but not really aware of any tracks). Listened in stages over the day which isn't ideal, but really enjoyed it. Lyrics were clever, although struggled a bit with the more misogynistic elements. Really easy to listen to and still sounds fresh, at least to someone who isn't a hip hop fan. Liked it a lot.
I'm not much of a hip hop guy, but when I do listen, this is the kind I like. It's cool, and it has a distinct style and something to say. It's laid back enough to have in the background, but the lyrics are rewarding if you want to listen closely. The album art is also some of the best out there.
Muy buenas vibeessssss. Esta onda jazz rap me encanta y los flows que hacen mezclados con estos beats medio old school, jazzy, con mucho low end (y contrabajo), crean un groove imposible de ignorar. Dicho esto, las letras o más bien las vocals en sí son super divertidas de escuchar, aunque hay veces que siento que van muy de forma directa al tema por así decirlo (sin mucha poesía ponele) pero al mismo tiempo como repitiendo cosas (en Butter por ejemplo). Aparte de estas instancias, es un proyecto excelente y único. Temas que más me quedaron: Excursions, Buggin Out, Jazz (We've Got) y Skypager [re funny este tema, lo banco mucho]. y What?. y Check The Rhime.
A hip hop landmark. Busta on “Scenario” is historic. Great album and one I (not normally a hip hop listener) can hear over and over again.
4 added to A Nice
This is Marauders. OMG. The best!
Good stuff. Busta Rhymes features! Are there any more groups that trade flows like this anymore? Love the fixation on the abstract/nickname the abstract. Wild that a founding member got his verses cut and went to chef school. Live bass.
Great album. Rap was way better back in the day.
Great stuff I even heard things that I know were referred to in other songs
Such a groovy record
Highlight: Scenario Classic hip hop but not something I will come back to too often
Haven't listened to this in a good while, but I'm glad to get reacclimated. The symmetry within the collaborations on this album, make this arguably one of the most iconic rap compilations.
Incredibly smooth
v fun
Good just to vibe to. Staple in Jazz rap and influenced kendrick and kanye
really nice beats, would make as some good background music
Probably the best ATCQ album. Primo shit for 1991
Il est des albums qui ne se contentent pas de marquer leur époque, mais qui la définissent et "The Low End Theory", deuxième opus du groupe légendaire A Tribe Called Quest, est sans l'ombre d'un doute l'un de ceux-là. Sorti en 1991, en plein âge d'or du hip-hop, ce disque est un monument de son et de texture qui continue, plus de trente ans après, d'influencer des générations d'artistes. Et le considérer comme un simple album serait une erreur ; c'est un manifeste, une déclaration d'amour au jazz et une redéfinition des possibilités sonores du rap. La véritable révolution de "The Low End Theory" se situe, comme son nom l'indique, dans les basses fréquences. Le groupe, mené par le génie de la production Ali Shaheed Muhammad et la vision de Q-Tip, a fait un choix radical. Ils ont délaissé les échantillonnages (samples) complexes et chargés de leur premier album pour une approche plus minimaliste, plus organique. Le squelette de l'album est construit autour de lignes de basse profondes, jazzy, souvent jouées à la contrebasse. Cette base rythmique, chaude et enveloppante, donne à l'album une cohésion et une atmosphère uniques. On ne se sent pas agressé par le son, on est invité à s'y lover. Des titres comme "Jazz (We've Got)" ou "Buggin' Out" sont des exemples parfaits de cette alchimie. La batterie est sèche, percutante mais jamais envahissante, laissant toute la place à cette basse hypnotique et aux samples de cuivres feutrés. C'est une production d'une intelligence rare, qui privilégie l'espace et la subtilité à la démonstration de force. Sur cette toile sonore impeccable, vient se poser le deuxième pilier de l'album : le flow. L'alchimie entre les deux MCs, Q-Tip et Phife Dawg, atteint ici son paroxysme. Leur dynamique est l'une des plus belles de toute l'histoire du rap. Q-Tip, le poète abstrait, avec sa voix nasillarde et son flow décontracté, pose des réflexions philosophiques et sociales. Phife Dawg, le "Funky Diabetic", est son contrepoint parfait : direct, incisif, drôle et impertinent. Il est le maître de la "punchline", celui qui ramène le propos sur le terrain, dans le concret. Leur complémentarité éclate sur des morceaux comme l'immense classique "Check the Rhime". Leurs échanges en "questions-réponses" sont d'une fluidité déconcertante, on a l'impression d'assister à une conversation entre deux amis de longue date. Cette complicité rend les textes vivants, accessibles et profondément humains. Ils abordent des thèmes variés : les affres de l'industrie musicale ("Show Business"), les relations amoureuses, ou tout simplement la joie de faire de la musique. L'album est également marqué par une collaboration qui est entrée dans la légende. Sur "Scenario", le dernier titre, le groupe invite les Leaders of the New School. C'est sur ce morceau qu'un jeune MC du nom de Busta Rhymes va livrer un couplet d'une énergie si féroce et charismatique qu'il lancera instantanément sa carrière solo. Ce titre est l'apothéose de l'album, une célébration explosive et collective de leur art. Mais la plus grande force de "The Low End Theory" est aussi, paradoxalement, sa légère faiblesse. L'album est si cohérent dans son atmosphère sonore, si fidèle à sa palette jazz-rap minimaliste, qu'il peut, par moments, frôler une certaine monotonie pour une oreille non initiée. L'ambiance est majoritairement "cool", posée, mais manque parfois de véritables ruptures de ton ou de rythme. Et passé l'impact initial des premières pistes, certains morceaux au milieu de l'album peuvent sembler se fondre les uns dans les autres, portés par des structures et des tempos similaires. Ce n'est pas un défaut de qualité, mais plutôt un manque de variété dynamique qui peut rendre l'écoute intégrale un peu moins captivante qu'elle ne pourrait l'être. En conclusion, "The Low End Theory" reste une œuvre capitale, un disque d'une importance et d'une beauté rares. Et son influence sur le hip-hop, mais aussi sur le R&B et le neo-soul, est incommensurable. Un 4 sur 5 pour un album qui a prouvé que le rap pouvait être sophistiqué, intelligent, musicalement riche et subtil sans perdre son essence.
Not much of a rap/hip hop person but it’s a solid album. Solid flow, love the incorporation of jazz.
I can see why it was a big album, but can't imagine relistening much. 3.5
Absolutely cracking album, wish I had heard it in my late teens when I was getting into Hip Hop as this would have been in constant rotation. The production is insanely cool, definitely shaped a lot of beats to come and the rapping is smooooooth, absolutely the right group of people came together to make this. Favourites - Buggin' Out, Check the Rhime, Jazz (We've Got), Scenario
I, too, once had a fetish for some booty. This is a very strong album. Great lyrics, great flow, well produced beats. There’s not a single ‘banger’ on here as I find is usually the case with a rap album, but every song is of a decent to high quality and the album as a whole listening experience was thoroughly enjoyable. Somehow spawned a song with ‘Date Rape’ in the title and yet there’s still a song in existence with that in the title that I prefer?? Big up Sublime. Excursions (8/10) Buggin’ Out (9/10) Rap Promoter (7/10) Butter (8/10) Verses from the Abstract (8/10) Show Business (9/10) Vibes and Stuff (8/10) Infamous Date Rape (7/10) Check the Rhime (8/10) Everything is Fair (7/10) Jazz (We’ve Got) (8/10) Skypager (7/10) What? (8/10) Scenario (9/10) 7.9/10
I never know what to expect. I had no idea that this album was going to be hip-hop. It is so good!! How have I never heard of any of these groups.
Big fan of these guys - remind me of Souls of Mischief, and group a used to listen to at school. Enjoy the jazz influence coupled with strong meaningful lyricism
Good classic hip hop. Laid back, a bit jazzy, entertaining.
I had actually never listened to this one prior but I really enjoyed it!
I don't even listen to hip hop usually but this was dope! Smooth at times, jazzy, nice beats, and catchy. I didn't pay much attention to the lyrics because I wanted an overall listening experience, but I feel like next time it's a must.
Really cool
The high end album
Je lui donne 4 car ce n'est pas mon pref de ce groupe. Mais maudine que c'est bon!
Avant y'avait des hippies. Mais là astheure, y'en a pus : astheure c'est des hips. C'est jusse des hips! Partout le gars y dit : "Es-tu hip?" Non, chus pas hip. "Ben, si t'es pas hip, t'es un rat. Hip, hip ou rat."
This is such a solid album. A few songs dragged for me, so not a 5.
Un poco monótono pero entiendo que fuese increíble en su época
Revolutionary sound blending vintage jazz bass lines with complex hip hop production and rap delivery. Not my favourite album of theirs, though the importance of the record can not be understated. Best Tracks: - Buggin Out - Everything Is Fair Worst Tracks: - What? - Infamous Date Rape Rating: 8.5/10
Funky jazz and bossa nova sampling.
Smooth rhymes delivered over a jazzy beat.
Not really interested
4/5
yeah this rocked
I feel cool listening to this. Vibe, chill. The beat is on point. How can you not dance to this.
This is the kind of hip hop I like. Nice beats. Smooth lyrics. A message. Good stuff.
Another album of cool, laid-back, effortless rhyming from Quest, enjoyed it a lot. Love the bass backing in Buggin' Out, loved What? generally. Shout out to the reviewer who gave a 2 star review and said "it is impossible to follow the lyrics unless you pay attention all the time" for having just the worst possible take on hip hop, congratulations.
Enjoyed this a lot, first half especially.
torn between a 3 and 4 star review here- this is obviously a great record- and I love the mood of the music- the jazz samples are great, I like that there are no catch r&b choruses, no skits or nonsense, just beats and lyrics. I just wish they had more to say topically, most of the album is about personal stuff and the rap game itself. it's not bad, just not great. still, if I had to pick a rap album to listen to- this would be a good choice.
I mean, it's maybe nothing that hasn't been redone and arguably improved upon by later acts, but Tribe have always been funky as shit and this remains just an excellent groove.
Damn that's a funky album. I lost track of the plot a bit through the middle, but Tribe can always get a few minutes of my time when needed. And Scenario is still great.
Butter best track, all a cool vibe though
The lyrics were so smooth they melted like butter through my fingertips. The beat so groovy you could scrub barnacles with it. Gotta love a quality hip-hop album. 4 stars.
I understand why people see this album as one of the greatest albums of all time and I do appreciate what it has done for hip hop and its musical craftsmanship. It’s a good album, a great one even. I really love the heavy fusion between hip hop and jazz, the rapping over the minimalist jazz grooves is something I love a lot. Just for some reason the album doesn’t quite fully do it for me. I think I just don’t quite get it all the way. But I know this is good stuff and I’m able to appreciate it regardless, it’s just not quite my groove.
Hip hop
Jazz samples with breakbeats with 90’s hip hop ?????? And you gonna say someone rated this under a 4???? Insanely good the bus ride was baller !!!
Honestly, surprised. These guys did the basics brilliantly and produced such an incredible hip-hop album. The jazz elements work a treat, showing that these two genres fit well. Didn't appreciate the misogyny in there, however, such a brilliant album, and shows that I appreciate hip-hop more than I give it credit for.
Great album that has withstood the test of time.
Such a great album!!
4/28/2025: great bare bones beats and baselines freeing up room for lyrics + Busta Rhymes debut!
The Low End Theory — другий альбом A Tribe Called Quest, став не просто поворотним моментом у хіп-хопі, а й культурним рубіконом, після якого говорити “реп — це лише музика для вулиць” стало неможливо. Якщо дебютний альбом заклав джазову основу - то ця робота пішла ще далі - глибокі басові лінії легкі джазові снейри, контрабас. Усе послуговує тому, щоб цей альбом звучав камерно та «інтимно». Ну і звісно сам флоу та ритмічні малюнки стали набагато складнішими. Навіть не поглиблюючись в тексти, його дуже приємно та цікаво слухати. Але при цьому - читати тексти все ж дуже бажано - вони тут стали більш абстрактними, філософськими, а подекуди навіть пророчими. Наприклад, гурт зміг передбачити те до чого незабаром дійде музична індустрія у своїй жадібності. Це зрештою і призведе до її стрімкого падіння через піратство на початку нульових. Назва The Low End Theory — не лише про «басовий звук». Це маніфест уваги до тих, кого не видно та не чутно - про бідні райони, про молодих темношкірих чоловіків, які виростають під гуркіт сабвуфера. Саме тому «бас» тут настільки важливий та відіграє роль своєрідної «метафора присутності» - навіть коли він приглушений, все одно залишається панівним елементом. Цей альбом, в тому числі є предтечею того, що пізніше назвуть abstract hip hop, та conscious hip hop. Та якби не цей альбом, навряд ми б отримали інших геніальних виконавців в цих піджанрах, таких як Common, чи Kendrick Lamar.
So good and I'd never listened to this!
Groovy listen.
I see why this is such a classic. Good to listen to and enjoyable for someone who is not a hip hop fan. Great album. 7.9/10
Shit gas Top 3 Excursions Rap promoter Butter
The jazzy elements really help this album to stand out, in addition to the skilled rapping. Overall, a very good album. Favorite track: "Check the Rhime"
fire
Bangin
Certified CLASSIC
What is a compound withOUT a element
Q Tip might be one of the top 5 best rap lyricists in hip hop history. And he’s not #5 or #4.
Really enjoyed this. First time hearing this album in its entirety. Can’t believe I missed this one when it came out 35 years ago! Love Q-tip….smooth!!!!
Another never before listened to album (just heard a smattering of the songs over the years) but I was pleasantly suprised how it kept me captivated throughout
Still holds up. My favorite hip hop group of all time and my second favorite Tribe album. RIP Fife
Let Q-Tip clean out your ears. Jazz rap rules, especially when the production is so carefully thought out and the MC talent is on point. I think Midnight Marauders has better individual songs, but they’re similar enough to me to play as side 1/side 2.
Je suis un hipster (ou un inculte au choix), je préfère leur précédent album.
Listened to this a lot in high school and I still love it. The beats are a little too repetitive and it feels a bit dated for that reason but it's a classic.
Like most hip hop I enjoy the instrumentals more than the rapping, and this album is no exception. What differs it from a lot of other hiphop is that the instrumentals are amazing, much thanks to having Ron f'ing Carter on bass. Also the rapping is pretty cool but I didn't have time to investigate the lyrics in depth.
Bumped this the whole day at work. Always been a Tribe fan so this was fun!
very great production!!!!! my ears were happy
Musically, the Quest is on the rise 1001 Albums Generator 2 Oftentimes, after a successful or acclaimed debut, an artist will struggle to follow it up. This phenomenon is so common, the phrase “sophomore slump” has become a common critique in music circles. A Tribe Called Quest not only avoided this fate, but surpassed their debut (and subsequent) albums with their 1991 sophomore offering. The Low End Theory is quintessential 90’s hip hop in all aspects. The chill, jazzy, sample-heavy beats, the “hippity hop” vocal delivery, the occasionally questionable lyrics. Every aspect of this album oozes the sound that would dominate the decade that would follow. The finest aspect of this album is Q-Tip’s production. The sound of a jazz bassline is as key to this album as it is to any “true” jazz album. Hell, they got jazz legend Ron Carter to play live bass on Verses from the Abstract. ATCQ’s sample choice throughout also shows their depth of jazz knowledge. From Art Blakey to Lonnie Smith, Jack DeJohnette to Weather Report, even non-jazz legends like Funkadelic and The Doors show up on this album's WhoSampled page (seriously go read through this page, it is fucking amazing to see all the elements they pulled together for these songs). The way that the beats often open up during the choruses (expemplified on Excursions, Vibes and Stuff, and Check the Rhime) show that Q-Tip is doing more than just looping samples. The attention paid to the layering is something special on this album. With all this said, it turns out this album isn't an instrumental hiphop album. Tribe has two primary MC's: the aforementioned Q-Tip and Phife Dawg. As I mentioned previously, this album exudes 90's hiphop energy, which can certainly feel outdated when done poorly. Lyrics like "Go get yourself some toilet paper 'cause your lyrics is butt" and "What type of crap is that? Yo, how's about a smack?" do not have the swagger that they must have had back in the day. Although some songs on the album, such as Everything Is Fair and Rap Promoter, do deal with conscious themes, this is not a typical heady, triple-entendre rap album. However, I think that this album is one of the best examples of this style that I have ever heard. So many albums from this era end up being "My name is Joey and I'm here to say / bitches love to blow me, every day"-core. While there is some of that on this tracklist, The Abstract and Phife are able to embrace this style while not taking themselves too seriously. Now, this is not to say that this album is parody; no, this is very much a labor of love for the artform of rap (and jazz), but at the same time, the lyrics and delivery do have a bit of a cheeky feel to them, which saves this album from falling into the trap that so many old school hiphop albums fall into. It is able to perfectly straddle the line between humorous self-awareness and serious artistry. Even in this, as with their beats, they mimic and pay homage to jazz legends such as Charles Mingus and Sun Ra, who were also known for incorporating a level of non-seriousness in their serious art. While a couple of songs near the end do not hold up to the rest of the tracklist, The Low End Theory is a must-listen for anyone that is interested in hip-hop. The beats and lyric delivery are among the best the genre has to offer. Favs: Excursions Check the Rhime Scenario Least Fav: What?
has aura. cool vibes to the end pretty peak for 1991 and something i enjoyed getting to listen to
Dogs have no sense of rhythm. I suppose animals, in general, don't have a sense of rhythm but I can PROVE that dogs don't. How, you say? Well I took my dog for a walk with a bluetooth speaker playing this album and he didn't bob his head once.
++: Butter, Show Business, Vibes and Stuff, Infamous Date Rape, Check the Rhime, Everything Is Fair, Jazz (We've Got), Skypager, What?, Scenario +: Excursions, Buggin' Out, Rap Promoter, Verses from the Abstract 9,0/10
4.5 stars. Such excellent early wrap, feels extremely influential.
Yeaaa good vibes all around. 4 stars.
Vrolijke deuntjes
good listen, but kinda feels like a time capsule
Och, ik ga proberen om hier objectief over te zijn, maar ik hou echt heel erg van Tribe. Ze zijn voor mij de perfecte mix tussen jazz en hiphop. Q-tip is oprecht de beste producer uit die jaren als je het mij vraagt, en dan ook nog eens een fantastische rapper! Ja dit album is dus ook gewoon heerlijk om aan te hebben. Ik denk dat ik hun debuutalbum misschien nog wel beter vind en anders We got it from here, thank you for your service. Eigenlijk is Tribe voor mij gewoon consistent ijzersterk. De dikke beats, de laidback flows, het hit gewoon. Dus? Dit is een makkelijke 5 sterren dan toch? Toch niet, ik leun toch net iets meer naar 4 sterren. Het is super relaxed, en toch betrap ik mezelf erop dat de beats net ff te meh zijn en de flows van Q-tip en Phife net iets te veel van hetzelfde zijn. 5 sterren is een vrijwel perfect album. Dat is dit gewoon niet, begrijp me niet verkeerd, het is een fantastisch album! Maar net geen 5 sterren. Mijn god, speciale shout out naar die fantastische Busta verse aan het einde van Scenario. Ge-wel-dig! Wat een knaller om te eindigen! FAVO: Excursions, Buggin out, Show Business, Check the Rhime, Everything is fair, Jazz(We've Got), What?, Scenario
Great, but not quite 5 stars
Good, Grooving vibe, flow and beat hit on the point. 7.8/10
[4.5]
Smooth like butter I don’t really like a lot of rap or hip-hop or whatever (my stats in this will confirm) But I really like this. I guess it’s all the new shit I dislike.
There’s this pretty unsubtle, absolutely excellent (perfect?) moment in “Everything’s fair” as the front-of-the-mix Funkadelic sample meets the bass line in the crossfade then disappears, leaving us with Q-Tip telling a story about unrequited lust, ambition and money. (But in a way that’s never more dramatic than “casual”.) I mention this moment specifically because a) driven by a beat I can only, feebly and in awe, describe as “sick”, it slaps, and b) it feels like a nice little metonym of what’s so spectacularly cool about this record and Tribe’s whole thing. The nods back, the moves forward, the feeling of effortlessness about it all; the knowing you’re in safe hands, so letting your guard down and having a dance. The 90s that this record helped to shape might not have been “my” 90s – unless the vibe they cultivated had any bearing on Space Jam or upstream influence on The Fresh Prince? – but here in 2025 this record still feels sharp, organised and focussed. That this is a great record feels evident in it being as available to me while I’m making pizza on a Saturday night as it was while waiting for a bus on an early Tuesday morning. You don’t need to be in the mood, because it’ll transport you. Props.
One of the crown jewels of classic 90s boom nap rap. Plays like one long jam, with each immaculately produced track seamlessly flowing into the next.
good vibes 4/5
Enjoyable flow and fun rhymes. I really liked this, but I will admit every song sounds the same.
Excellent. And now I know where that line in the Barenaked Ladies song "One Week" came from.
Incredible rap album and all energy throughout, great features and lyrics.
Man gillar ju ändå detta. Det är najs beats. Sen är det ju lite väl outdated. Men det är lite för skönt för att bara ge en trea. Skulle lätt kunna sätta på denna skiva å köra från början till slut.
Bra skiva för sin tid. Även om produktionerna är lite primitiva är de bättre än normalt och detsamma gäller texter och flow. Check the rhime är lite av en föregångare i hur de väver ihop varandras verser.
Great chill late night vibes
Excellent hip-hop. Whole album
Excellent hip hop album.
Before hip-hop established the rut of topical clichés of guns, hoes, and drugs, the potential was limitless. Though the golden age of rap appears to have occurred in the mid-90's, before then the style was a bit more free-form. The chorus may just be a musical interlude, or there may not be any chorus at all in leiu of a steady flow of lyrics. Def Jam was introducing scream rap with samples of hard rock guitar, and the Fresh Prince made up goofy stories about Freddy Krueger and Mike Tyson. Tribe elevated the art form by adding jazz and multiple samples to the groove, and approached their rhyming in a conversational, laid-back style that Snoop Dog would take all of the way to the bank a few years later. And behind the scenes, Bob Power revolutionized mixing techniques that made him legendary in the music studio. This isn't a 'singles' album. Just put it on and let it play. I'll bump the 3.5 to a 4 for innovation and keeping things fresh and positive.
Clever, confident, unbothered, and wise, especially for how young they were here. I especially love Q-Tip's brainy-cool verses and vocals: sharp but with a smooth flow. I don't think I had ever heard any of these tracks before, and I found the listening experience delightful. 4.5
Great listen.
Butata
Sounds like the birth of true hip hop. The beats are fresh and bassy. The samples are choice. Up there with J5 and NWA.
I’ll say at the outset that I’m not a fan of the “rap” subgroup of the “hip hop” genré. I’m used to the hard, nasty, curse laden words that are so harmful to women, and other marginalized groups. But wouldn’t the worst of worst rap groups like Two Live Crew, NWA, and Tupac NOT be included in the 1001 albums that you need to hear before you die? Wouldn’t these groups be considered too rude, lewd, and socially unacceptable to be considered to gain entry into this vaunted list of “The 1001 Albums that you need to listen to before you die”? But A Tribe Called Quest is a bit different from these more raucous rap groups. They appear more refined, uttering poetry rather than raw aggressive lines. This poetry is articulated clearly and defines a story. This is what makes A Tribe Called Quest stand out from the rest of the hip hop community. While the group can’t resist throwing in an explicative here and there, especially on some of the songs like “Butter,” and “Infamous Date Rape.” A Tribe Called Quest proves that not all hip hop is created equal. One must keep an open mind, and decide for oneself if this group is truly a “cut above the others.” I think it is. I give “The Low End Theory” Four out of Five stars.
Needs another listen. Love the songs I knew, but not the ones I didn’t.
Scenario lives rent free in my brain since this album came out. I'm really impressed how most of this hold up, probably due to a jazzy influence. It's smooth, which is unlike a lot of hip hop at the time. The name dropping of Ralph Tresvant, having Busta on board--it's really great. Maybe a 3.5 for me, but bumping for when Scenario hits at the end.
Groovy. I like the baselines. I like the lyrics about dedication to writing. “Keep the vibes goin”. Will listen again. Cooking breakfast in a sun filled flat.
3.5
I enjoyed this more than a thought, simple, good production easy to hear the lyrics which is often my hip hop gripe. I’ll come back to this 3.75/5
Can’t believe I’ve never listened to this before. A lot of fun throughout and will definitely be returning
Tricky, I get it, I like it, 3, no… wait, I love it, wait again, do I? Yes. 4. Can’t seem to give it a 5… could it be possible that I’m not cool enough?! Ha ha Wait again again, way better LOUD, at volume 11, or on the swanky headphones. Possibly 4.5 if I could.
I remember when this album came out, it was blown away by the neon cover of it. Sadly, I think I’ve listened to it maybe once or twice with little interest at the time. We listening to it now I realize how powerful this band in this album really is. Key tracks, most of them honestly, were Show Business and Check the Rhime. I loved the interplay with the smooth rap weaving between the members and the jazz-based flow. They were the apex of the Golden Age of Rap, hitting controversy without being controversial in their delivery. I can going to come back to this one again.
Random thoughts: * This is the best Tribe album. * I did not really listen to Tribe in the 90s. What a shame?! I really missed out. I was too much of a west coast hip hop guy. * Check the Rhime and Scenario were my two favorite tracks. * Is Busta Ryhmes debut one of the best ever rap debuts on Scenario? * Q-tip, while not the most technically proficient rapper. He is one of the most distinctive and is silky to the ears. I could listen to him rap all day. He's definitely one of my top 10 favorite rappers. * Adding this to a more regular rotation. 4-stars!
Amazing. at least the Spotify radio based on this album was amazing so by association I rate this high
brilliant
didn't finish but so good. can see why so influential
Du rap sur des boucles un peu jazzy, ça devrait être un non direct, mais les samples sont cools et on est vite pris par le flow. Je comprends un peu d’où Massive Attack tient son son quand j’entends des choses comme ça. “Check the Rhime” et son sample connu, “Scenario”... Ca s’écoute avec plaisir, même si parfois un peu monotone.
What decade are we in again, didn’t catch you the first time you told me it was the 90s. And we out Go get yourself some toilet paper because your lyrics is butt I listened to this when Kendrick was performing I would assume These songs end so abruptly Skypager What? Is so fun
happy to revisit. highlights include "Excursions" "Buggin' Out" "Check the Rhime" "Jazz(We've Got)" "Skypager" "What?"
I like the groove of this group. The lyrics can get cheesy at times, but the lyricism is normally great.
A classic, didn't love it as much as the first time
Funky hip hop. I was in from the start.
God damn, amazing. Can't wait to relisten
This one is a decent record. I enjoyed their smooth vibe and their great lines, very good work. It wasn't amazing though, especially if I compare it to other rap albums from this period. A weak 4.
9/10
Yeaaa good vibes all around. 4 stars.
A jazzy hip hop album.
I liked it, but not life changing.
Such a chill album