Reviews (page 9 of 14)
Nice old school rap, pretty repetitive bit nice
Vet
Extremely smooth, definition of easy listening.
This is good stuff. That is all.
I really enjoy this record and understand how important it is to hip-hop. However, it has never been a go to rap record.
Nice beats, clear rap, easy to understand lyrics. Sadly beats get repetitive real quick, so one song yes, a whole album no. It's too boring.
"The Low End Theory" by A Tribe Called Quest is, without a doubt, an incredible album. The infusion of jazz, particularly the mesmerizing basslines, is nothing short of genius, it offers a dynamic and groovy backdrop to the thought-provoking lyrics and skillful delivery of Q-Tip and Phife Dawg. However, I can't help but agree with another user who pointed out that the album predominantly uses a 4/4 time signature. While this doesn't take away from the album's overall brilliance, it can become a bit monotonous when listening to the entire album in one go. Some variety in the time signatures could have added another layer of depth and complexity. Regardless, it remains a classic and essential in any hip-hop collection.
4'3, bastante bien, Hip hop com temazos
not my usual genre of music but this made my work day more fun. Was a good vibe
an sich ganz geil, aber es wird nach einer weile echt repetitive wenn man sich das ganze album gibt.
4.
Classic album for a reason. Low end theory is an old school jazz inspired rap record. Reminiscent of a time when lyrics took the forefront in rap records. The beats are great, but often simplistic. It accentuates the diction and the creativity in the lyrics. The opening track is the best example of this. The flow isn't some fast paced almost undecipherable flurry of words. ATCQ wants you to hear and marvelous at what they're saying. A couple of dudes from queens talking about thier lives. It is obvious why they are such an influential group to so many.
Really funky and very cool. The rhymes are dope. The flow is excellent. I'm taking away a star for Infamous Date Rape which is an unfortunate inclusion. Otherwise this is a solid hip-hop album.
Very catchy. decent instrumentals. First album I actually liked haha
Fun. Beastie Boys connection.
This album's groove is undeniable. The added jazz definitely is audible in songs like Buggin' Out, Vibes and Stuff, and obviously Jazz (We've Got). A really nice introduction to the genre of hip-hop after the slightly aggressive and oh-so-strong delivery from TPAB. Personal highlights include Buggin' Out (fun bassline), Butter (nice backing track... guitar sound?), Check the Rhime (incredibly satisfying call-and-response structure), and Scenario (the epic finale that I didn't quite expect from an album with such an atmosphere). Side note: finding out that these guys made a flat-out homophobic song (which they, thankfully, decided not to put on this record) derailed this album's impression on me significantly. Still a great album though.
Definitely a cool sound to this album and I know its importance but it can all start sounding same-y over time. Not enough variety of sound for my taste in hip hop. Great lyricism though and strong ending.
Fun and never knew the last song was from this album (here we go yo)
I will admit I don't know anything about ATCQ. I know I've heard their voices before in other media, but I've never jumped in... Man, I think I need to. I love hip hop in the 90s. This album so pure and accessible. These guys sound like they are New Yorkers -- a quick wikipedia tells me I'm correct.. Great mix between fantastic word play, bass lines and jazz riff. It's mellow, but at the same time you can lose yourself in the messaging. Busta Rhymes on the last track was unexpected and probably catapulting. I bet they helped define that East Coast hip hop sound and I'm sure this album is more culturally significant than I'm even aware. Favorite Track: Buggin Out
This album was a real joy. One of those rap albums from the 90s I really enjoyed. 4.5/5
Definitely my preferred type of rap. I enjoyed the sparse, twangy baselines of most tracks.
I enjoy the jazz hip-hop elements of the 90s and this album definitely hit that space with really fresh beats and rhymes. I was always entertained throughout.
Tony Hawkes pro skater vibes
There's nothing I could say about this album that hasn't been said before. Incredible wordplay and production. Really solid album. I would absolutely buy this to keep for my own collection. Favorite track: Show Business
It occasionally shows it's age, but still a great album to listen and vibe to. The album definitely gets better the more I listen to it.
Awesome!
I love A Tribe Called Quest, and this album is fantastic. Totally understand why it's on this list. Lyrically, musically, and stylistically it's top tier. Plus "Scenario" is an all time classic.
Could listen to this album all day long. Have loved it for years. Can’t believe this is from 91.
Fantastic.
Really good rap album. I am not the biggest rap fan, though. Wouldn't mind hearing in a coffee shop. Probably would never play it on my own.
docked a star for the date rape song but otherwise perfect
This is one of the first albums I heard that made me reconsider my relationship with rap. I've always appreciated it, but felt it pretty inaccessible, I was so aware I was not the target audience and lyrics are a thing I don't pay attention to for several listens unless I'm trying really hard. But this was so easy to understand, the jazz samples were choice, and while I'm still not the target audience it didn't feel nearly as unrelatable to my viewpoint. So I'm grateful to ATCQ for starting me on that journey. That being said, listening again over a decade later its age is beginning to show a bit. The 90s in particular it seems were an impossible time for someone to produce a timeless feeling record. So much has followed and our collective understanding of what's edgy and still worthwhile vs just not ok has changed - looking at you, Infamous Date Rape... Still great, just not quite making it to 5 for me.
I’ve got a lot of respect for this album, but musically it’s never stuck with me as One of the Greats. Maybe it’s just because of how hip hop has evolved over time, maybe it’s because of the song Infamous Date Rape (which, why?), but it doesn’t get me going enough to be a 5. That said, it’s still an excellent, wildly influential album. Excursions is a phenomenal opener and the record doesn’t feel too long which I feel was a big issue in the 90s. I might like Midnight Marauders better.
I like getting this after Bowie because I feel similarly about a Tribe Called Quest. People absolutely love them and while I think this was well made music it just did not personally excite me that much. The best part for me is Busta’s verse on “Scenario”. Good rappers, jazzy beats but not thrilling for me.
Maybe my favorite artists from hip hop's golden era, I still love most of the tracks on this album. Something about the production and the samples used on these early Tribe albums just makes them timeless classics to me. There's unfortunately several songs with some peak-90's "nice guy" misogyny which I hadn't really clocked until this listen. Those songs aside, I'll never get tired of Low End Theory.
Listened to this for another list recently. Really good. 4/5
Very nice sound, the production is impeccable. The hooks aren't really there, but I don't think that's the point. This is a perfect album to work to or put on at a gathering.
Great! I really enjoyed the instrumentals and lyricism.
From the great Ron Carter’s eerie double-bass opening & Q-Tip’s amazing opening rap on Excursions, this album proves to be like no other hip-hop album I’ve ever heard. And, indeed, I’d never heard this album before, even though I realise that it’s been one of the most influential albums on my son’s career, and on the development of the genre in the last 30 years. Carter’s bass is prominent on many tracks, notably Buggin Out & the knockout Scenario, which also includes very early Busta Rhymes. The sampling is extremely tasteful - Average White Band’s Love Your Life used in Check The Rhime, the first single off the album, is a good example. And the lyrical content is always interesting - I loved Verses From The Abstract, Rap Promoter - in fact the album contains some of the most intelligent lyrics of any hip-hop album I’ve ever heard. This was a delight to listen to.
There have been so many gangsta rap albums on this list, that I was almost starting to think I didn't like hip hop. The misogyny and violence of gangsta rap just makes me more and more uncomfortable. It wasn't Ok at the time, and it just gets worse with time. Thank goodness for A Tribe Called Quest. I like this record sooooo much more than many of the hip hop records I have been forced to listen to. It is cool and laid back, smart and funny, sensitive and insightful. I love the chilled production and Q-Tip and Phife's flow is so great. Chris Jones for the BBC wrote that Tribe "almost single-handedly defined the alternative rap scene, where intelligence and musical nouse replaced guns, hos and bragging. ... Low End [Theory] pushed the jazz connection even further with a sparse but not quite minimal selection of grooves built around some exquisitely chosen upright bass samples ... Remember that this was in direct contrast to the West Coast G Funk about to explode onto the scene. Like its predecessor, it combined humour with insight to show the world that ‘rap’ needn’t be equated with the worst aspects of the American dream." Amen. A great, great record that reminds us all of what is great about hip hop. It sounds better with age.
I really enjoyed this album. As a first-time listener, there were no stand out tracks as such, but I loved the overall sound of the album - so cool and so, well, of its time and place! Some of the lyrics perhaps haven't aged well, but the beats and use of sampling were great. Will definitely listen again and explore some more of their music.
Feckin love tribe
I remember when I first listened to this album a few years ago being confused at people calling it a bridge between jazz and hip hop, and on today's relisten I still am to a degree. It certainly does infuse jazz elements - especially in the basslines, but it doesn't incorporate jazz further than what serves the hip hop beat. There are no solos or soaring instrumentation or strange time signatures. But while this is a hip hop record through and through - it's a bloody good one through and through
Great albun
i didn’t have high expectations for this website i thought i was just gonna get shit like lana del rey or taylor swift but omgggg this started off with a BANG. this album was fucking incredible i loved it. im so glad that i found this website.
I've been interested in this one, considering it's believed to be up there as one of the hip-hop greats, and it was certainly good, but I did expect a bit more. For instance, this is labeled Jazz-Rap, but I feel the jazz influences are very light, due to the simplified production. You won't be finding any interesting jazz riffs save for one or two. Q-Tip's voice and flow is still super tight though, and I really recommend you walk with earbuds whilst listening, and you'll get pretty into it. This one may grow on me in future listens, but for now, while I get the praise, I don't think I can put it way up there.
yeah this was a great listen, just super high quality beats and lyrics and flow. consistent throughout, never a dull moment on the album. just front to back really really good.
This is exactly why I started using this album a day thing. Sure I’ve heard of A Tribe Called Quest, I’d even heard 1 or 2 of these songs but I’d never go out of my way to listen to the whole album. It was really cool! I really loved the jazzy aspects.
Really good, like wu tang Clan the beats and flow were a cut above other hip hop from the same time. As often happens when going through this list, I learned a couple of parts of songs from other artists I like have been lifted from quest, which is an endorsement. I can't truly put it at the same level as my favourite hip hop (RTJ/Aesop rock) but ill definitely be listening again.
I didn't really have any expectations heading into this - I get them confused with Questlove and the Roots. However - what a great album. Clearly well thought through, with plenty of highlights (Show Business). I did go back and listen a second time but wouldn't a third, hence 4 stars. If any more A Tribe Called Quest albums come up, I can't wait.
How these guys were not the biggest thing going is crazy. They have such crisp lyrics and simple flowing beats. I really enjoyed the Hip-Hop/Jazz mix, will definitely listen to this again. Highlights: Buggin' Out Check The Rhyme Jazz (We've Got) Scenario
I listened to "What?" twice and it took the second time to figure out the little moment of silence in the middle... I have all of De La Soul's stuff, so I don't know why I never picked up any of A Tribe Called Quest. But man, this fits a nice funky spot. Everyone is playing off of each other lyrically, they are really doing some cool stuff here. My favorites so far are "Excursions" and "Buggin' Out". I like the bass riff going throughout "Excursions" very jazzy. Definitely one I'd like to get into more.
These guys were always smooth. This album is no different - slick jazz hip-hop. But it lacks some variety. The songs blend together, which is cool from a chill vibe perspective but not from a unique thing perspective. The songs that did stand out were awesome - Excursions (perhaps because first song), Show Business (witty/clever lyrics), What? (again, super witty/clever and cool beat), Scenario (good energy). When I sit down and really pay attention, the songs are more varied but the really great albums don't require that effort to truly love. Still a very good album, but not great.
If you could wear out a CD, I would have wore out my copy of "People's Instinctive Travels". I will admit that "Low End" hasn't gotten nearly as much play into my ear-balls. This record has some good moments and is more straightforward rap than "People's".
Liked this a lot more than a lot of the earlier rap albums I’ve heard. Rating: 4.2
Loved the vibes - Jazz was reaaaally good - Infamous date rape -> the beat is really cool
Musique bien funky.
The beats and delivery are 🔥 Highlights: Excursions, Buggin' Out, Jazz (We've got), What?
Enjoyable. Will definitely revisit again, along with the other albums by them. Favorite track: Show Business
definitely 1990s hip hop a tiny bit like MF DOOM solid album
Favourites: • Excursions
-i have vaguely heard of this band before but haven’t listened to them -loving this first song -THAT BASSSSSS -okay i love how kinda subtle the background and instruments are because the rap can really shine -and i Love the lines in the raps -its so fun and chill -check the rhime is a genuine bop -this album gets an easy 4 for me, fun chill and easy to listen to
"The Low End Theory" by A Tribe Called Quest is a groundbreaking album that defines the essence of jazz-infused hip-hop. Released in 1991, it's a masterpiece that fuses complex beats, smooth rhythms, and conscious lyrics. Tracks like "Check the Rhime" and "Scenario" exemplify the group's lyrical prowess and skillful sampling. The album's production is rich, with its jazz influences creating a mellow yet engaging vibe. However, for some listeners, the album's laid-back approach might feel a tad monotonous, and certain tracks might blend together. Yet, "The Low End Theory" remains a quintessential record that revolutionized hip-hop, despite moments where its continuous style may not fully captivate every listener's attention.
Classic, vintage, and still sounds great. Less is more, and the tasteful and timely jazz flourishes really make the record. "Butter," "Verses" and "Vibes" are the best cuts. This is just a tick down from a full-on masterpiece, by which one means, a 5.
Truly great hip hop album with several truly essential tracks and a couple of clunkers.
pretty sick'
Almost unbelievable that this is already over 30 years old and still sounds fresh. Relaxed and Jazzy HipHop, where the flow of the songs into each other is only rivaled by the flow of Q-Tip himself.
Kinda repetitive and not the greatest rapping I’ve ever heard, but on the same points, the production is strong and consistent, and the vibes are impeccable. Some really excellent and influential beats. Shoutouts to Busta Rhymes’s random show-stealing appearance on the final track. Best song: Jazz (We’ve Got)
listened to again one of the greats
I mean what’s not to love here, it’s a smoothie
I enjoyed this.
Great album! Excellent vibes, awesome beats, and engaging lyrics! No wonder why it’s a classic!
8/10. Solid as hell, not a new favorite or anything, but I was pleased to discover there was still some Tribe Called Quest left on the list.
I had never heard this album before and I had to listen to it twice. First time through, I just grooved to it and the second time through I listened to it on Apple Music with the lyrics turned on.
If I could do 4.5 I would. 4 is doing this album such a disservice. Some of the best hip-hop pre-2010s. Rating: 8.5/10
Tribe starts slow, but psychodelic. Then they open up, but only a little bit, just to keep the psychodelic vibe going. The beats are great and the flow is absolutely one of the greatest in history.
4.0
un bon flow, bon pace. J'ai adoré c'était en plein dans mon genre. Beat plus old school, le flow et le rap sont a l'honneur 4.5
Very slick and easy to listen to. Clever writing and infectious beats. Will return to this. No particular highlight - enjoyed it all.
Dit album onderscheidt zich van stamalbum. Er is een professionaliseringsslag gemaakt. Alles is in balans. De rap is bijna meer een instrument dan een tekst. Daardoor prikkelt het wat minder. Het album kabbelt vooral lekker door. Het wordt achtergrond-rap. Lekker om bij te werken. Maar stiekem vind ik het eerdere, waarschijnlijk minder uitgedachte album fijner om naar te luisteren.
Weer zo'n lekker laidback hiphop plaatje van A Tribe. Het is eigenlijk drie kwartier dezelfde vibe, waarop de rappers hun lyrics spitten. Geen idee waar ze het allemaal over hebben en het zal me ook een zorg zijn. Het klinkt relaxed en daarom vind ik het prettig om te luisteren.
Legendarisk hiphop, jazz-samples, ordspil, humor, minimalistisk
a tribe called quest er goood
A Tribe Called Quest is one of those hip hop groups I can actually listen to, so this was quite good! Saved tracks: Verses from the Abstract, Check the Rhime, Scenario LP Mix
Ok this was really great but still suffered from the same issue that plagues nearly every rap album - SO VERY LONG.
An old favourite!
quite good, hip hop is not my fav but his one is enjoyable! Recommend!
Stripped back and smooth, with nothing theoretical about its prominent low end bass. Unusually an album that drags a bit in the first half rather than the second.
Hip hop classic: tasteful and influential.
Low end theory has been proven.
Between this and renaissance, q-tip is pretty safely my GOAT old school rapper and it’s cool that I discovered him through this list. His jazzy production abilities and his rapping/lyricism is almost unmatched by anything else from this time period on this list. It didn’t excite me like renaissance did and isn’t something I want to relisten to a lot but it’s still great. Check the rhime is probably my favorite.
Has become a classic Hip Hop album.
Nice. I'll probably use as background music when working.
4/5. Honestly, the more I listen to this album the better it gets. The chill low bass is what drives this album, with some nice rhythmic and smooth riffs and beats. The lyrical content will take some time to digest but if it’s excellent, this could definitely be a 5.
Nice
While this is not to my taste, this is still a good album.
Anybody wanna play Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2?
Loved the old-school vibes and all-round positivity
I love A Tribe Called Quest. The combination of jazz samples and positive raps is nice.
Didn't know about this album, first glance at the artwork, I was already impressed. Enjoyed this way more than I'd expected to.
It's smooth. It flows. It's got a good vibe. But it's not as fun as stuff like Run DMC or Public Enemy. This is more mellow. Not as fun.
I’ll preface this one by saying I haven’t listened to hardly any rap music from before like 2004 so I’m missing a lot of context here. The storytelling on this album is very strong throughout, but my enjoyment of each song correlated with how much I enjoyed each of the instrumentals. I love the dark bass line and then jazzy instrumentals on Excursions, but then Buggin’ Out has a similar instrumental formula with a bass line I don’t like as much as the first one. Because the instrumentals are so minimal, they basically have to be perfect or else they get stale pretty fast. Check the Rhime has a cool conversational dynamic that is really cool to listen to over another one of the album’s best beats. “What?”Is another one of my favorites on here, fun clever verse over a quirky lil beat. I could see this one going up to a 5 for me, I need a few more listens to unpack some of the lyrics. Cover art: 8/10
All the beats are a vibe to chill to and could definitely dig deeper into the lyrics the more I listen to this one. Got a little behind on listening so I only went through once so the main thing that I got into was the jazzy production well mixed beats. I feel like a lot of 90s hip hop beats don’t hold up over time but these ones still seem well mixed. 👍: show business, check the rhime
Fun album, really like vibes and stuff and a few other tracks. The no cursing threw me off tho
The transition from Rap Promoter into Butter…IS SMOOTH LIH BUTTA The influence of tribe is without question but there was a miss or two on here that I wasn’t expecting. 👍: butter, check the rhime, 👎:everything is fair
Great flow, great beats, great hip hop. 4 stars
Tribe is always classic and timeless
I don't have a history with this album but these songs are fantastic. The beats and samples are great, and I really like Q-tip's voice, both the sound of his voice, and the way that he's chill, vulnerable, self deprecating, and still delivers a message.
I don't like most rap, with a few notable exceptions: Kendrick, De La Soul, Outkast, and Tribe. Tribe may just be my favorite among them. They walk the line between fun and intelligence so well. You can be entertained by the cleverness of their prose, or just vibe to the beat. I think the reason why their beat clicks so well with me is that they use a lot of rock samples. Their basslines are always so slick. Anyways, I don't know where I'm going with this. I slightly prefer Midnight Marauders, but this album is deserving of 4.5 stars.
I love Q-Tip's flow. Redundancy of the (drum) riff not appealing, but overall this is a beauty.
Loved the vibes and the flows, great mix of jazz and hip hop. Tribe Called Quest really rewards listening to the lyrics too, they are very clever. A few hits but I mostly appreciated how the album all fits together.
I really enjoyed this one! Fun lyrics, classic 90s rap. I wish 'can I kick it' was on this album! I will definitely listen to this album again, and have added some of the songs to my regular Playlists.
I am familiar with these guys but not this album. This is dope. I was expecting some basically written hip hop lyrics here (hey it’s tribe called quest and I’m here to say, we like to rap in the old school way). Was pleasantly surprised by the flow in these tracks. Some boombap drums take the lead, as they should, and the emcees get all of the credit. Rappers that gain their notoriety in Queens tend to be pretty killer and these guys are no exception. Worth a listen!! I can't get away from sharing a bit of music trivia if you have read any of my reviews on this site! Something that is worth discussing when studying hip hop music is the artist's vocabulary. These guys aren't dumb-dumbs. I enjoy looking at this site sometimes to see where certain rap artists stack up with their vocabulary against other artists. Just like that fighting game Def Jam but with their pure lyrical content. These guys have 4,550-5,000 unique words in their discography which puts them in the same category as artists like Beastie Boys and Nas. Lots of funny observations to be made with this graph, like if you have a Lil in your name, you are pretty much doomed to be a rapper with a lower vocabulary (2750-3200 unique words). Here is the link: https://pudding.cool/projects/vocabulary/index.html
Jazz Rap!
Buttery goodness. This album is perfect for making a batch of cocktails before guests come over for a games night resulting in you get trapped listening to an insufferable pop music playlist. Although I’m not really familiar with Quest’s catalogue, I was happy to take a little excursion and really listen to this respected group. I hear their name tossed around a lot when talking about influential hip hop acts and all that jazz. The art form of rap hangs mostly in the lyrics and cool turns of phrases, with innovative rhimes and intonations. This record has a variety of deep and silly lyrics, making it an enjoyable listen with good vibes and stuff. The beats are fairly similar from song to song, as there is some repetitiveness on the surface but everything is fine because even with that, I was bobbing for most of the record. Especially when a heavy bass or a sax shows up, it gets me buggin out. As exampled by Show Business. I knew it was my favourite track within 4 seconds of it coming on. I feel cool listening to this album.
Been a fan of this album for a while. Love the jazzy sampling and the minimalist beats - this album is about the "vibe". The lyrics are great; meandering from silly to serious, the wordplay is always on point. Q-Tip and Phife are so in-sync here, the flow between them is unreal.
I mean it's prime Tribe.
I gotta get me one of those pagers, they sound cool HL: "Check the Rhime", "Show Business", "Excursions", "Scenario" March 20, 2023
Den här skivans trummor, bas, samples, låter helt härliga... dammiga... Kunde vara typ 2 låtar kortare... för att sammanfatta: Det är tyvärr ingen Spit on a Stranger EP. Super solid 4
Really great flow on everything
I'm usually not very into old rap albums but this one just doesn't sound dated. This is a pretty fun album with a lot of interesting sounds and song concepts. Standouts include: -Buggin' Out -Verses from the Abstract -Check the Rhime -Jazz -Scenario
An easy 4, could have been a 5 prob if I 'enjoyed' the album more. It's obviously great, but just not 'my thing' enough to bring me back to it. I loved this listen, but that's prob enough for a while. The "jazz samples over heavy/deep bass and beats" aesthetic is really awesome and was probably quite a revelation when this record was released. Def it's easy to hear this record in later stuff by The Roots.
A very nice old school hip hop album, nothing to add about it.
Some incredible production, great rhymes, but the album does tend to get a bit repetitive. Good vibes, but overstays its welcome for me.
I *love* the production on this album, but occasionally the flow is... A bit cheesy sounding. I think it's mostly an artifact of the times, and no doubt this is an essential listen, a hip-hop classic... But it does keep it from getting the 5 from me. I don't think that'll change for me either, I've listened to this one a LOT (and will continue to, it's a great album). 4.5 rounded down.
A classic.
Classic
3.5
So so good. Great hip hop, 4/5
From Excursions to Scenario there's not a bum song in the bunch except maybe Butter's content. I love the sound, energy and overall vibe of this record. Lyrics that are singable and worthy of study. It is peak Tribe.
I wasn't aware there was an alternative hip hop genre, but I likes it.
Great hip hop album
solid album, similar beats but it all flowed really well with good lyrics too
Awesome rap. 4
Love this album. I haven't listened to it as much as Midnight Marauders (my favorite tribe album), but this album is still super solid. Its not a usual front to back album for me but most of this album is probably still in my constant rotation of songs I listen to regularly. Excursions, Butter, Scenario are the favorites.
Fantastic.
Never really ever crossed paths with Tribe. I was aware of them but never really listened. I really enjoyed this.
Superior hip hop that grooves along, and no skits. A couple of bangers away from a 5. Best song Excursions
Incredibly influential album. This absolutely deserves a spot on the list.
I really enjoyed the bass and drum grooves on this album.
Awesome jazzy hip hop. Q-Tip is a cool cat, and this fuzzy-sounding record is nearly a 5 in my book.
It was one of the albums of all time
I am very much a hip-hop newbie (especially since I was a whole 2 years old when this album came out) so I am not very good yet at articulating what I like about different albums. I am really enjoying this one though, I recognized a few of the songs so I must have heard them I passing. I think my favorite part is the jazzy instrumentation behind a lot of the songs, especially the bass.
My first full listen to what's considered as an all-time classic album, and I can see why. Phife & Q-Tip have great chemistry and the beats are on point! favs: Check the Rhime, Jazz (We've Got), Verses from the Abstract, Scenario least fav: What?
I have heard of A Tribe Called Quest and I have heard of this album, although I think I may associate it with another band maybe? Nice flow, good beats and bass lines! Sounds like a double bass on the first two tracks. Samples are good throughout. Each member plays really well off the other, excellent lyrically. Fuck what you heard. 4 stars!
Way better than the first one we had.
This album is better than the first, tighter and better production. Not sure why they are both included, I think one album accurately represents them as there are not major differences between them.
so good from beginning to end. smart lyrics, interesting/creative form of each phrase
Excellent, jazzy rap. Fantastic beats on every song. The production is really crisp and clean. I was convinced there was a lot of newly recorded live instrumentation on this but looking at the credits, there doesn’t seem to be much. I’m impressed that the sampling is clean enough that the music sounds like a live band in the studio. The album also closes with “Scenario,” one of my all-time favorite rap songs and probably a top 100 song of any genre. Such a fun jam. Busta Rhymes’ verse is classic.
Super cool band and super cool album. I love the sound, and I can hear so much hip hop looking to this act as a foundational source of sound for the genre. I really dig the jazz influence and overall production. I love the flows specifically- they are really so pleasing to sit and focus-in on and also to have in your ear while relaxing and not so focused. I think listening to A Tribe Called Quest in 2023 will make me hear their influence in other hip hop and rap groups that are around today, like Kendrick Lamar is one that pops out as probably being influenced by this them. This album is an easy 4/5 for me.
Favourite tracks: Rap Promoter, Jazz (We’ve Got), Scenario
Enjoyed this a lot. Nice beats, but a few problematic lyrics that feel very much of their time.
Chill vibe, laid back and jazzy. Clever and fun. But perhaps just a touch too, how shall I say, consistent?, throughout. 3.5 rounding up for the album cover art.
Amazing hip hop album from the 90s and golden era. Countless tracks that are now classics. Love it.
Great stuff. Nice to chill out to or get some work done.
Chock full of classics. Didn't care for the android tour guide though. Four sticks of butter. 🧈🧈🧈🧈
Groovy
Awesome samples, great flows, classic 90's hip-hop record for a reason. 4.5/5
3.5
A distinctive jazz sound and creative rhymes make this a worthy listen. It's also a celebration of the dawn of the '90s!
I really dig this groove.
I enjoyed this! Interesting to listen to with some good rhymes.
I'm not a great Hip Hop fan but this is good. The stripped down jazz with full acoustic bass rocks along and Q-Tips intelligent clean rhythmic non sweary delivery is excellent. Will probably return. Excellent 3.75
Epic sheesh good already listen
beats and bars stripped down raw
Hadn't listed to Julian Cope before. This is decent.
P good would give 6,75 out of 10
Overall a really nice listen. The beats are extremely simple but still well produced and do the job that they’re supposed to. The jazz mixed in is really on point and subtle. Rhymes by both Q-Tip and Phife are quality as well. 8/10
This passed me by back in the day. This is the sort of hip hop I think I like, clever, jazzy, strong beat, funny, melodic.
A hip-hop classic from right before the genre got super gangsta. Smoothe flows, jazzy beats and thoughtful rhymes.
Really fu album that del8vers the kind of flow that I personally really vibe with in hip-hop, even if not all the lyrical content was up to current standards. ATCQ are undeniably makers of the game and I could listen to this era, this sound pretty much all day.
alto
4.0
Can see how so much came from this
Great record from both a lyrics and a beats standpoint. Just solid all around.
A classic rap album from the 90s that showed how awesome Tribe was. Their sound was influential and plenty popular for years to come. The jazz rap with the cerebral style rapping makes Tribe a unique rap group and one of the best. Low end theory is probably their most artistic album and some say their best. I find all three to be pretty equal as they each have their own strengths. Phife and q-tip are solid on this one together as they flow together as nicely as the jazz Instrumentals throughout. 7.8/10
Excellent album! Je crois que j'en avait jamais écouté avant! Un peu répétitif à la fin, mais excellent amalgame entre jazz et hip hop!
Thoroughly enjoyed the album as a whole. Despite almost exclusively listening to hip-hop, I've only tried one album from ATCQ before. I don't remember finding it very easy to listen to, so wasn't sure how I was gonna feel about this one. This album, however, was easy for me to get into. Will probably give some of their other albums a shot and also check out what a solo Q-Tip album is like.
What an insane vibe. Gives me nostalgia for a time I was not alive for. Super fun listen.
All things Go, sick, good stuff, a draw though?? Also that was kinda scary, also how do I feel about that? Front for bleachers, mediocre diner
Turner out I had listened to it before because hannah told me about it. Really quite like the vibe of it, low fi hop hop rnb.
4.5 stars. (My 5 stars would be reserved for Midnight Marauders)
Excellent album.
A lot to say. Really fun. It’s something that makes me want to google associated stuff… just not something I’ll likely stick on randomly.
Listens: 2 Enjoyed: Yeah The beats on this were something special. The two MCs complimented eachother excellently however I didn't personally connect with any of the lyrics. I'm going to give this another try though and delve into their back catalogue
While I don't knowbas well as other how revolutionary it was for hip hop, I had a lot of fun with this record, Q-tip and Phife are obviously very talented MCs and the beats were killer, a couple of the tunes were not as memorable but that's me trying to not be too lenient on what's a five star. A great record
Hard for me to rate a hip-hop album as I don't know much about it - I'll definitely need to give it more time once I go through more rap albums. For now, I really enjoyed the minimialist jazzy beats and double bass. It made other instrumentals stand out more and allowed for more focus on the lyrics. I loved the first song - Excursions, both intrumentally and lyrically, I think it's one of the best openings to any album I've heard so far. Overall, 3.5/5 for me personally, +0.5 for the cult status this album has due to its apparent significance to the genre.
Awesome mix of hip hop and jazz with some killer tracks. Ends incredibly strongly with Scenario.
Tribe Called Quest are an iconic staple in the 90s hip hop era and this is just another example of their incredible work
Well I quite enjoyed that. Intelligent and intelligible raps that are generally NOT shouted at you. The understated raps are accompanied by further understated instrumentation that sound like REAL instruments. Generally pretty stripped down to a drum beat, again sounding like REAL drums, a nice bass line and subtle washes of keyboard or guitar or horns. The feel is more jazz that hip hop I would say and the spare arrangements sometimes put me in mind of beat poetry. And best of all 14 tracks clocking in at just over 48 minutes with only three songs at over 4 minutes, this album and the individual songs do not over stay their welcome as most rap albums I've heard do. I'm really tempted to give it 5 stars but it does suffer a bit from a samey ness. I really liked it though and would search out rap that is similar in style. I'm definitely going to listen to they're other albums. If anyone reads this and knows other similar bands, hit me up. exliontamer1977@gmail.com. 4.5 stars
Groovy
Decent. Laid back background music. Very early 90s basement beats and jazz samples. Incredibly early 90s rhyme schemes. Flows well, bit repetitive with very basic looped drums
good beat
Love how the tension builds throughout the album. The music seems sparse at first, just vocals and beats, but it allows the background/additional sounds (guitar, synth, horns, etc.) to stand out when they occur. Lyrics are pure poetry.
Unexpectedly nice
This is one of those albums I had been meaning to listen to for ages and it somehow didn't happen. I can't say I was disappointed, I had always liked the individual songs that I had heard and I have always thought that Q-Tip was great. Ultimately I really enjoyed it but not enough so to give it a 5 yet. I think I'll have to relisten a few more times to decide if it is a 5 to my ears. It's certainly worthy of it for its influence but I just can't personally give it one quite yet. Really good album.
Very, very good.
Pretty nice sound. Good vibes for working.
Q-Tip is too smooth. No major critiques, slightly repetitive.
Tribe is always a good choice to chill out!
Great album, I have been a big fan of A Tribe Called Quest for awhile but have never listened past songs like Scenario and Can I Kick It? I think the first few songs are a bit slow but it picks up towards the end. Some of my favorites: Bugging Out, Vibes And Stuff (fav), and of course Scenario
Awesome to hear
slay
Liked this one a lot. I’ve always enjoyed the groove and lyrical creativity that 90s hip hop brings, and I feel like it’s epitomized here. Great flow and I also liked the political commentary. I’d listen to this again.
-Heard of A Tribe Called Quest but never really listen to before - Can see the influence they've had on hip-hop and rap, think of artist like Quelle Chris -Butter: like This song -nice relaxed flows, feel good, and good political commentary -Verses from the Abstract: like the jazz beat and feel - Show Business: really good, the problems with record deals and taking advantage of young poor artist, still relevant today. ahead of its time -Check the Rhime: sick funky beat, good flows -Everything is fair: cool fun beat, like a lot -What?: super funky beat, one of favs -Scenario: one of fav, has brown cow line so if GOATed Overall: The influence on modern music is very apparent, fun, passionate, upbeat and honest music. not afraid to experiment and start conversation on 'taboo' topics. Fav Tracks: -Scenario -What? -Check the Rhime -Everything Is Fair -Butter Least Fav: -Skypager? - not a lot to dislike about this album, all very solid tracks
Easy listening clean hip hop.
cool track in fairness, it got me thru work
Real good
Wow, great beat and rapping from A Tribe Called Quest.
good
chef's kiss
Transformational album for hip hop and jazz both. People have come close to deifying this album and for good reason. It's great to listen to, cause the verses are clever, the beats are solid, and the instruments are live; including the DJ. Subject matter is a little all over the place is my one criticism of the album, it listens more like an experiment than an album. Overall fire though.
This was way more jazzy than I was expecting and it’s so good.
Influential instrumentals and one of the smoothest MCs to do it, Q-Tip and Co. just dance over these beats
Punchy and funky, great album. Well ahead of it’s time
Welcomed change of pace from the previous few albums. Love the lo-fi vibe of this album, the jazz samples and the smooth flows. Really enjoyed from start to finish. One of the best closing tracks of all time.
Now this album is what's up. Happy to see it pop up. Excursions - great opening song. I'm already in a better mood. I love their cadence. Instantly recognizable as a Tribe song, in a good way. So smooth. But then it all kind of blends together by the end. Still enjoyable. Busta coming in growling was something though.
These guys were singing about real life at the same time that others were telling stories about the "gangsta" lifestyle. I listened to them in the beginning but they didn't resonate with me. Maybe it was too real. I get it now. It all feels like "The Wire" to me. I feel like the album played a little slow then they really found their voice. Legends.
LOVE ATCQ. Really the first rap group that I ever really good into. This album is always considered a classic, and while I really like it, I still prefer a few others slightly. Scenario is an absolute banger. 4/5
love TCQ, not my favorite album of there but still pretty great
I’ve only had two rap albums so far and one of them was the other tribe called quest album so I guess it’s a bit of a shame that i’am getting this quite early on… I like how a tribe called quest opens their album with excursions by basically introducing the kind of music you’re gonna get for the next 48 minutes and in both openers the beats have slowly built up as they go along. The depressing bass groove works perfectly backing bugging out it’s a very good song already the album is slightly darker than the last album which is good. Rap promoter is good very cool beat and the lyrics are on point it’s just a little short to be fair. But the flow into butter is amazing another song with a great rhythm I love that it’s a song about finding love great 1,2 punch of tunes! Verses from the abstract is good, the sex verses are a bit awkward to listen to but it doesn’t matter much as it’s so well written and put together. Show Business is a banger it’s probably one of the more aggressive/fast paced tribe called quest songs by a tribe called quest which works really well as I think a song with this speed was what this album was lacking! Vibes and stuff is good it has quite a “loungey” sound to it that works perfectly but I don’t think it’s one of my favourites from the album. The infamous date rape is great a bit short song but the lyrics are solid I guess. Check the rhime is one of those songs with a top groove but it doesn’t really tell a story ( something I usually like about a tribe called quest) as it’s just Q tip and phife saying how great they are for the most part. When it’s not saying “ everything is fair when you’re living in the city” everything is fair is a good maybe filler compared to some of these songs but still good. Jazz ( we’ve got) does again have a very repetitive chorus but it’s much faster than the last songs chorus so it works it’s just a top song. It flows perfectly into skypager its a shortie but still great. What is a little funky song great groove but not the most substance. I think scenario is going for a close with a banger thing which would work because it’s certainly one of the album’s best but i don’t think it works as the closer. Yeah this is another 4 for them it doesn’t reach the heights of the last album ( which I also gave a 4 to) but it’s more consistent and I’am glad it’s not all skits and interludes.
Mixing jazz with rap was a good call.
what is cereal without milk what is a bat without echolocation what is my mamma if she ain't fat what is rubber is it don't have no hose and what is this album if I don't rate it _shrugs_ it's was pretty gud.
Hip hopzao nask
Intelligent hip hop
idrember
Not much to say but I like it
Great beats, really well mixed, laid back vocals - a really effortless listen, just one to enjoy!
good . Loved the beats and all the lyrical references to the industry
“On the point Tip – Yea, all the time.” A little leaner and straight-up funkier than first record, but not quite as chill, fun or boldly creative. Awfully strong all the way around, especially or a second outing so soon after the first, speaking to the Tribe’s high professionalism.
Excursions es una joya.
Moreish. I'm going back in.
I like the vibes and the flows.
"We've got the jazz. We've got the jazz. We've got the jazz..." They proudly chanted this in the intro of "Jazz (We've Got)", one of the album's highlights and a personal favorite. And they didn't yelled it like an extroverted MC in a night club, like most rappers do, but they almost whispered it. That's what this album is. With such a laidback sound and a minimal/more subtle use of vulgar words/topics, this is a easy listen. Very easy for a hiphop album. They used the jazz elements professionally, creating a light and easy atmosphere. The rapping is fine, and the lyrics admired for it's "social awareness", whatever that means. It is no surprise that this is one of the most respected albums in hiphop. It can draw anyone, whether they like jazz or rap or something not as harsh as gangsta rap. A classic. . . . So why does it sound monotonous at some point? Well, perhaps because it appears that the tracks are centered around a variation of a single drum machine beat.
I was little surprised that this album was from '91 because the sound of the album is distinguishable from other hip-hop at that time. It sounds like older hip-hop as the beats are not as complex and the lyrics slower too. It was a good album. Not sure I would listen to the whole thing again. It is not a 4 but it is better than a 3. I will round up.
Very fun to listen to!
Already listened to it
Another Tribe album! 2 in 3 days. Another phenomenal album. Love this jazzy hip hop. Not quite as much as their first album but still great stuff.
a vibe
4/5 8/03/2022 Such a good hip-hop album that doesn't follow the ghetto rap group stereotype. I really really enjoyed it and just love 90s hip hop music, and its the perfect example for it.
East Coast hip hop. Jazz rap. "Minimalist" sound - drums, bass, jazz samples, and lyrics. Great lyrical chemistry.
Sounds like it was made today. Not gonna make it fully into my rotation but close.
this is definitely one I will listen to again. i felt cool having this on my spotify
The beats, the lyrics, the feel, just a great album. Hip hop’s seminal albums
Cool jazzy rap with the standard and likeable 80s drum beats (even though it was 1991). Enjoyable and not nasty aggressive hip hop.
אלבום ממש טוב מאוד נהנתי
Really enjoyed the album. solid 4.3
The album is a lyrical masterpiece. Each song has different story-telling, poetry, and the free-styling element of rap music. Despite its poetry and smart rhymes I don’t find myself listening to this later. It’s more of an album to appreciate as a gold piece of art in a museum. Unless you memorize lyrics and hooks easily, you will need to take extra time to understand each song’s content, meaning, and true value. Many people have mentioned the jazz infusion in some of the songs. I personally don’t think the jazz elements did much to influence the album except for a few songs. But that does not take away from its quality.
pretty decent hip hop
Cool old school hip hop
Takes half an album to get going, but very good when it does.
Любопытно.
Tribe Called Quest is great. Hip hop hall of famers. And "Low End Theory" is a seminal work in hip hop history. But it's strengths are also it's weaknesses. It's so chill and smooth and laid back, but sort of to its detriment. Much of this album sounds the same, without much to differentiate one song from another. Until you reach the last two tracks. "What?" feels very fresh, packed with tons of references and the wittiest lyrics on the album. The album then ends with "Scenario," one of Tribe's biggest hits. It should have opened the album instead of concluding it, but either way it's inclusion hurts everything else by comparison. Nothing else had the energy that "Scenario" had. When it comes to alternative, more mindful hip-hop, Tribe Called Quest might be legendary, but the other album we've rated from this subgenre - Jurassic 5's "Power in Numbers" - is much better in my view. I'm giving this a 3.75, and rounding up because 3 stars doesn't capture the skill and artistry at play here, even if it doesn't reach its potential.
This album feels like I’m hanging out in Central Park listening to Q-Tip, Phife Dawg and their crew wax lyrical about life’s issues. Some dude could be playing the plastic bucket drums and someone else beat boxing and all would be right. Who knew a great hip hop album could be made without curse words? Rhetorical question…a lot of people, but it’s refreshing. I remember back to the Pretentious-Ass’s comment that Dr. Dre killed hip hop. And this is the type of album I assume P-A thought was killed. I could use more musically to pique my interest. I know they stripped it down to focus on the lyrical message, which I get. However, I would personally be more into the lyrical message with some more layers to the music. It would be nice if there were more hip hop around like this today. Maybe there is and I just need to search harder.
Overall, the bass lines and jazzy rap hit right. Lost me on a couple songs. Really serves as a time capsule to 1991 in so many ways. The Busta feature on Scenario is a standout favourite for me.
🎤 check 1 2 what is this!
Excellent classic 90s hiphop/rap. Qtip rules.
It's a vibe, songs kinda mesh together. First one and last two are the best songs.
Always a classic
Overall pretty enjoyable, never really listened to old-school legends of rap and hip-hop like this. First song was kind of weak but it picked up with the second. Standout song was definitely Butter. I thought the jazz samples were awesome. Lyrically interesting but the constant AABBCC rhyme scheme was grating at times. I know this was kind of earlier work but I hoped for more variation. Overall glad I listened.
Still a great album
Been a long time since I listened to this. Love the double bass - such a distinctive sound it gives to the album. There's more misogyny than I remembered. 🤨 I guess there's less than a lot of acts were putting out at around that time, but still... Fave track - "Buggin' Out" for that double bass goodness. "Scenario" was great too...
Really cool, but another album where no one track jumped out at me. I could see me going back for multiple listens and becoming more familiar with each track though
Conocía su super éxito que está en otro disco, pero este me ha parecido muy divertido. Puro Rap y Hip-hop de los 90. Hay canciones muy buenas: "Verses from the Abstract", "Show Busisness", "Jazz (We've got)", "Skypager" o "What?". Un disco de 4 estrellas al que volveré.
Solid album
This album is crisp as hell - minimalist beats and bass lines that take no prisoners coupled with dense bars that range from abstract to narrative gems. Deserves more than a few replays for sure
Pretty good. Not my style so prob won’t listen to again
Que gran sonido de esta banda. Había escuchado muy poco de ellos. Me gustó la ondita hipnótica y repetitiva del disco en general. Fav: jazz (we got it)
Buenazo. Me entretuvo y me gustaron los beats, la mezcla a veces con otros sonidos, otros tonos. Fluye bastante bien, a gusto. Entre mis favs: "Buggin' Out", "Show Business" y "Scenario". 8.5/10
My introduction to the seed that will seemingly eventually grow into rap, and you know, actually very good.
I'm embarrassed to say I never actively listened to A Tribe Called Quest until 2016 when We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service came out. I think I like We Got It From Here, better than this album. But I also think it's an album that would grow on me more and more each listen.
pretty good. not really any standout tracks that you'd put on as for a quick hit. if you want to listen to this then you basically need to put the whole album on.
Noteworthy. He led the way in early 90s hip hop. Another one I like
Jazz hip hop very cool
Guilty for not giving TCQ more of a chance earlier in life but blessed for being able to experience this classic with fresh ears. Starts strong, Ends strong. Middle is a little weaker.
Album art:3
Good stuff
Bra album. Bra beats och lyrics. Kanske några låtar för många på albumet. Bästa låtar: Check the Rhime Butter Show Business
Great classic hip-hop. A little jazzy. Great lyrics, good beats. Solid all around!
enjoyed it and will be back
Digg it
I worried they’d all sound the same after the 3rd song. But to be fair there’s a few good songs after the first half.
Hard to imagine that hip hop didn’t sound like this before A Tribe.
Another one that I listened to and wrote something about, but I don't remember what. I know I liked the album enough to give it a 4, mostly for the sound.
hip hop it do make serotonin 4/5
One of the most chill and relaxed hip hop albums I've heard so far. Very fun and vibey. Ultimately a little dated sounding, but not in a bad way; just missing some of the high-density rhymes and flows of later rappers that really attracts me. Biting and funny lyrics though!
false
Great time
Not typically my cup of tea but enjoyed it more than I thought I would
sounds dated. but in a good way.
I liked it.
Wow! First time I have heard this and thought it was just fantastic!
Probably one of my favorite hip-hop albums
This sounds so much like the 90s, I can see how this is the roots of rap and how at the time had a very street sound and lyrics. Has some interesting bars.
Was pretty cool, but it isn’t my type of music, however was a very nice experience:)
not bad, even if the style is not my jam
Hey, a rap album I actually liked! I thought this album was actually really solid, and I think a big part of that is as a musician I would enjoy playing along to this. Some really fun beats and baselines that are, like, actually real and not just electronic
I really enjoy jazz rap, and my earlier adventures into a tribe called quest hadn’t stuck, but I have a feeling that this one will
Thanks Tribe, very cool
Starting with a strong one