People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

Can I dig it? Yes, I can.

not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue

i like can i kick it

Classic album. Smooth rhymes and delightful use of sampling

I really like the groove I enjoy the voice used for the rap parts

All good. Sounds like a bridge between modern rap and 80's rap. Not a brilliant song in the album, probably Can I kick it due to the Take a walk on the wild side sample.

was good

Amazing!!

Pretty cool. Relaxed and interesting beats

06/11/2026 I was actually quite disappointed with this. I thought this was going to be better and catchier. Nothing stood out here. Spotify listeners: 4.3 million

I wanted to like this album more than I ended up liking it. It's okay, but it only really scrapes over the 4 star mark due to the couple of hit singles.

Echt mijn ding niet

Cool!!!!

The kind of rap I really enjoy. Laid back with a focus on vibe/mood and clever lyrics

due/tre molto belle, fusion hip hop con altri generi

Banger🔥🔥

🎶Bonita Applebum, you gotta put me on🎶 4.5 It took a while to get into this as I have been conditioned to find early 90s hip hop corny, but damn this one is fun. Highlights: After Hours, I Left My Wallet in El Segundo, and of course Bonita Applebum

No fav song

Great soozing instrumental, Each song has its own story's, i like the jazzy vibe its bringing. Very close to 5

Good instrumental, song are not noticable, okay replay value over all

Great laid back hiphop with excellent backing tracks. Great to put on in the background, but also interesting enough pull your attention Makes you nostalgic for a 90's New York, even though I've never been and wasnt even born.

A tribe called quest delivers a great hip-hop style with their minimal backing tracks and focus on their great flow. It was quite surprising to see that this album was before the low end theory, as it felt more like a sequel to that album.

Tbd

Funky🥳

Don’t dislike but not my vibe. To my ear, the tracks start to all sound the same.

Meh

Fun as hell. Cool as hell.

music is love

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm* by A Tribe Called Quest is a classic hip-hop album and easily one of the best I've heard from this era. What makes this album so good is the fantastic use of sampling, the laid-back beats and Q-Tip's distinctive rapping style. His vocals work perfectly with the music, and there's something effortlessly cool about the whole record. It's full of great rhythms, clever production and some really catchy tunes. I've always struggled with hip-hop albums when they go on for too long, but this was a really enjoyable listen. There's plenty of variety, and the samples are brilliantly chosen. It's easy to see why A Tribe Called Quest are so highly regarded. And then there's "Can I Kick It?". What an absolute classic! It has to be up there with the greatest hip-hop songs ever made. It reminds me so much of watching *Soccer AM* when I was younger, and I've always loved Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side", which it samples. It's one of those songs that instantly puts a smile on my face and is iconic not just on this album, but across the whole genre. Overall, this is a cracking album. It's melodic, inventive and full of character. Hip-hop isn't always my favourite genre, but when it's done this well, I can really appreciate it. I'll definitely listen to this again. Favourite tracks: "Luck of Lucien" is a really fun tune, but "Can I Kick It?" is the standout. An absolute classic and one of my favourite hip-hop songs. Least favourite track: Nothing I particularly disliked. I can struggle with listening to hip-hop for extended periods, but this was an enjoyable album throughout. Album artwork: Cool album cover. Simple, colourful and instantly recognisable.

Loved it. Very tasteful, incredibly well done. No notes.

For me, A Tribe Called Quest stands at the absolute pinnacle of hip-hop. Their laid-back lyricism, inventive sample-heavy production, and style set a standard that few have ever matched. From "Can I Kick It?" to "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo," the beats on this record are timeless, warm, and endlessly groove-able. Q in If you haven't given it a full spin from front to back, do yourself a favour and put it on immediately.

Kick it

Easy listening, love Q-Tip's style and his appearances on Chemical Brother's Go and Galvanise. A generous 4 as much better than Ready To Die but some of the tracks a bit samey.

really nice, loved it, its just such a classic i dont really have anything to add, every song is gorg, my favorites are obviously can i kick it, but i also really enjoy bonita applebum

Rap...

solid background noise, 7/10

Set aside it's great beats and outstanding lyrical flow, this record took me right back to a specific time and place that spoke to my little Gen-X heart. I never listened to A Tribe Called Quest back then, but it didn't matter. It was part of what breathed life into the 90s.

I respect it, it's not my thing.

Effortlessly cool and smooth hip hop. One of the top albums of its era

Do I like it? Yeah, sure. 3/5

Hip Hop. A good album even if this early hip hop doesn't really do it for me.

dope

Hard to remember the significance of them bc it’s not really hitting me in 2026 and I’m sorry

3.5. Enjoyed this. Thought when i saw it was long it would drag but surprised it didn't. Don't think i'd be going back to listen to more but enjoyed this one.

Not really for me, quite happy to listen to it but wouldn't be going out of my way to play it, other than a few songs.

Was hoping to like this more, beats were good but the lyrics lacked for me and found myself wishing some songs were shorter. Still good.

I was excited when I saw that the generator gave a an album by A Tribe Called Quest. They're undoubtably one of the greatest Hip-Hop groups of all-time, and while this might not be their most well-known album, it absolutely deserves as much recognition as The Low End Theory! The sampling on this is absolutely insane - there was 'All You Need Is Love' by The Beatles, 'Sir Duke' by Stevie Wonder, and most notably 'Walk On The Wild Side by Lou Reed! That's only naming a few! I'd say that this album begins pretty much flawless, and keeps up the 10/10 tracks up until the big hit - 'Can You Kick It?'. After that, the quality does decrease, but the wit on 'Ham 'N' Eggs', and the catchy instrumentals of 'Rhythm (Devoted To The Art Of Moving Butts' and 'Description Of A Fool' really shows that there isn't a bad moment on this album. I controversially wasn't a fan of 'Bonita Applebum' either, but it's safe to say that this is the definition of a 5-star Hip-Hop album!

Pretty cool hiphop, like the emphasis on groove and feel.

This was such a contrast with The Doors. It felt like a joyful hang out album. I especially liked “Push It Along”, “Luck of Lucien”, and “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo”.

YES 10/10

Pretty good, for the type of hip hop that it exemplifies. I don't particularly care much for the monotone, constant word flowing. But the beats were great and I didn't hate most of it. It served well as background music for my work.

A major blind spot for me, as enjoyable as many of the other early hip hop albums I’ve heard on the generator but this one has aged the best.

Tuvo sus buenos momentos. Me gustaron mucho los samples que hicieron.

Pretty good, there's a vibe to 90s West Coast that I like, feels pretty cool. But long and there no much variance. The drum machine gets a bit wearing over the full 75 mins.

Outstanding. A fantastic album; smooth with a deep groove.

Get it. Got to get it.

Starts off great, really good hooks and instrumentals. A bit long

"Youthful Expression", "Go Ahead In The Rain" ja "Description Of A Fool" on bängereitä. Hyvä albumi

Listening session: november 3rd, while getting ready in the morning Listened to before: listened to most songs before Thoughts: I’ve always loved the style of A Tribe Called Quest and while I prefer Midnight Marauders and the Low End Theory over this, this is still such a nice album Favourite tracks: Luck Of Lucien, Bonita Applebum & Can I Kick It

#502/1001. My second ATCQ album here, and I think I prefer this one. Haven't really listened to either but both are worth going back to any time. However, this comes only second in my preference in this hip-hop filled week, losing to the Pharcyde, but beating OutKast and Arrested Development. I like my hip-hop fluid and jazzy, the samples here are taking a walk in the wild side and the ego is somewhere, but not at the front. Lyrics seem to be worth listening to. Fuck gangsta rap, this is da shaiba!

really cool love hiphop saved every.song

Great album start to finish. Q tips vocals and rapping style fit perfectly to the chilled melodies and beats. Can I kick it has to be up there as one of the best hip hop songs ever made

mysigt!!

There’s a lot of funk and fun going on here. Which is great. From the perspective of someone without a hip-hop background, it’s hard to put this into a time period context. I’m just not a huge fan of sampled music or that 90s hip hop sound. 3/5.

ме

Juvenile, cute, fun, pretty, lush, and SOOOOO FUCKING INFLUENTIAL. Perhaps Tribe’s most influential album. Obviously by a lot of modern standards maybe not the best, with juvenile flows, some underwhelming song topics, and perhaps even some unimpressive samples, but it all shakes out to be really very pleasant. “Can I Kick It” is the obvious first highlight that comes to mind, easily and instantly iconic with the Lou reed sample, the momentous chorus, all of it. “Left My Wallet In El Segundo” is another easy highlight, super fun and light-hearted. Overall this is definitely an album to listen to as far as early hip-hop goes; albums like this, 3 Feet High, and plenty of others helped shape and influence what would become the wide world of alternative/indie/art rap, movements that all persist strongly to this day. 8.9/10 DOES IT BELONT ON THE LIST: YES REASON: quality, relevance, HEAVY influence

Can you kick it? Yes you can.

The flow is boring but there are some classics

I've heard Bonita Applebum and obviously Can I Kick It? before, but not listened to this album before. I don't know why but preconceptions wise I kind of thought this was a decent first album that the band then surpassed with the follow-up The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders, not exactly Afrocentric hip-hop's Pablo Honey but in that conversation, whereas in contrast De La Soul came out the gate with their masterpiece 3 Feet High and Rising and then tailed off. That idea is doing the artistry on display here a disservice, it's a great album, nice jazzy touches and lyrical dense. I stand corrected.

No lo he podido terminar de escuchar pero el disco es un pepino, bastante largo eso si. Mola cuando mezclan rap y jazz.

Love it. I remember what rap and hip hop was like in the late 70s and early 80s. I also remember what it turned into gangsta rap by late 80s (and what it is now). Breath of fresh air just having stories told with a good beat like earlier days

Generally I don't like rap and this album hasn't changed my mind

I really really liked this album

really loved super unique

One famous song

This was a fun and enjoyable listen. The rhythms and beats were to my liking. Not a lot of heavy material. Mixing in some comedic raps.

1 - TERRIBLE

Well Rap ain't one of the music genre that I like or even listen to but after reading the review in the 1001 Albums book I continued to listen. Tolerable for Rap

Now this is my jam! Tribe had my college dorm floor bumpin. "Pushing along" is smooth with its jazz influences foreshadowing the foundational base the album builds its sound. The sax solo, mantra of perseverance, and Q-tip's magical lyricism is a wonderful way to open the album. I'm still grooving to the magical horn section and upright bass plucking chords found in "Luck of Lucien." Mad props to the infusion of French lyrics. "After Hours" reminds me of the many nights with college friends exploring the downtown Minneapolis clubs. "After hours that was cool" is a stale line by itself, but with the skillful scratching of Ali Shaheed Muhammad captures the feel of those otherworldly nights. Storytelling is at its best with Q-Tip's tale of “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo.” Tribe steps into a suave direction with it fluid guiatar and electric piano chords in "Bonita Applebum." It reminds me of walking to my dorm jus to find a handkerchief tied to the doorknob. Bontina epitomized the mindset of many college friends. "Can I Kick It" highlights the pinicle of the album. For me, this is the track where Tribe showed its mastery of the mic and sound. Q, Phife, Ali Shaheed connected on a different level when making this song. How they shined! But as the saying goes, things that burn brightly, burn quickly. The bliss of Tribe Called Question went by way to fast!

Absolute banger to start with i assume footprints is sampled from sir duke by duke ellington

This is #day790 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's my second and final record by A Tribe Called Quest, which is their debut, too. That's what I call a perfect specimen of the Golden Age of hip-hop. That laid-back jazziness, though. Little to add. Otherwise, this is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day791.

DNF

Okay not bad.

Great album. Really enjoyed the (not so subtle!) samples, sometimes funny lyrics and nice rhythms.

Jazzy hip hop, love it

I love how fun and playful this is, some transitions could be better between tracks but otherwise I think the production is great (didn’t listen to remixes at the end)

2.5 - a bit long and repetitive

This was one of the best Hip-Hop albums we got. Love the classic beats and samples. Enjoyed Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick it? (with Lou Reed sample), Rhythm, Mr. Muhammad, and Go ahead in the rain. Listened to this album on a walk and perfect for a stroll around in the fall. 4/5

not in rap. not in rap. not in rap.

I can't do this - 90s rap just is not my thing and I'm not going to waste my time listening to an album that is an hour and a half long.

Sounds like waking up in a good mood.

Дебютный альбом в целом ничем не отличается от The End Low Theory, поэтому с одной стороны он так же неплох, а с другой показывает простой группы и зажатость в одном и том же звуке без ярких хитов.

A really fantastic hip hop album

Album #172: People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm - A Tribe Called Quest Genre (W): East Coast hip-hop, alternative hip-hop, progressive rap, jazz rap Singles: I Left My Wallet in El Segundo, Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick It? I have not listened to this album previously. Thoughts?: I love how laidback and relaxed this album’s production is! This is one of my favorite produced albums, and I love how there’s nothing “bravado” or “tough” about it, I’m burned out on “tough” rap. This was a pleasant surprise! Favorite tracks: Push It Along, Luck of Lucien, Footprints, I Left My Wallet in El Segundo, Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick It?, Youthful Expression, Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts), Go Ahead in the Rain, Description of a Fool

Very listenable and you can hear it’s influence

Pretty nifty, I preferred the other ATCQ album in this exercise but liked this as well

The sampling didn't always make sense to me and this is rap so no thanks but at least it didn't make me cringe. 2.5/5

Eh

The beats/sampling, production, and listening experience are all very good, but their flows still sound a little corny and dated, sadly. Still, It's noticeably better than Beastie Boys, for example. I can imagine that they were probably viewed as the artsy side of hip-hop at the time. This album is still quite good, and I'm stuck between a high 3 and a low 4

What does it mean, to say that a piece (or collection) of music sounds dated? Is it necessarily a bad thing? Won't all music eventually, in some sense, sound dated -- i.e., of its time (of creation)? And, in some 'rough justice' form of 'survival of the fittest', the cream will (very broadly/loosely speaking) tend to rise to the top (sometimes). Hildegard of Bingen, Bach, Scott Joplin, Fats Waller, etc., etc. (But, of course, so much turns -- thumbs up, vs. thumbs down, remembered, vs. forgotten -- on that word, “tend.”) This one started off slow for me - the first 2 tracks sounded weak, and dated. But, as it went on, it grew on me. It still sounds dated, but, for the most part, I like(d) it. Closest comparison is De La Soul, who I like more, but you could do worse than be compared to De La Soul. So, by the end, the choice for me is between 3 and 4 stars. After a second listen, I'm going with 4 stars, especially as I appreciate the impressive array of samples and sounds that were, for the most part, smoothly incorporated, and/or used as building blocks. Back to the 'sounding dated' issue: how will this sound in 50 years? 100? Who knows, right? (Also, does it sound dated in a different way to me than to my sons - born after this was released - and how will it sound 20 or 30 years from now, to someone not yet born?) I suspect it might well sound very dated indeed, possibly only of interest as a curiosity. And yet, as a mark of how this album grew on me, I sincerely hope that I'm wrong.