Album Of The Day

There was no option, I had to move my body when listening to this album. Great beats, great lyrics, positive social topics. Love it.

It’s a classic that defines my people and my childhood! Just makes you want to rhyme.

9/10 This was pretty perfect - and amazing it is as far back as 1990. Amazing production, terrific choice of samples. Great, fun raps. Best: Footprints

Always delightful, except for the moaning remix

One of my favorite artists ever. The impact Tribe has had in shaping hip hop as a sophisticated genre is undeniable. Their debut album was a sign of things to come: youthful energy, clever bars and great beats. Undoubtedly, they would take it to the next level in Low End Theory and even farther in Midnight Marauders, but People's Instinctive Travels is a very inspired first entry in the legendary group's discography. Absolute classic!

Highlights: Youthful Expression,Mr. Mohammed, Bonita Applebum, and Can I Kick It. I could listen to Can I Kick It on repeat for 24 hours. Great album. Dancey, good samples. I love an early hip hop album with no skits.

Genius

Tribe in the raw. I absolutely love this album, hit after hit after hit. Phife and Tip are young and hungry with so much contagious energy. The golden age of sampling for hip hop. This was an album that was a such a great continuation of what the fun in hip hop was/is supposed to be. Their next 2 albums blow this one out of the water though. This is great, but they are still finding themselves and their voices. 8.9/10 #67/1001

Love ATCQ, knew most of the songs and loved hearing new things I hadn’t heard yet.

“Earth to your brain, is anyone home?” Love the lyricism, the way it flows over the beats, the samples, the occasional scratching. It all fits so seamlessly. I went into this knowing that bare minimum I can tolerate ATCQ but I was not expecting to love this as much as I did. Loved the jazzy feel to the beats and rhythms. The lyrics are great, tell stories poke fun at stereotypes and are otherwise just worlds apart from the asinine gangsta rap that would come to so heavily influence hip hop and rap. Really wish it had been this album and others like it that had a greater influence. Despite it being over an hour I did not mind in the slightest which is rare for any hip hop/rap album. “Description of a Fool” was a great track to end on and perfectly encapsulates what I love about this album and hate about gangsta rap.

Low End Theory hænger en smule bedre sammen men det er sgu svært at slå energien på det her album

Hot take (?) De La Soul kravlede så Tribe kunne gå. Elsker den her plade, vildt fede beats, fjollet på en lidt Malk de Koijn agtig måde. De leger og de er afsindigt gode til det. Can I Kick It er måske den bedste brug af Walk on the Wild Side inkl originalen

god i love a tribe called quest. they took hiphop and jazz and put them back together. so incredibly talented and i will forever love them

One of my favourite albums of all time.. perfection. So much hip hop, and beyond, would not exist if it weren't for this album and group. But it isn't just a nostalgia hit, it is timeless and masterful. Effortless rhymes, the coolest of beats. Love love love it

i mean name better

Of course this one gets me out of the woodwork. Dope samples + amiable, goofy rhyming = a good time, every time.

perfect soundtrack for a sunny Memorial Day in NYC

Incredible album. As someone with a CD copy of The Low End Theory I wouldn’t have thought I’d love their earlier album so much, maybe even more than that one. It is just so full and rich with wonderful sounding beats, samples, and rhymes. The sense of bounce and fresh style is palpable and fun. Pure artistic intent plus vibrant life. Must-listen #145.

I mean…. A TRIBE CALLED QUEST. that’s all that needs to be said. REST IN POWER PHIFE DAWG 🕊️

Didn’t expect to love a hip hop album with a title longer than most IKEA receipts.

Can I Kick it? Bonita Applebum? ⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️

Great summer vibes

Great

Bring back fun rap.

Love it, funkiest beats around. This is the kinda 90s rap that I love. Make sure to wipe your feet real good on the rhythm rug.

Great album through and through. Love the lyricism & range of samples. 5/5 every time all day..

Effortlessly cool.

Flip this is mint

Lo habia escuchado. Ya conocia varias canciones, varias clasicas, pero nunca le di la atención que debia al album completo. Joya.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD

I really enjoyed this album. Excellent record on a Friday. Wolf

My favorite rap album of all time

5 Absolute belter of an album and essential listening

Solid classic

Amazing, prescient, seminal, infectious, joyous, essential

Used to listen to this all the time in middle school. Easy 5.

I got Low End Theory a few days ago and gave that a 4. This is perfect though. My favorite Tribe Called Quest record, and after this one Midnight Marauders, which would also be a 5 if it was on the list. Just still so fucking good and hasn't aged a day.

Not the best tribe album but still really excellent. Great beat selection and fun bars, absolute classic

No skips, what an awesome first album

THIS STUFF IS MAGNIFICENT, HOLY FUCKING AIRBALLS

Oh, hell yes.

stasera ci ho fatto sopra una dormita pazzesca con Anita.."mostly happy hip-hop, featuring gently humorous, casual, conversational raps"

don't finish but it's good song

Love Tribe. Love this album. The first rap group I ever really fell in love with and still a great listen whenever I go to them to this day. 4.5/5

This is their debut and it absolutely slays. What a momentous debut!

Classic 90s hip hop with true jazz samples. No gansta just beats and life and rhythms.

Pretty good

Absolutely loved this one

One of my favorite hip hop albums ever. I totally see why ATCQ are as influential as they are.

Fantastic rhymes very fun. Very dense topics but light lyrics. Great groove. Fun samples 10/10

The Low End Theory was my first Tribe album, so while songs from this album (certainly Can I Kick It) led me to purchase Low End, I had never listened to this one completely… until now. I miss the 90’s.

Wow. I usually don't like or listen to rap, however this hits hard. It blends in jazz through samples and that really appeals to me. I hope there is other rap out there like this because it's great. Ham n' eggs is great. That horn riff will be stuck in my head for a while now ngl

Love this album so much. It's just so cool and smooth. It makes me feel cooler just for having listened to it.

One of my favorite records by one of my favorite groups! Feels like a love letter to 16 year old me. Only outdone by The Lowend Theory, this is as strong a debut album as any on this list. Tribe is something special in the rap world, even among the Native Tongues collective. Creative rhymes delivered with a laid back flow full of youthful charm over clever, jazzy beats that act like a tour of the pop culture my generation grew up with. 5⭐️

Can I dig it? Well it's another one of those where I can appreciate how good it is but it's not for me. Polymath

favs

yupp

Very happy to see this on here

Let’s goooooo - Tribe is a group I love, but I haven’t ever really dug into this debut record. It was (shocker!) an incredible first outing for the group who already had a rock-solid foundation to build and riff off of. There’s something really special about this era of hip-hop that groups like ATCQ perfected, and the albums are as timeless as ever all these decades later as a result. Wanna give this a 9/10 but again, no half stars, so this is gonna snag the often-wanted, rarely-achieved 5/5 from me.

Like a breezy summer day in the nyc of my youth. With some of the most musically creative use of samples ever.

classic 90s hip hop - SOLID ALBUM

Really really enjoyed this

I'm kind of embarrassed that I wasn't more familiar with ATCQ before starting this, both albums I've listened to so far have been absolutely fantastic, and if they pop up on the list again I'm going to be excited to listen to more.

High 4 because it drags a little bit in the back half, but man the beats are so good, the flow is so distinctive (even if a little one note) that this is just a good album you can put on so it's a 5.

I mean they're just such a vibbbeeee

A funky smooth flow Over drum heavy, chill beats Is electric cool

QUE MARAVILLA TOP ÁLBUMES FAVORITOS

Q-Tip was splicing these tapes together by hand. Genius.

shout out to Daniel L, who played this album for me in a walkman at a cross country meet in high school. This was my gateway album to hip-hop as a 14-year-old, who only listened to commercial radio at the time.

Fun and clever and good rhythm. One I'm gonna come back to for sure.

While the title of this album is a mouthful, this whole thing is groovy. It's impossible to not have some body part moving rhythmically while this is playing. Sidenote; it's nice to see all the positive 5 star reviews for this record.

Head-bobbing, light hearted, groove-infused. Hard to believe this isn't even their best album (but it's damn good).

Before tribe went jazz they went boom bap. This album highlights the wide range of sound that the tribe has experimented with while not losing their biting wordplay and meaningful lyrics

I mean, it’s not as good as The Low End Theory, but not many hip hop albums are. The beats are fun, the rhymes are fun. Just a very colorful album. Can I Kick It? Yes you can!

Fantastic album by one of the best groups to ever do it. When I decided I was done with yesterday’s album I literally listened to this instead. Life, uh, uh, finds a way.

I love this album. Luck of Lucien crept into the favs this time.

Smash Hits 1991 was probably the first music thing I spent my own money on. I must have been 10/11? 'Do the Bartman' was probably the biggest draw at the time. Although the gatefold double vinyl was filled with absolute dross there were a couple of traks that left an indelible mark on my music tastes. 'Can I Kick It' was one of those. (Charly by the Prodigy was the other). I didn't understand it. But I knew I liked it. Have I ever actually listened to this album as an album? It was one of those that I was constantly trying to Napster/Limewire/Torrent ... but I'm not sure I managed to catch them all. Anyway ... it's better than I remember and pretty peerless. A stone cold 5. Q-tip is an undeniable all time great.

A Tribe Called Quest proving again they are one of the best groups on this list. The rapping is great along side expert use of sampling. I especially like the "Sir Duke" sample in Footprints. Overall one of the best on this list. Favorite songs: Footprints, Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick It, Ham 'N' Eggs

Extraordinario album. Una banda esencial del Hip Hop. Una influencia capital en la música urbana. Elegancia, buenas melodías, un uso delicado de los samples (Lou Reed, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Funkadelic...). Este podría ser uno de los mejores discos de la historia del Hip Hop. Afrocentrismo sin estridencias, native Tongues, finales de los 80- principios de los 90, Nueva York... Luck of Lucien es mi canción favorita de ellos, pero tienen temas buenos de principio a fin (y una discografía que es la envidia del resto de artistas). Sin duda 5/5

Playful, fun rhyming to infectious beats.

I loved this one. Almost as good as the Low End Theory. I think this is their second best and I really have no complaints about this one. Low 5

Really fun, loved el secundo and rhythm. But fan of the sampling and production.

Very chill, old school 90s rap. Heard a lot of bits I've heard referenced in other songs (Beastie Boys, Fugees)

Groundbreaking and awesome

Banger

very nice groove sounds, relaxing for a Saturday night

I was once a rap/hiphop naysayer - I never had any exposure in my formative years and adopted an anti-rap tribalism. I could often be heard saying things like "it's just bad offensive poetry behind worse music." That was until a coworker at a burger shop I worked with was flabbergasted that I wasn't open to hearing any of rap music and insisted that I listen to this Tribe Called Quest album among others. The mixture of those albums (and lets be honest, the adult swim bumps dropping MF DOOM, etc. at this time) opened my eyes and made me realize that writing off a whole genre of music is an ignorant take. I enjoy the simplistic "Boom Bap" samples that come off crisp and timeless. "Can I Kick It?" is such a classic. Take a walk on the wild side.

love it

Excellent album. The samples are terrific and lyrics and flows make every song a must listen.

I've been listening to a lot of music, of all types and forms, in the last few months. Between this list, RYM, and recommendations from friends, there's no shortage of wonderful music. I'm starting to realise that my music taste is evolving and I'm slowly starting to appreciate music that I hadn't before. This album is one of them. In the past, I would have struggled to get through the entire thing. Now, I'm looking forward to going through A Tribe Called Quest's discography afresh. Will they ever reach the near-perfection of this debut album? I doubt it honestly. But hopefully I'm wrong. Awesome stuff. Also learnt that Lou Reed was a bit of an arsehole, only clearing the Kick It sample in return for 100% of the royalties from the song. Oh well!

Just incredible. Loved all of it!

I love the tribe, but have not listened to their first album except for the hits. What an idiot I am. I would have had this on constant rotation. This was such a blast. Fantastic album! Maybe even better than their follow ups. Still a breath of fresh air. Amazing beats.

Great album! No skips and a true classic.

Fantastic album by one of the greatest hip hop groups = 5 stars.

Great front to back.

This might be the perfect mix of jazz and hip hop. Q-Tip rhymes so smooth "like butter," as he says on a future album! This is so much fun - easily makes you move and smile while you're doing it. Liked Songs Added: Luck Of Lucien Footprints I Left My Wallet In El Segundo Bonita Applebaum Ham 'N' Eggs

Brilliant album. Not heard it in about 25 years. Forgot what I was missing

This is great and very close to what I expected from A Tribe Called Quest's more famous entry, \"Low End Theory\". That album suffered significantly (in my opinion) from a song about date rape. There's nothing so glaringly awful in \"People's Instinctive Travels\", despite some occasional womanizing. And man do I love this kind of hip hop. In their own words, they weren't trying to be tough, they just wanted to be. There is really skill in the use of samples here (some that would be impossible to clear now) and the marriage to the beats and lyrics. It's positive, it's self assured, it's funny, it's real. There's plenty more like this in the underground hip hop scene but this was a rare triumph in the mainstream.

I think the song title Youthful Expression defines the album as a whole. Sampled beats on loop with well informed long winded lyrics.

This is a very strong debut album, and it's their third best album for my money. The range of subjects, lyrics, samples, and music is fantastic, and feels effortless and refined. I don't think this album is perfect, and I do have some minor technical and musical quibbles, but it's so strong I find it difficult not to give 5 stars. And they only get better over the next two albums. Also Q-Tip is one of my favorite rappers ever, so I'm just not gonna be too objective here.

5 star. Classic hip hop

So fun and easygoing. Still sounds so fresh. Better than just about every hip hop album that came after.

I'm going to listen to this one several times in the 24 hr period. the timlessness of this album is so fucking sick. Can tell its their earliest album with weird songs like Ham N Eggs but still so so so good

Just a really fun album, definitely my taste in music

ATCQ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve always put De La Soul’s ‘3 Feet High’ on a pedestal as the greatest hip hop album of all time. With Q-Tip as the greatest rapper and ATCQ ‘only’ as a merely great singles bands. Listening to this album as a whole, I think this comes pretty close to being a perfect hip hop album and a rival to ‘3FH’. Q-Tip’s performance is the most effortlessly fluid, rhythmically perfect delivery you can imagine 🐐 . He is so well supported by Phife and some incredible beats, samples and production. I managed to see them live in 1990 and I cannot believe that I’ve not seen them since. Thought I never needed to hear ‘Can I kick it?’ ever again…. I was wrong. In the context of this album, it works so well. Makes me want to order the entire back catalogue in vinyl in one go!

My favourite album so far. I think this is probably my favourite hip-hop album of all time. It oozes a sense of loose, unconventional, laidback cool. Q-Tip’s conversational flow pairing perfectly with playful yet thoughtful lyrics. Great drum sound, crisp and organic.

One of the great debuts of all time; not only for the tremendous songwriting and production on display, but for how it was able to bring an entire genre to the next level of evolution. Tribe's effortless lyricism accompanying timeless beats leaves a lasting impact and influence that would stretch way beyond hiphop.

These tribe members rap with such absurd, effortless intelligence that listening to their flows feels like witnessing rhythmic conjuration disguised as everyday conversation.

Amazing debut. Meticulously produced, great use of samples, interesting lyrics, at times funny and charming. Just a perfect classic hip hop album.

Hip hop at its finest, from top tier sampling to meaningful lyrics

Great album, looking forward to getting more.

Has to be close to a top ten album now for me. Cannot describe.

Already listened to

After listening to Eminem, who has talent but is so angry and abrasive, this was a breath of fresh air. Almost the exact opposite - technique is good but not the best, but great jazzy beats and, most importantly, it’s fun! Could stand to be a little shorter, but I liked this one a lot.

This album is cool. It is a whole scene and you definitely want to be in it. The beats and sample are all time, the MCs are slick and the lyrics make you think. It's fun, there's meditations on life and it is an entire album to lean into. You want to be in the crew, from the round-robim tracks to the outtake laughing.

Really good, Luck of Lucian is one of my favourite songs of all time, so it was really nice to hear it on hear.

Yes! Yes! YEEEEEESSSSSSSS!

A classic from beginning to end. They had such a great sound that pushed the whole genre forward and has stood the test of time. From the blue note jazz samples and break beats to the flowing lyrics. Respect.

I got the Rhythm

This might be the perfect hip-hop album. It's so well produced and arranged. It's got dance songs, social justice songs, "chillin'" songs - even songs about eating healthy (Ham N'Eggs). This is one you can just turn on in the Summer and vibe to.

Laid back, jazzy, fun, great use of samples.

I'm not a big hip hop listener but A Tribe Called Quest never disappointed and this album is brilliant. From the lyrics to the instrumentas and samples the flow and feel of this album is amazing.

10/10 I usually find it funny that I started this journey for brand new experiences, but the albums I love the most are the ones from artists I already love. I, however, have never listened to a Tribe Called Quest album from start to end but yeah... Beautiful!

Goddamn this is close to perfect! Long runtime, but it flies by. The sampling is off the charts too.

You will have a hard time finding a more organic sounding hip hop record from this era than this. A Tribe Called Quest was an entirely different entity than the majority of their contemporaries. It’s a long record, but time flies by.

Wonderful.

Classic

Along with the Low end theory, this is one of the all time greats. 5

Is this acid jazz or jazz rap? This album definitely borrows from jazz, funk and soul. The beats are always unique, A Tribe Called Quest was always "cool" in that way. And Ali Shaheed's signature sound, the scratches, the beats, it's all there, he's an underrated DJ. And Q-Tip is probably an underrated MC. Footprints is a jam, it's got that Stevie Wonder Sir Duke horn sample. I Left My Wallet in El Segundo is a classic. Bonita Applebum is another great song, smooth beat, great lyrics. It's like a rap slow jam. Can I Kick It? samples Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side, which makes these two maybe the greatest non-cover version of original song and song that samples it. Go Ahead In the Rain is a great deep cut.

Historically, rap and hip hop has been a big gap in my musical consumption. This is a shame, because I know there’s a lot of worthwhile art in those genres. I do consciously try to rectify that, including listening to albums by this group, as they are so well regarded. I had not lost to this one yet. It’s fantastic! An easy 5.

Conscious hip hop moved in a lot of directions after this, but I don’t think it was ever so enjoyable. Amazing samples, fun lyrics, and youthful energy. For a long time this was my favorite hip hop album, and though I was eventually entranced by material a bit more visceral, this album has always kept an important place in my heart.

Tribe Vibes

Never heard this album before. Really enjoyable. So much to like about this album, but the overall production is particularly noteworthy. No mishits on the album. Confidence to provide humorous lyrics alongside some social statements. The entire album exudes confidence without trying to hard. Effortless music making.

I used to own a compilation CD of theirs, but first time listening to this album as a whole. It's enjoyable - funky grooves, witty yet insightful lyrics, nice variety. I was on the fence between a 4 and 5 star rating, but then remembered what I gave The Fun Loving Criminals and need to give this a 5. It's simply better. Looking forward to The Low End Theory coming up on rotation!

So good

Do I really need to explain this to you... ?

I'm pretty stoked to have finally listened to this album fully. I'm kind of upset I hadn't listened to it through all the way before today. Such a sick hip hop record. The mixing and production is so cool, especially after learning about how it was done, the history, the influence, and just how young they were when they made it. Q-tip was 16 when he recorded and mixed this thing? That is insane. I love it. Some really cool beats in here and really flowy lyrics. I love how warm and fuzzy it sounds too.

Brilliant. One of the greatest and most influential hip hop of all time. I think the obvious takeaway is the infusion of jazz, funk and soul into this record. What strikes me is that whole album flows so perfectly with each song. The bass lines and drum tracks just move along keeping it flowing. It’s so damn chill too. It’s kind of the epitome of *vibey,* but then it’s so much more than that. The lyrics and storytelling are top notch. Even when they add in some silly songs like ham & eggs, the door is open and you just just want to hang and vibe out in this space. Also, impressive how the lyrics kind of interplay and reference other songs throughout. It’s like a little mini-universe within itself. You can hear the influence of this record in so many contemporary and even 2000 rap outfits. It’s in everything and something worthy of spending time with.

Masters of sampling, knowing how to hook you in, get you boppin' and then absolutely keeping it going all across.

I enjoyed this a lot

Hell yeah. A Tribe Called Quest is probably one of my favorite hip-hop groups of all time. They expertly melded jazz with rap during arguably one of the most creative eras of rap music. All while exuding both coolness and goofiness. One could say that ATCQ were among the acts who spearheaded the 90's alternative hip-hop movement with their debut here. ...And what a debut this was. The group already sounds pretty seasoned and they flow effortlessly in their rhymes here. Most will come for "Bonita Applebum" and "Can I Kick It?" (and rightfully so), but their silly, storytelling side shines ("...El Segundo" & "Pubic Enemy"), as well as other standout lyrical performances from Q-Tip specifically ("Footprints" & "Description of a Fool"). It's all a cohesive and clean-sounding production, helped more so by the fitting samples used throughout. It's wild to consider that the Tribe got better from here, as their next two albums specifically are among their greatest works IMO. "People's Instinctive Travels..." was a great launching point for the group though, and heralded in another evolution for hip-hop immediately following the "gangsta rap" era. Long live alternative hip-hop.

Damn. This album has been off my radar for too long. What a treat to listen to it fully this time around. Instant favorite.

classic

absolutely beautiful

Survey says they can, indeed, kick it.

Very old school, I like it.

Great songs including I left my wallet in el segundo, can I kick it, bonita Applebum, very fun and good hip hop

Really nice chill hip hop. Interesting samples and nice bars. WIll definitly listen again

One of the best hip hop albums I've ever listened to. I can't even imagine what it would have been like listening to this when it first came out, and just having your mind blown by it.

Favorite rap/hip-hop group and this is a hell of a debut album. So many interesting samples, and great moments in the album. The songs sampled span a wide range of genre's and are also great songs in their own right. Listening to this makes we wonder why more rap artists didn't explore more outside of the box song structures and samples. Held up incredibly well after 34 years, adding a point for innovation and all around love for TCQ.

While Midnight Marauders and Low End Theory are my favs from these innovators of hip hop this is still a genius debut from my favorite group from the Native Tongue collective. The production of Q-tip and Ali is mind blowing. While the other groups from the Native Tongue had incorporated jazz samples already ATCQ really pushed the boundaries what could be done. It’s impossible to listen to this album without nodding your head. Lyrically, Q-Tip and occasionally Phife, came out swinging on this debut. Phife wasn’t in the studio much for the recording of this album and his lack verses reflect that absence, something he’d make up for on future albums. I’m always happy to revisit this classic.

Banger of an intro album. Great music on this one. Luck of Lucien is my favorite here. The basically sums up the type of hip hop I like. 5 for me.

This album is a hip hop clinic. If aliens were to land on this planet and wanted to get an understanding of what hip hop is, I would tell them to listen to this album. It's hard to believe this was released in 1990. It sounds ahead of it's time. This stuff is just on a different level compared to other rap groups. Such great story telling. Anyone catch the Jimi Hendrix sample? Any time an MC uses the word Polyrhythmic in a verse, it's probably an MC you should listen to. Trinidad and Tobago represent.....Phife Dawg RIP.

Every album needs a rap about the band's favourite food.

All time classic

TCQ is easily my favorite 90s hip hop group. The production is incredible, it samples some of my favorite artists, no way I don’t like it. The back half wasn’t as good as the first but never actively disliking any of these songs. Rating: 4.6

Classic group, brilliant album!

Classic.

Somewhat sillier and joyous than the follow up that is sometimes considered the peak of Tribe, I can’t help but find the energy here more fun and somewhat naive. Regardless the first two Tribe albums are timeless and incredible.

Would listen to this on repeat. Great beats to get through my work day

14/02/08

Hell of a debut. Rad frog sample. Can I Kick It? obviously an all timer. If you're gonna sample something iconic that kicks ass like Walk On The Wild Side, you'd better come out swinging and they do. One of those samples that makes you appreciate the original more too. Sudden beat shifts extremely cool. Did not think that song would be on a first album, you could spend a career trying to make something that gets all those dynamics right. Would be the very best of 4s without this one, a clear 5 with it. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)

Good god this rips. It seems impossible that this is their first record. I’m usually not too inclined to listen to things real loud, but for this one I was. Last time I said that in a review was Back in Black, and I gave that 5⭐️ and this is obviously better than Back in Black. Painted myself into a corner that I am happy to paint myself into.

Sweet album

An absolute classic in the genre of chill people having so much fun on tape that you wish you could hang out with them without feeling like a lame outsider.

This isn't my favorite Tribe album, but it's still a 5.

4.75

Fluid. Innovative. Rap perfection.

90's hip hop? history making band? what's not to like!?

Damn, this was really great. Love the funky beats and lyrics and storytelling. I’m a sucker for samples, and I love how they weave them in so seamlessly. I dig the chill and positive vibe of it too. Super impressed by this!

could i write poetry to this? y

The early 90s really was a great era of hip hop. The genre was really starting to become itself, and was now no longer just a subgenre of soul. And this album represents the evolution of the genre during this time perfectly. It doesn't take itself too seriously, having lots of very fun and tongue and cheek lyrics, but still keeps interesting and creates a brilliant atmosphere.

4.5

An absolute classic. Amazing production; lyrics, etc. Very happy to see that this still holds up. 5 stars.

Once at work I requested 90s hip hop to be played. To my dismay, I got NWA instead what I really meant, which was this (and Arrested Development, Digable Planets , etc). Gangster rap may have its place, but in my mind, this is the best of 90s hip hop. Unlike the gangster rap stuff, Tribe has a cool vibe. They use jazz for a totally different style. Sure their lyrics are a bit there sometimes, but that only makes them more unique. They’re not angry and abrasive. They take on social issues and sometimes tell stories about losing a wallet. This is a fantastic album. Tribe shows that you can have fun, have cool rhythms, and still speak out on things like domestic violence.

What a trip down memory lane. Smooth, melodic, easy listening, could spin this over and over.

Really enjoyed this one. Some classics, some stuff I’ve never heard, humorous and lighthearted at times, and a great time capsule of early 90’s hip hop.

What an incredible debut! Truly remarkable, it's meticulously crafted to flow effortlessly from track to track. "Can I Kick It" is one of the best songs ever, loved this thing top to bottom.

Classic hip hop

Absolute class!

Upbeat and full of vibes..! Sounds of classic hip hop, keeps your head nodding!

Really awesome album. One of those albums where I come home from work and tell my bf I’m in a good mood because of the album I was listening to today. The call and response moments made me feel like I was at a party.

Any album with "can I kick it?" Has to score well

Great old school rap. ATCQ is pretty refreshing after listening to a couple gangsta rap albums recently. They are lyrically deep, got more than one thing they rap about, and have some awesome background grooves. My favorites here are Footprints, I Left My Wallet in El Segundo, and Description of a Fool.

This is cool sophisticated hip hop. Clever, chilled out and jazzy.

Brilliant rhyming, sampling and storytelling. I am skeptical about the last few tracks being on the original album tho

Never would have thought I'd be giving 5 stars to an album that has a whole track dedicated to how the tribe doesn't eat ham and eggs but here we are. This is a damn fine album.

The first albums by this group are just unassailable. Love Tribe and everything they stand for.

The sampling on this album is so good, wonderfully intelligent rhymes and delivered with an excellent flow. Enjoyed it from start to finish.

Yet again, this album proves to me that I didn't listen to nearly enough hip hop in the 90's. I loved Low End Theory, which I got a couple months ago, and I loved this even more.

This is a great album. It's such a good vibe all the way through. It's so chill, but got me hype at the same time. I enjoyed the classic versions and the remixed/remastered ones.

A Tribe Called Quest never miss!! This album is fantastic from start to finish. Favourite songs: I Left My Wallet in El Segundo, Can I Kick It?, Mr. Muhammad, Bonita Applebum, Footprints, Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts), Luck of Lucien, After Hours, Push It Along, Pubic Enemy, Youthful Expression Least favourite songs: Ham 'N' Eggs 5/5

Awesome album, would recommend.

i desparately need to spend more time w this ☀️🍸🛹🌸 highlights: luck of lucien; mr. muhummad. see also: sunny afternoons in animal crossing; three feet high and rising (de la soul, 1989); transformer (lou reed, 1972).

Having never listened to a full Quest album before, I was very impressed when the album ended and I realised there were absolutely no bad songs in it. Banger after banger. Absolute 10/10

Absolute must for any hip hop fan. 6/5

One of the best hip hop albums I've heard so far

So good, one of the best hip hop albums from one of my favorite group.

A Tribe Called Quest is a legendary group, and their debut proves why. It's such a fun listen and the use of samples is genius. One of the best albums I've heard off of this list so far.

Classic. Smooth flow of rhythm and flow of rap. A Tribe Called Quest was a juggernaut in the hip hop genre. The debut album really set the tone for the group's career. A solid debut!

Loved it.

5/5. It feels like a world is being built before my ears, like I am listening to a history of this otherworldly musical world and I am being taught about the every day life of these people. Although the lyrics don't portray that, something new shows up in each song and the fact that each song is preceded by the song title at the end of the previous song shows there is a strong sense of continuity. I am just being brought along, here for the ride and it's jam packed with great songs. On a more mechanical sense, it's just experimentation the album with a constant and steady flow throughout keeping my grounded and present. Best Song: Luck of Lucien, Can I Kick It?, Rhythm

Natuurlijk 5/5

<3

Heel nice

This shit is fireeeeeeeee

beautiful, no skips

Winner winner chicken dinner. The samples, scratching, words and general vibe even put me in a good mood. Blows the rivals out of the water and giving it a genre busting 5 stars.

Cannot get enough Tribe. Giant love. 90's hip-hop put the foundations down for the genre for decades to come. Amazing.

I never really liked the later albums by A Tribe Called Quest, so I was expecting to hate on this one. I had only heard a couple of the tracks from it before, but encouragingly, they were the few tracks I actually liked by this group. Turns out I loved this album, I enjoyed the samples, the flow, the production, the lyrics. It just all felt fresh and much better than anything they did on their later albums. It was good enough for the full 5 stars.

I’m not in the business of giving Tribe albums less than 5 stars. Sublime.

Easygoing vibe, with masterful sampling choices, smooth flow, clever lyrics, and a healthy dose of whimsy. What's not to like? Front to back, a really delightful album. I'm thinking about the alternate universe where this became the dominant voice in hip hop and man, we're missing out. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Can I Kick It?, Bonita Applebum, Go Ahead in the Rain, Mr. Muhammad, Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts), Description of a Fool, I Left My Wallet in El Segundo, Luck of Lucien, Youthful Expression, After Hours, Pubic Enemy, Footprints, Ham 'n' Eggs, Push it Along

The funnest of hip-hop. Love hearing Cee-Lo and George Clinton featured on various tracks. Nothing to not like.

Can i kick it?

Somehow I never saw Tribe live. One of the great regrets of my life. Did see Phife Dawg solo. Anyway, this album is endlessly listenable. Yes, Bonita Applebaum, you gotta put me on.

At once a declaration and a blueprint, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm is a potent reminder of what hip-hop was meant to be. Apart from that, I don't have much to say regarding this. This is the first of many great albums A Tribe Called Quest would make. Just push it along.

Literally don't give a fuck about all the obvious filler it's still getting a 5

Tribe are the group that got me into Hip-Hop. I've listened to this album countless times. Even as the first track is starting, I know this is getting a 5/5. Q-Tip and Phife are both so smooth, the beats are awesome, the lyrics are funny. This album has so many famous songs - Left My Wallet in El Segundo, Can I Kick It etc. I think my favorite song is Footprints. I enjoyed it the entire time, but I think it doesn't quite make it to a 10/10. 9/10

Fantastic album, no notes

See, *this* is what I want from a hip hop album. And that this came out in '90, before the other few I had recently, makes it all the greater.

fucking vibes - sunny 80s spring day, nothing like waking up to tribe day, and maybe every day should be a tribe day huh

dope dope dope

So good!

I fucking love a tribe called quest. favourites: "luck of lucien", "bonita applebum" "can i kick it?" "description of a fool"

One of my favourite albums of all time. This thing is bursting at the seams with fun, thoughtfulness, creativity, and joy. It may not have the polish and mastery of their craft as found in Midnight Marauders and The Low End Theory but the energy and enthusiasm here is so intoxicating.

Oh, snap I know I’m gonna give this a five straight off the bat, my favorite hip-hop band of all time!! It’s not my favorite of their albums but has plenty of great songs: Luck of Lucien Left my wallet in el segundo Bonita Applebaum Can I kick it - personal fav Ham and eggs

Innerhalb einer Woche hatte ich das Vergnügen von der Hip-Hop-Gruppe "A tribe called Quest" zwei Albem kennenlernen zu dürfen. Schon beim ersten mal wurde ich sehr begeisternd in dieses Musikgenre eingeführt und wurde auch jetzt nicht enttäuscht. Im Gegenteil dieses Album ist noch besser. Fantastisch. Hip Hop gepaart mit verschiedenen Musikstilen (Jazz, Funk, Soul...) und besonderen Mudsikzitaten aus der Musikgeschichte. Hammer"

Phenomenal sampling. It was fun to listen to this and pick out what they were using in each beat. I also think it must have been wild to hear this when it first came out. What a contrast to NWA and Public Enemy (both great!). All of them are great rappers and the album simply exudes “cool”. Would do a 4.5 if I could but I’ll round up.

Tribe is just so smooth. From the beats to the rhymes everything is great on this record. It also doesn’t suffer from skits that haven’t aged well unlike some of the other hip hop records from this time on the list.

I just want to be in the room when they made those beats. Like how did you think to put jazz instruments on break beats. I love Hip hop and this is it in its purest form. Classic!!

This debut by A Tribe Named Quest is superb. Q-Tip has a lot of great flows on this album. Everyone else done well too. It's about time I got a hip hop record. I adore the production that's present throughout I'm looking forward to hearing more of ATNQ's work. 5 stars for this masterpiece.

I’m not very familiar with their discography but I enjoyed this a lot. I like their rap style and how they sample jazz, funk, and even The Beatles and iconically Lou Reed (did learn that they had to credit only him on Can I Kick It for the songwriting royalties). To start off with a baby crying and then tell us ““I don’t think it’s vital for me to be your idol but enjoy this recital” piqued my interest right away. I don’t think I’d ever heard a song introduce the next song pretty much every time the way the album did. I was grooving in my chair through most of this album and listening via my over ear headphones was key for me with this one. “It’s the nitty/grittty but my time is itty bitty” is my new motto. 4.5

The BEST!

A favorite from the get-go.

Rating: 9.5/10 A hip-hop classic, one of the best produced rap albums of all time. This album was probably so groundbreaking and refreshing for this time period. Very forward-thinking, humorous, and clever lyrics and absolutely fantastic beats mixed together to create an amazing album. The entire album is creative and fun to listen to throughout, every song is very strong and there no weak moments on here. This or Tribe's most recent (and last) album is my favorite of theirs. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Mr. Muhammad.

Flawless golden age hip-hop, from some of the best to ever do it. Does not sound like a début at all - such swagger and confidence - but it still carries the exuberance of youth. One of my favourite bands and, even if I only knew a handful if songs before yesterday morning, one of my favourite albums. A masterpiece

A certified classic. Favorite Tracks: - Push It Along - Luck of Lucien - After Hours - Footprints - I Left My Wallet in El Segundo - Bonita Applebum - Can I Kick It? - Youthful Expression - Rhythm - Mr. Muhammad - Ham 'N' Eggs - Go Ahead in the Rain - Description of a Fool

Great album, melds well from song to song

I like this album a lot!

I don’t think this is their best album, but I definitely love it. I don’t see a problem with a single track. The whole thing stays fun while being insightful. Nothing more to ask for out of a hip hop record. 5/5

Never did I thought a hip-hop album can make me feel like I'm floating. A Tribe Called Quest is truly among the jazziest hip-hop artist ever, making them a powerful figure against gangsta rap.

great!

Already knew I loved this album. Has a couple of my favs

I said it with the Biggie album - I don’t necessarily know what makes for good hip-hop or rap, but I do know what makes good art. This is art. A great album. I’d heard Tribe’s “Midnight Marauders” album before (checked it out because of “Award Tour”), so I knew at least somewhat what I was getting into - Great sampling (with some but not all being recognizable), clever and sometimes intricate rhymes, and just the smoothest of deliveries. Tribe made a statement with this first album, both sonically and lyrically. It’s easy to see how they evolved from this to a more refined version of this sound on “Midnight Marauders.” Unfortunately that’s really all I can say, not really knowing how to more deeply analyze this for its genre. But I really did enjoy it and was thrilled when I saw I had Tribe today. Five stars Standout tracks: After Hours, Can I Kick It?, Mr. Muhammad, Ham ‘N’ Eggs, Description of a Fool

own

Phife Dawg had the smoothest voice in the history of human speech.

I have to give this a 5. It's just so easy to listen to. This is life's soundtrack.

One of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. The samples are killer and the rapping is excellent.

This was always going to get 5 stars. One of the best hip hop artists of the 90’s. Although it ranks below Midnight Marauders for me, it’s a solid album. Really like it the inclusion of funk samples, such a dirty bassline in Go Ahead In The Rain. Hadn’t heard Youthful Expression before loved it sampling Inner City Blues

loved every minut of it

I DONT EAT NO HAM N EGGS COZ THEY'RE HIGH IN CHOLESTROL Also shout out to track 9 rhythm and of course can I kick it. The whole album flows so well and the storytelling in some of the tracks, like I Left My Wallet in El Segundo, is great. I found myself really wanting to catch every lyric and mostly was able to do so.

gosh.... love all this stuff

This will be fun. I'll need to give this one a second listen, as somewhere after Bonita Applebum, I slipped into unconsciousness and let this seep into my dreams. Great grooves, great lyrics, catchy and fun all the way through (the first half). Second half yet to be judged...

Like it a lot 👍🏾👍🏾

Oh this was great. Totally my vibe of hip hop. Can I Kick It all timer

as a pseudo-angeleno I am contractually obligated to give 5 stars but actually this is too much fun

This has everything that I’m looking for from hip hop. The production is so ahead of its time with enough jazz influence to keep everyone interested

Absolute bop

NO!!! PATRICK THEY'RE HIGH IN CHOLESTEROL NO PATRICK STOP!!!

Shame on me for thinking “eargasm” was a more recent addition to Webster’s dictionary

Listened

Love the Stevie Wonder sample

Classic. Hip Hop about rhymes vibes and culture, not about Money and Violence. Blah blah, life was better in the old days etc. It's all about the Yeet! Yakno-I'msayin SKRT SKRT. Yeet!

Yeah I jibed with the whole album. Another 5 stars.

Great record, not as elaborate as midnight marauders or low end theory, but lots of cool beats, very groovy. Ham n eggs is a funny ass song

Great beats and great lyrics. I love a Tribe Called Quest. Bonita Applebaum is a great fucking song.

Great Classic Hip Hop

Love this album

not a banger in the literal sense but a solid album worth listening to again if the mood is proPAH

My third favorite ATCQ album, but still a 10

idk

favorites: can i kick it?, youthful expression, rhythm, description of a fool

My body yearns for spring

Fantastic & a classic legacy piece of Hip Hop history

In my top 10 albums of all time, works can not do it justice.

This album really kicks it!

Incredible album. I love the storytelling.

Wowz just fantastic!

Love this

This is my favorite of the three so far. Obviously there is the connection with El Segundo and the good memories it brings. Can I Kick It is an iconic song. But I group up on rap in the era this came out and it just sounds like my youth. I love Bonita Applebaum. I've never listened to the whole album before, but it just is an hour of happiness.

an absolute banger of a classic album.

Love. Truly a hallmark for myself and hip hop as a whole.

Always 5 for the Tribe

Luck of Lucien I Left My Wallet in El Segundo Public Enemy Can I Kick It? GO Ahead In the Rain Description of a Fool

Buttery smooth production, buttery smooth rap and flow. The most relaxing hip hop ever made. A low end theory is slightly better overall as an album but this is superb

i think i got the rhythm

Wow. What a great start to this journey. Never realized that I was missing this from my life. Favorites: Push it along, I left my wallet in El Segundo, Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick It. Cool and unique beats. Lots of exotic sounds. Clean fun lyrics. Seriously love it.

Smooth like buttah

Easy 5/5

didnt need the remixes but the rest of it was excellent

yesssss 90s rap at it's finest so glad I encountered this album here otherwise I would never ever have listened to it first song and I'm already having such a good time

Terrific hip hop album. I almost gave this one a 4 because I like their subsequent albums more but hey, this one is awesome as well.

My favorite rap group of all time! Their albums are a major part of the soundtrack to my young adult life. Whenever I hear one of their hits, it brings up so many memories. Good memories. So any Tribe album gets 5 stars from me. RIP Phife.

I had the Run DMC album on here the other day, it's crazy how far Tribe took the hip hop sound on their FIRST album only a few years later. Iconic.

Brilliant and very influential. Great use of smooth beats, samples, and intelligent lyrics. There's even a nice sampling of some early go hope scratching. This is a great album was a smooth flow

Great hip hop/rap album that inspired a whole lot of other artists in the same genre. They could rap about going to buy oranges from the grocery store and it would still be a banger. 9/10

The first group to combine jazz and hip-hop and damn does it sound good. Great verses paired with smooth instrumentals. I don’t often listen to hip-hop but when I do most of the time it’s A Tribe Called Quest. Q-tip has such a fantastic flow and voice. A paramount album of the genre. 9/10

Funky, jazzy, soulful beats, and the rapping flows like water. Incredible, iconic album by an incredible, iconic group. Favorite track: Can I Kick It?

Love! It!

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

A Tribe Called Quest

Reviews (page 3 of 14)