People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

Very cool old-school hip-hop, but it didn't move me much. I think I'm too Eastern European for it to truly and deeply get it. Huge drums.

Very of the time. Great bassline and drum mixing, quite inventive for 1990 in terms of rap drums. A lot of reverb and phasers which I didn't expect, a real sonic journey. Not one I'd necessarily take often but still.

Liked the vibe, will def have to relisten to really fall in love with it but I like the lyrics, the melodies and everything in between

Can I Kick It? Not with these shoes. Anyway, Tribe is awesome.

It gives the vibes of friends having fun but it’s also the most talented group of friends you’ve seen.

I'm not sure this deserved a place over Midnight Marauders, despite being really quite excellent

Think of the year this came out. Imagine most of the other rap albums that were making the rounds in 1990. You had standouts like N.W.A and Rakim, but you had a lot of corny, goofy stuff. This album is chock full of intelligent rhymes, brilliant samples and infectious beats. I have nothing funny to say about this. As if my other reviews are "funny." Ugh. We're breaking the fourth wall here. Hey Colt Cabana. I'll hate you in ten years. These guys are great. Listen to them. Or don't. What do I care? 4 HIGHLIGHTS: See you've got this group, we'll call 'em uhh ahh a "Tribe." and wait uhh no, that's not right, they're called "Quest." Ahh jeez I ruined the whol ahh come on man uhh ahh

Overall wholesome and very enjoyable. Ham N' Eggs made me giggle and will probably make my regular music rotation. However the first track was so mid, I can't give it more than 4.

Cool album art and album name

For the first two songs so far, the album sounds interesting and nice. I like it so far one third of the way there, I like it a lot I am listening it while working on some photos and the music is amazing for setting the mood and vibes to energetic and do-stuff-y for me, which is a plus Bonita Applebum was kind of strange Can I kick it - it was cool overall the album was great. the artist sounds cool - I will have to see other albums from the "A Tribe Called Quest"

Rv

This album is so smooth and fun, especially near the end. My favorite track is can I kick it and ham n eggs. I was a little sad when this album ended:(

Rating:★★★★ Good, "Old fashioned" Hip Hop.

Good! Only listened to a few songs, but very relaxing hip hop ish

Day871 - can i kick and bonita applebum are my two favorite tribe songs and qtip has one of the most iconic voices in hip hop.

I think I enjoyed this more than I liked Low End Theory. At least the highs of this album were higher than Low End Theory, even if a few of these songs are probably longer than they should be. This was another very important album in the early evolution of rap and worthy of being on this list. My favorite songs: Push It Along After Hours Footprints I Left my Wallet in El Segundo Bonita Applebum Can I Kick It Mr. Muhammad

As always, Questlove is awesome. I wish there was a little more variety though.

Okay . . . yeah, I can kick it!

It’s Tribe. It’s great. Compared to The Low End Theory it doesn’t quite reach those levels, but that’s a tall bar to meet. Just classic hip hop at its finest and probably the best hip hop group of all time.

Really nice rap with a quite amazing story

This was great, easy to dismiss it as "trendy cocktail bar music" that I am quite guilty of doing. Aside from it being really nice and easy to listen to, it's a pretty important capsule of the time where people were rapping about important political issues too. Love to hear it.

Mint, R&b, hip hop at its finest

Album is very yummy 8/10

I always underestimate Tribe. What a great discography

i would happily listen to this whole thing

not for me

A pesar de que los ritmos son bastante similares, cada canción me pareció diferente. Muy chulo y divertido. No le he prestado atención a las letras, pero me ha llevado a crear una playlist de canciones de estos álbumes que me gustan. Odio el rap, pero este hip hop se me hace muy potables y escuchable. Me siento gangsta 😎😎😎.

Not their best album but proof that hip hop doesn’t have to have every other word profanity to be great.

I liked this record.

Harde beats, maar A Tribe Called Quest heeft voor mij helaas vaak té erg het hippidyhoppidyhiphop-achtige van 80s en begin 90s hiphop. Maar +1* voor de impact

Another slam dunk from the Tribe! I didn't get quite AS down with it as their later album The Low End Theory, which we got earlier in this challenge, but as a debut this is some rock-solid East Coast rap.

I ordered enchiladas and I ate 'em 🔥 Some of the smoothest voices in hip hop gliding effortlessly over equally smooth grooves!! Standouts: Luck of Lucien • After Hours • I Left My Wallet in El Segundo • Bonita Applebum • Can I Kick It? • Youthful Expression • Go Ahead In the Rain • Description of a Fool

Q-tipi flow on lihtsalt super. See oli vist esimene album, mida ma Tribe'lt kuulsin. Kusjuures kõige popim lugu "Can I Kick It" on just see, mis mulle siit ei meeldi, ülejäänud täitsa istuvad. Tribe tegi sämpeldamise ja chill flow'ga uskumatuid asju. Räpiajaloo fännile kindlalt kohustuslik kuulamine. 4/5

4.5, awesome debut album

banger beats every track and qtip got crazy flow fav probs eggs n ham

This album really surprised me. I had zero idea what to expect. Very listen-to-able. Hi end production. Great musicianship and very creative.

didnt love this one the first time i checked it out but it really shines the second go around. still not my favorite Quest record for a few reasons; Tip's flow is pretty basic compared to his later work, Phife is barely present, and the lyricism is pretty edgeless. but goddamn its hard to dislike the production. overall, very good, but i know they're capable of better.

Groovy

Fantastic, but could help but feel it was missing something.

not on AM

Yeah this was really fun. I listened to it thrice. I think I’m drawn to 90s hip hop where lyrics were intelligent and it wasn’t all about the vices of life.

It was cool to hear Rap music that wasn’t about how badass the rapper is or how many women the rapper slept with. I felt a sense of unity among the whole tribe throughout the whole album.

Sophisticated. Classic.

Really enjoyed this one!

What a great record

Classic hip hop

Muy top, me gusta y eso q se sale de mi zona de comfort

Classic

this was great

I like the chilled vibe of this. Clever use of samples with good rhymes over the top. 3.5 rounded up.

Yess this is dope! Never heard the full album, only tracks here and there

Really nice. I wish I listened to lyrics but overall great vibe. 4/5 because he talks instead of singing.

Really good album!

High four

They’re so nice

wowwww this was crazy. so chill and oozes of cool aura.

The main thing that hurts this album is its length. There are some great songs, and it is solid throughout, but it is too long and, therefore, drags at a few parts. If they would have cut a few songs, it could have stayed more exciting or at least a tighter experience that would make me want to revisit it more often, rather than just play their "Greatest Hits," which is what I always do for Tribe, if I want to listen to them.

Between this and The Low End Theory, they've got to be one of the top options of the '90s hip-hop sphere for sheer enjoyment's sake. Fun album full of quirky, groovy rap songs, the flow on the first song feels pretty distinct but the rest of the album might get a little consistent in that regard, doesn't stop me from enjoying all the eclectic songs offered

I've enjoyed this. It's good fun to listen to.

So many songs I've heard before but didn't know the source. The sound of the snare drum rules.

Sunny afternoon hip hop. Nice.

1/1001 Can I kick it? YES YOU CAN Can I... kick it? YES YOU CAN Can I kick it? YES YOU CAN

There’s something really appealing in how loose and musical this feels. The jazz influence isn’t just aesthetic, it actually shapes the flow, rhythms breathe, samples feel chosen with intent, and nothing is overly rigid. It’s not especially complex structurally, but it doesn’t need to be, because the groove itself keeps evolving in subtle ways. It’s the kind of record that feels alive rather than constructed, and that goes a long way.

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 duh 1: Bad | 2: Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing

Ugh this was so cool???? Wiped my feet REALLY good on the rhythm rug and didn’t want this to end. Point off for uhhh vague misogyny vibes I guess?

I’m a sucker for the jazzier hues of hip hop and this had some nice samples used from bygone eras. Found it had a relaxed flow in most of the songs which fit the mood I was in but could imagine others might find it a little lackadaisical. The beats had that J Dilla timing which has become a bit trite with the advent of lo-fi hip hop, but was likely breaking new ground at the time.

Nice

Som att lyssna på Do the right thing. Eller Nåt sånt.

Variety: 3 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 4 Emotionality: 3 = 4 "Get inside the groove and get nasty/ Funky nasty, crazy classy" I have fond associations with this album and a whole slew of similar stuff from middle school. Aside from being a "safe" ( parents didn't have much to object to content-wise) choice for Midwest, suburban white kids, I remember it being way more chill and musical than most of the harder stuff I would hear on MTV. But it's possibly been since then that I've heard most of this other than the handful of tracks that still pop up on Satellite radio regularly. Let's see how it holds up. As with most hip-hop we've gotten on the list, I will be using whosampled.com, and possibly be making a playlist of those tracks. Changing things up as of this one and will be including samples going forward for anyone curious. Songs repeated throughout the album are only listed once so as to save on digital ink :) THE TRACKS "Push It Along" - Psychedelic birth flashback aside, this one eases you in pretty well to the sound. We're in good hands as Q-Tip acts as midwife to the group's sound ( does that make Phife Dawg the doula?). No one's doing anything too acrobatic, but the flows here are very solid. We even get some nice intros at the end provided by Jarobi. Sampled: "Loran's Dance' by Grover Washington, Jr. "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" by Junior Mance ( original by Sly & the Family Stone); "Jagger the Dagger" by Eugene McDaniels; "It's Yours" by T La Rock and Jazzy Jay. "Luck of Lucien" - We get a call out to The Beatles ( or possibly the French National anthem) before the sweet, sweet groove sets in and Q-Tip starts the tribute to Lucien Revolucien ( had to look this up). So thinking it's probably the anthem. Though the track is full of affectionate little digs at the man, so maybe both? This feels very lighthearted, but not throwaway. Sampled: "Fourty Days" by Billy Brooks; "All You Need is Love" by The Beatles "After Hours" - The spotlight is on Q-Tip once again, and no wonder as the dude makes this look easy. An even funkier groove underlines this pleasant slice of life. The trials and tribulations of the outside world aren't invisible, put they can be pushed away momentarily for some good times with good friends. Sampled: "Remember Who You Are" by Sly & the Family Stone; "North Carolina" by Les McCann; "Hot Hot Summer Day" by Sugarhill Gang; "Footprints" - A nod to Stevie Wonder starts this one off, and Q-Tip is still holding down the fort. He's at full power here slicing through the verses with speed and focus. Where the last track was comforting in the face of reality, this one leans way more darkly philosophical and introspective. A mission statement maybe, with Jesse Jackson prividing some inspiration. Sampled:"Think Twice" by Donald Byrd; "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder; "Walk Tall" by The Cannonball Adderley Quintet feat. Jesse Jackson; "Son of Public Enemy ( Flavor Whop Version) by Public Enemy; "A House is Not a Home" by Dionne Warwick "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo" - Some nice Spanish guitar dishes the ball to Q-Tip, but alas, he fails to deliver what should have been an easy layup. This shaggy dog story goes nowhere, of course, but we don't even have fun on the journey. His flow is as lifeless as I've heard it and the beat is as elementary as it gets. Could have at leats been funnier. Hopefully this is a small blip. Sampled: "Funky" by The Chambers Brothers; "Sueno" by The Young Rascals; "Children's Story" by Slick Rick "Pubic Enemy" - So this one's about STD's, and specifically pubic lice I guess? And nothing to do with THE Public Enemy. I'm sure this sailed WAY above my head in middle school, if I even paid attention to the lyrics. It's also not that funny, but it's at least got more going on musically than "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo". Sampled: "Pity for the Lonely" by Luther Ingram; "Communication Is Where It's At" Billy the Baron and His Smokin Challengers; D'Ya Like Scratchin'? by Malcolm McLaren and World's Famous Supreme Team; "Do the Funky Penguin" by Rufus Thomas; "Funky President (People It's Bad)" by James Brown "Bonita Applebum" - Here it is. This is the one even the most casual of fan remembers if they remember any of these tracks. Everything is on point here. Lyrics, Q-Tip's chill flow, the music, he humor, the horniness... Top shelf Tribe. Sampled: "Daylight" by Ramp; "Memory Band" by Rotary Connection; "Fool Yourself" by Little Feat; "Soul Virgo" by The Cannonball Adderley Quintet; "Can I Kick It?" - Or maybe they remember this one best. Just as good. Think I may have heard this before I heard the Lou Reed song. Certainly before I knew who Lou Reed was, anyway. Classic. Sampled: "Walk on the Wild Side" by Lou Reed; "Spinning Wheel" by Lonnie Smith; "Sunshower" by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band; "Fun" by Sly & the Family Stone "Youthful Expression" - My favorite lyrics so far on the album. This one keeps it simple, but not simplistic. There's plenty going on here, but it's TIGHT. Also my favorite sample on here - do yourself a favor and go listen to the source. Sampled: "Inner City Blues" by Reuben Wilson "Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts)" - Up there with the best headnodders. The beat on this is almost hypnotic. By this point Q-Tip has proved his skill and it's not a criticism to say that he might be one of the more consistent to ever do it. Never the flashiest or the most nimble, but rarely stumbles. And when he does ( See "...Wallet...") it's when you can hear his enthusiasm flag. He's the John Stockton of hip-hop. Sampled: "Get Off Your Ass and Jam" by Funkadelic; "Soul Makossa" by Manu Dibango; "Pull Up to the Bumper (12 Inch Version)" by Grace Jones; "Keep on Doin' It" by The New Birth; "Black Rhythm Happening" by Eddie Gale "Mr. Muhammad" - Most creative use of samples on the album on this tribute track to DJ and producer. Solid stuff, if not the cream of the crop. Sampled: " Brazilian Rhyme (Beijo Interlude)" by Earth, Wind & Fire; "Medley: Vertical Invader/T.H./Dr. Honoris Causa" by Weather Report; "Electric Frog" by Kool & the Gang; "Superappin'" by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five "Ham 'n' Eggs"- Tribe are most definitely a deeper group that this, but in my memory ALL their songs were like this. Funny slice of life stuff. The Pharcyde would certainly take this sort of thig and run with it. Delightful. Also best chorus on the album, hands down. Sampled: "We've Gotta Find a Way Back to Love" by Freda Payne; "Nappy Dugout" by Funkadelic "Go Ahead in the Rain" - Their most danceable on the album I think. While steam isn't anywhere close to running out, things have begun to run together a bit near the end. Sampled: "Son of Slide" by Slave; "Rainy Day, Dream Away" by Jimi Hendrix; "Joy and Pain (Live in Los Angeles)" by Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly; "Classic Funke" by Brother Jack McDuff; "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing" by Stevie WOnder "Description of a Fool" - Sold ending with something of a social message song. It doesn't hit hard and shock, but that's not what Tribe is here to do. Even when Q-Tip is laying down some real world wisdom there's always, always a funky ass groove underlining the point. Sampled: "Running Away" by Roy Ayers Ubiquity; "Running Away" by Sly & the Family Stone; "Still Good - Still Like It" by B.T. Express; "Don't Make Me Wait (Special Version)" by Peech Boys; "Miss You" by The Rolling Stones; "Braggin & Boastin" by The Jungle Brothers HIGHLIGHTS - "Push It Along" - "Luck of Lucien" - "After Hours" - "Footprints" - "Bonita Applebum" - "Can I Kick It?" - "Youthful Expression" - "Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts)" - "Ham 'n' Eggs" - "Go Ahead in the Rain" - "Description of a Fool" MIDLIGHTS - "Pubic Enemy" - "Mr. Muhammad" - "Description of a Fool" LOWLIGHTS - "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo" FINAL THOUGHTS Overall this was just as good as I remember it, though I don't recall being so annoyed by anything as I was by that one track. Definitely looking forward to more stuff from them, but no idea how many they have on the list. In addition to diving into more of their stuff, as well as work from associated acts, I also plan on giving the sample playlist a couple of spins. For those interested, you can find it here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7az5SAtq2JTE653Swddw3N?si=89153e2c0b8a445a PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - "I left My Wallet in El Segundo" does not make the cut FURTHER LISTENING - The Sweet Life by Reuben Wilson - Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde - by The Pharcyde - 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul - All Hail the Queen by Queen Latifah - Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience by P.M. Dawn - A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing by Black Sheep - Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) by Digable Planets - Done by the Forces of Nature by The Jungle Brothers

great early rap and hip hop

Very enjoyable. Great samples, voices, and often humorous and interesting lyrics.

Pretty good. Elements of it sound a bit dated and they've got a few albums with good tracks, which might argue for a best of. But this was enjoyable

This was a long one, and I continued to enjoy it the whole way, which I take as a good sign. I can tell this was a foundational or early version of a lot of hip hop, and might have been instrumental in a new style that other artists jumped off of. The beats were excellent, and I always enjoy the style of the music dropping out on a particularly powerful lyric.

This album is so cool and smooth, it's like roaming slowly in a convertible without a care in the world. Perfect for a Monday. Nice cover art for once. Favorite Songs: After Hours ; Can I Kick It?

This was a fun listen. Well produced. An all around good time!

Perhaps I was distracted but I didn't love it as much as I have similar albums in the past. Still a solid offering and overall a good day on the 1001 Album Generator

This album is a great blend of hip hop, funk, and sampling. The message is fantastic, the groove is there and they aren't afraid to take some risks. It's a groundbreaking album to transition out of 80s hip hop into 90s hip hop.

This is an album I would have enjoyed more than I did if I was in a better mood for it. I had a very full day and minimal time for an hour long record. I liked the beats and the samples. What I caught lyrically I also liked. This felt like something I needed the lyrics in front of me for, and I wasn’t able to do that. I’m giving it a four rating. It could’ve been a five if it was a better day.

Disclaimer: I love Tribe. This isn't my favourite of their offerings, however. It's got some great hits (Can I Kick It?), and it's a groovy classic hip hop record, but the goofiness (Ham 'N' Eggs anyone?) undercuts the all-time-ness of the record. 7/10

Absolutely incredible sound mix

It’s not totally my vibe, but it’s chill enough. I do get a bit tired of the same beat over and over, so it’s more background music for me, but I like the fact that this album one of the early hip-hop albums without all the hate — it’s really light and easygoing. Plus, back then it was actually something new for people. love it

8/10

Four stars just based on how much i loved it in college, Left My Wallet in El Segundo & Bonita are all-timers

R +B Regea Rap, Es hört sich gut an und ich fühle mich gut

This album made me feel nostalgic.

3.5⭐️/5 04.06.2026

I've always been aware of this album and its influence but hadn't sought it out. It's not entirely my thing but I did enjoy it and it was a really cool listen.

Tracks are very groovy, I can see why a lot of these sounds are foundational to hiphop.

Great hip hop album. Can I Kick It is a classic

This was a long one, and I continued to enjoy it the whole way, which I take as a good sign. I can tell this was a foundational or early version of a lot of hip hop, and might have been instrumental in a new style that other artists jumped off of. The beats were excellent, and I always enjoy the style of the music dropping out on a particularly powerful lyric.

Right off the bat I thought oh no, not a rap album. I was determined to give it a chance and it turned out to be a fun listen! The album just grew on me and I got more and more into it. I am going to give this 4 stars because it was such a surprise to me and it's obviously well performed and produced.

Joy

Loved the jazz elements Great lyrics

4/5 Ziemlich cool 😎

i've only listened to The Low End in full a long time ago, so this is totally new for me Push It Along - 5/5 Luck of Lucien - 3/5 After Hours - 4/5 Footprints - 4/5 I Left My Wallet in El Segundo - 3/5 Pubic Enemy - 3/5 Bonita Applebum - 5/5 Can I Kick It? - 5/5 Youthful Expression - 3/5 Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts) - 4/5 Mr. Muhammad - 3/5 Ham 'n' Eggs - 3/5 Go Ahead in the Rain - 4/5 Description of a Fool - 4/5 Average score: 3.8/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ eh, this doesn't beat The Low End in my opinion. most of the tracks just didn't impact me in the same way. the album is still a vibe tho, especially Can I Kick It?

not as good as the low end theory, but having something this good as your debut album is incredible.

Not being a fan of rap, I went in with low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised.

atrapado en los 90´s...

Tribe changed the game

Lo sentí más un soundtrack de alguna película más que un álbum en sí. Más allá de eso, los beats de cada canción y la producción me parecieron increíbles y muy interesantes. Sentí que se quedaron a medio camino, algo les faltó para terminar de gustarme, no es un "wow", tampoco un "ugh", sino más bien un "meh". Hay temazos, pero hay canciones que yo las consideré un poco de relleno pero bueno, mejor que muchos álbumes que he escuchado es.

++: Push It Along, Luck of Lucien, After Hours, Footprints, Pubic Enemy, Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick It?, Youthful Expression, Mr. Muhammad, Ham 'n' Eggs, Description of a Fool +: Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts), Go Ahead in the Rain +-: I Left My Wallet in El Segundo 8,6/10

Can they kick it? Most certainly they can.

It's not as good as LET, and some of the samples I found a bit annoying, but it's still very, very good. Q-Tip is a phenomenal rapper. High 4

Their debut album. Hip Hop. Definitely a nice change of pace from Gangsta Rap. Clever and streetwise lyrics with some positivity too. The production is excellent as is the vocal delivery. Can I Kick It is a great track. A fantastic Hip Hop album.

Smart rap for smart people.

Love some Tribe.

Better than I remembered

I enjoy their other two albums more. But still great.

The hip hop picks in this book are consistently great.

Quite good

Really good album. Would say 4/5 because the songs were good, quite similar but had variation but at the end remixes of previous songs were too repetitive and got boring

Good

A lot of fun and some excellent beats!! I want to listen to After Hours right now. This album being the first one on the challenge sets the bar really high.

I really like the story telling on this album. The old school samples are always the best. I think the only song I’ve heard previously was Can I Kick It? which I loved. The way they pull and blend several different samples from different genres is amazing.

Loved this album a lot!

Great album that I need to revisit again soon

This is my favorite style of hip hop.

I really like ATCQ

Tribe's sound is infectious. Not as good an album as The Low End Theory, but it has a few classics on it.

- i love the sound -- i've been listening to a lot of funk lately and this has a similar feeling - the sax... hell yeah - i probably never would've listened to this album outside of this site but i have been wanting to get into rap and hip hop for so long and this seems like a great starting point - favorite tracks: luck of lucien, can i kick it?, go ahead in the rain - rating: 4/5

THE GOATS banger beats as always while not as flawless top to bottom as following albums low-end theory or midnight mauraders (feels like latter half runs slightly out of steam), still incredible production and flows 4/5

Pretty Good stuff. No swearing and solid. Bonita Applebum was my favourite song definitely

Great album. Super groovy

this is a vibe, i'm enjoying it luck of lucien--haha the french rapping loving that footprints i left my wallet in el segundo--love the intro with the vinyl static can i kick it--where do i know this guitar intro from????? ham & eggs--ok this is incredible enjoyable overall. it has a cohesive style & feel, but maintains variety between tracks. very listenable. it would be good mood setting music for just like hanging out with friends, but i probably wouldn't go out of my way to listen otherwise. 4/5.

It’s not as good as Midnight Marauders or The Low End Theory, but it’s still very enjoyable. The production is smooth and creative—Tip really sets the tone perfectly. The rhyming is sharp, and the whole album has this energetic, lively feel that makes you catch every single beat. Very good album overall, even if it doesn’t reach the heights of their later work.

Very vibey, their flow is incredibly unique and I liked the album a lot

Tribe is one of the best. RIP Phife Dawg

push it along

It's tribe. It's great.

So, here's the thing. In order to get into this album, you have to be in the right mood. It's not a hip-hop album that's particularly busy or intense or in your face compared to a lot of the gangster rap, G-funk, or funky, noisy, more confrontational stuff. Here, on Tribe's debut, they explore a lot of the possibilities of sampling and polyrhythms with an overall laid-back, chill vibe. Q-Tip's background as a producer is really cool. He learned a bit about dynamics and sampling techniques from the Jungle Brothers and on De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising. Bizarrely, they had trouble getting a recording contract in the beginning, probably because they didn't fit the look or sound of hip-hop at the time. And honestly? Even today they stand out. Everything about this is so fresh. Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Muhammed are part gentlemen, part jazzmen, part social poets, and part artists. This set the bar for so many types of genres to come, not just hip-hop. This album has really grown on me, but the storytelling is not quite up to par with what they would do later. Still, it's a pleasant listen, and it's really cool to see how mature and expressive they were with their vision so early on. 4 stars.

EXACTLY the type of rap that I like!

I enjoyed this album, with the caveat that 80s and early 90s hip hop is not my favorite of the genre. But I respect the beats and they do have great flow. It’s definitely something I should delve further into.

Love the voice

Some classic tracks, great samples, and overall innovative hip hop. It's a bit too long/bloated to be considered their best work alongside of The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders. Still, a good experience and a must-listen for any true hip hop fan. 7/10

Nice rap

3/10/26. Cool to finally listen to this in full. I always knew Can I Kick It, but hearing the song in context with the rest makes it even better. Love the quirky but cool approach to hip hop, plus the sample choices and regular motif.

Hip hop 1990 tipo de NY no tan gangster para escuchar de chilling caminando 🍁

favorite song: ham 'n' eggs vibe: foundational hip hop/rap, originals to samples cropping up everywhere rating: 84/100

Great album, I knew the Kick It single but have never listened to the whole album

This really had a good beat tonight and was compelling.

Do I have permission to kick it?

Exuberant and vibrant hip-hop with great songs all around and one of the greatest songs of all time in the mix as well. "Can I Kick It?" is an amazing example of beat-craft and songcraft at the same time. Amazing debut from this group, even though they would move on and top this one in just a few years.

Ja, gewoon goed. Je moet de stijl en innovatie ook waarderen. 4 reeten

Every now and then (ok, probably twice in my life) I’ll get into a ATCQ mood and queue up all their records. They were a great group and I have nothing bad to say about them. I also can’t say I’ve ever considered myself a fan. Maybe they were just a little too far before my time, or not the right kind of cool enough to impress me when I was young. Who knows. I should listen to them more.

I think I can listen to Q-Tip rap all day. (That's not true, I can't listen to that much rap. But I'm really enjoying his catalogue and blending of hip-hop, jazz, and soul.)

Joyous hiphop that feels almost naive considering what came later. Fantastic production, and refreshing to hear lyrics that combine humour and vulnerability. Not a genre that I listen to often, but a classic in time.

Дефолт хип-хоп, в целом неплохо, чиловый.

Nice album for workout, chill day and for life

Extremely groovable. Obsessed with the samples chosen.

Youthful Expression

A banger of a debut album, I enjoyed listening to these rhymes on a walk. Can I Kick It? Will forever be a classic and the use of samples was classy. Fun lyrics too and I love Q-Tip.

This one feels kinda bottom heavy. Tracks like footprints and El Segundo are good but then you have Rythem, Mr. Muhammad, Ham 'N' Eggs, Go Ahead In the Rain, and Description of a Fool all hitting one after another. Can I Kick It is good too. Another 4/5.

Heard before? Not all the way through Would I revisit? Yes Listen before you die: Yes Fav Songs: Footprints, Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick It Oh hell yes to starting my morning off with a cup of coffee and A Tribe Called Quest! I'm amazed at how fresh this album sounds even though it was made in 1990. These guys are so creative and smooth. The album is playful, with excellent storytelling and vibes so thick it's impossible not to smile and bop along. Loved it!

This is foundation but that can leave it feeling a little basic by modern standards. Really nice sampling and flow though. 3.5*

Still magical. Some of the lyrics didn’t age well, in that they seem a little juvenile. Happens across genres, but seems to occur in hip-hop and (hair) metal most often. Literally had me dancing all day though.

Another band that I've never conscientiously sat down to listen to, and that's clearly my loss. This is not only a great hip-hop album... it's a great album of any genre. Engaging, clever lyrics, seamless integration of samples, melodic, and altogether enjoyable. I couldn't stop from grooving along. - Heard before? A few songs, but not in its entirety. - Will I listen again? Definitely. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Yes.

A fun, laid-back hip-hop album with chill rhymes and samples and vibes. Jazz and funk were used for the backing tracks and production. Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders, their next two records, are more of the same and just as good or better. Can I Kick It starts with a sample of Lou Reed's Walk On The Wild Side and is conducive to grooving. The other two singles are I Left My Wallet in El Segundo and Bonita Applebum. A fine debut by an influential group.

I'm a fan of these guys...but I haven't listened to them critically like this before. I would have thought I Left My Wallet and Kick It were on one of their later records! The lyrics are actually kinda umm...irreverent, goofy...dorky? The sample-based production quite rough around the edges, but there are some killer beats in here that I'm disappointed I haven't heard before. The flow sounds about as dated as ya might expect for a record from 1990. Massive record in the scheme of things though, and a fun listen. Family-friendly hip-hop.

I liked this album far more than I thought I would. Early 90s hip hop. Party jams that I was enjoying the entire time.

Maybe not as solid as later releases, but iconic sample and lyrics like Bonita Applebum prove this is a piece of music history.

Jamais écouté avant. Du hip-hop expérimental (peut-être trop, par moment ?), porté par des rythmiques festives entre jazz relax et soul funky, et des samples familiers. Jouissif, même en tant que néophyte du genre. Top : Go Ahead in the Rain Flop : Bonita Applebum

A much needed palate cleanser

Brought back some memories. I will look out for a copy of this on vinyl.

Cet album est parfait dans ce qu'il veut faire. Un gros gros 4

😗

Fantastic conscious rap

Solid throughout. Faves were footprints and Public Enemy. Ham and Eggs had me smiling.

Tribe is cool

I listened to this album while I was sick and resting at home, passing the time between bouts of sleep with Sonic Racing: Crossworlds. Having only ever listened to the final album by A Tribe Called Quest, it was refreshing to come back to their first album here! The lyrical jazz-rap style pushed forward here by Tribe would go on to influence many artists and albums which I love, and it's been enlightening to hear this early step on that artistic trajectory. The lyricism across the album runs from silly to uplifting, and there is a light-hearted and breezy energy to the performances here which can uplift you even at your lowest moments; they are indeed masters at the art of moving butts. Highlights: Push It Along, Luck of Lucien, After Hours, Footprints, Pubic Enemy, Can I Kick It?, Youthful Expression, Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts), Mr. Muhammad, Ham 'N' Eggs, Go Ahead In the Rain, Description of a Fool

sonically amazing

Another favorite from before the 1001 albums -- classic poetic hip hop.

Zeer goede week dit zeg, eerst al 2 andere albums met 4 sterren gerate en dan als 'toetje' een Tribe album! Dit is hun debuut album en eigenlijk hoor je dat soms ook een klein beetje. Waar The Low End Theory nog iets meer voelt als een perfectere benadering, en Midnight Marauders misschien wel mijn favoriete album is, is deze nog iets meer rauw. Wel mooi dat hun grootste hits al op dit album staan, of tenminste mijn favoriete nummers dan met Bonita Applebum en, natuurlijk, Can I Kick it? Dat nummer is echt prototype Tribe voor mij, heerlijk jazz/rock sampletje(Thanks Ome Lou) en dan de chillste flows ooit daarover heen. Och wat een top nummer is dat toch. Ook lekker dat daar meteen Youthful Expression op volgt, ook weer een heerlijke beat. Ik luister meestal hiphop voor teksten, maar merk wel dat ik bij Tribe vooral de beats luister en dan de flow daaroverheen. Jup, voor mij is dit weer een typisch, heerlijk Tribe album. Het is vibey, de beats zijn heerlijk simplistisch boombap maar wel met een sterke jazz invloed en de rhymes er over heen zijn gewoon prima. Niet de allerlastigste en dat is prima. Het is geen 5, daarvoor vind ik een heel album toch vaak net niet goed genoeg, maar dit is voor mij wel een album dat je bijna altijd aan kan zetten en dat gewoon bijna altijd lekker is. FAVO:Push it along, Luck of Lucien, I left my wallet in El Segundo,Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick It?, Youthful Expression, Description of a Fool

Some classics in there, but also, it could be 3-4 songs shorter, and no one would be too upset.

As familiar as I am with several of A Tribe Called Quest's hits, this is my first time listening to their debut album. And what a debut it is, presenting such a clear, cool vibe throughout. That being said, they're definitely not at their best here. To quote another review, "This album is probably more influential than it is great." Hip-hop owes a lot to this group and this album, and songs like Can I Kick It? are absolute classics, but at the end of the album I found myself blurring a lot of the tracks together. It was never a bad time, but I feel like I was missing some sort of big impact. Aside from Can I Kick It?, I think the interludes were the things that stuck with me the most, and honestly I wish there were more like that. Still, this album is proof enough that Tribe knew what they were doing with killer samples, sharp lyrics, and drippingly cool flow. In many ways, it's the antithesis of one of the other recent hip-hop albums I've had on this list (50 Cent's Get Rich Or Die Tryin'), but I think somehow they both land with the same rating, each providing a distinguishably different hip-hop experience. Highlight: Can I Kick It?

A surprisingly good debut album from legendary rap trio "A Tribe Called Quest" some really great sample work and lyricism make this album a fun enjoyable listen all the way through 8/10 Favourite: I Left My Wallet in El Segundo Least Favourite: Go Ahead in

A very quirky yet vibey album. A lot of the songs and lyrics aren’t taken very seriously until you analyse them and see its commentary on the real world, but the rhythm really brings the whole album together. I totally see how it’s influenced progressive afro beats with its mix of jazz and rap in the 90s. My favorite songs were Ham ‘n’ Eggs and Can I Kick It?

Preety good album, timeless classic. Today´s bird is: Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus) A bird that likes to travel and sing.

3.5 stars. Chill east-coast hip-hop that comes across as very casual. Very laidback and almost psychedelic sound. Lyrics are more goofy than serious. Standout is "Can I Kick It?".

Overall a belting album, even if a lot of the lyrics are, well, odd.

Give me old school and I'll like it. I enjoyed the listening. Great flow, certain level of rawness, and lyrics that was more than "pussy, pussy, pussy"

Beats are immaculate, rhymes are a little underbaked, Q-tip is really the only one rapping on most songs. All of those issues get resolved a year later. Still pretty damn good.

Pacing is a little bit slow for me considering it's genre IMO. Good listen in the right mood and environment

Hard to be upset about a Tribe album. All of the general things you can say about early 90s rap still apply here, that style just didn't age gracefully and some songs are a little repetitive, but its still a classic with incredible samples and cultural awareness.

This album is so smooth. I couldn't stop vibing even with its length. I needed one more big hit to go with "Can I Kick It?" for it to be a real standout album. This is so easy to listen to. I'm really flirting with a 5 here. Can I kick it? Yes, you can! Can I kick it? Yes, you can! Can I kick it? Yes, you can! Can I kick it? Yes, you can!

An interesting debut from the band. Lots of good tracks, but the follow-up album, The Low End Theory, really surpasses this.

Very consistent, chill rap album. Loved the jazz-elements.

Great to hear “Tribe” again, excellent album, loved listening to the tunes

They certainly can kick it. This debut album by A Tribe Called Quest runs a little long but features some terrific, varied hip hop. Top tracks: "Can I Kick It?," "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo," "Push It Along," "Luck of Lucien"

--Push It Along...love the beat. too long --Luck of Lucien...a fun mix of samples ang genres --After Hours...funky fresh. they sample frogs and it's great! --Footprints...another fun beat but a bit derivative of preceding tracks --I Left My Wallet in El Segundo...this fux. pure elegance. perhaps a tit bit long --Pubic Enemy...more great beats. another "jimmy hat" reference --Bonita Applebum...some great samples in here. solid, chill track. more condom references --Can I Kick It?...hard to go wrong when you sample a GOATed song --Youthful Expression...great bass groove ("Inner City Blues"?) with a fun sax and keyboard accent --Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts)...I really like the background synth. adds a different dimension --Mr. Muhammad...my kind of weird. oh yeah --Ham 'n' Eggs...another fun track but the structure is becoming obvious --Go Ahead in the Rain...great samples from the get go --Description of a Fool...this record takes hold of a vibe and strangles it, at times to its own detriment. But it's still great overall

Reminds me of Run DMC. Love Mr Mohammed Understand why it's considered so important

Me encantó qué bonita cadencia tienen estos cabrones

Can I Kick It? is a baaaaangerrrrr

Heard this album several times growing up, so I'm pretty familiar with it. On this listen I connected with some of the songs I didn't prefer growing up. So overall I appreciate being prompted to listen again. There's a couple tracks that could still turn a party up in 2026, in the right context lol.

I think is a very lyrically strong album and it has an incredible narrative that is seen throughout every song. It is a very strong collection that is very indicative of the artist's music and perspective. It ~feels~ like the moment in time the album was released.

Pretty based album. Rapping is a little bit stale but the beats and production and samples are incredible

Not a go-to for me, but I enjoyed the hell out of this.

Iconic, influenceial and fun. I feel like we could use more consciousness in hip-hop in 2026, and probably for a decade plus before. Really enjoyed revisiting this classic.

Always a fan of jazz rap, and obviously ATCQ is nearly the pinnacle of that. Their laidback and feel good music makes this a great album to vibe to. The use of samples are also amazing, I love picking them out as I listen to each song. Such a powerful rap album not being a tough guy, street act. Just a bunch of proud guys making music.

This album was fantastic

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm by A Tribe Called Quest is such a refreshing Hip-Hop album. It's so happy and upbeat, while still just absolutely being as catchy as can be. The smooth Jazz mixed with Hip-Hop is an interesting combination, and while by itself wouldn't be much, when blended together make for a very good time. I'm a little biased, as the only song by these guys I know is "Can I Kick It?", but I'd be pretty hard pressed to not put it as my favorite song on the album as well. This is such a chill, vibe of an album, the entire thing works off of just good, positive vibes alone, and it all just works. It's kind of hard giving it an in depth review, but I think very highly of this album. The positive Hip-Hop albums always end up being my favorites, and this is a prime example of that. Songs like "Luck of Lucian", a song which literally revolves around playfully making fun of the French, are just so goofy, but god are they unbelievably catchy. Another interesting aspect of this album is the numerous samples used. They're everywhere, and are pretty fun to spot, especially if you know any of their origins. This is the fist album from A Tribe Called Quest I have rolled for this project, with 1 more group album, and 1 solo project from Q-Tip remaining. I'm very much in to it. I was surprised to find this album rated lower than their other group album in the book The Low End Theory, considering this one has "Can I Kick It?", so now I'm very interested to check that one out whenever I roll it. Great album. 4.3/5.

4.4 Biggest takeaway is that it still sounds pretty fresh and original. This would meet the high standard of "can I put this on and drink a pot of coffee and clean the house?" the answer would be, yup.

That’s why I called “groove”

Surprisingly really liked it.

Solid stuff. Very good hip hop record. One of favourite songs is mr Muhammad

Great album very appreciateable

This album has such a fantastic youthful attitude about it that was completely unlike everything else coming out in the Hip-Hop space at this time. The tracks cover an absurd variety of topics, from a PSA on practicing safe sex, to a story about accidentally leaving your wallet behind in an out-of-the-way city, to a track preaching love for eating vegetarian, and while on paper it all sounds a bit simplistic, Tribe nails the execution with these infectiously smooth, funky beats sampling from Stevie Wonder to Lou Reed, and clean lyrical delivery from Q-Tip. It never comes off as overly cheesy or corny, instead the whole album has this genuine and carefree vibe that makes it hard not to just smile and bounce along to the beat. I do think however, the album suffers just a bit from its length, I feel a few tracks toward the end could have been left out for a tighter runtime. And frankly I've never been a huge fan of the song Can I Kick It? despite its massive popularity... or perhaps because of it? who's to say. Otherwise, an incredible debut and a sign of great things to come soon from Tribe Fav Track: 5 - I Left My Wallet In El Segundo Best Three Track Run: 3, 4, 5

Man The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders better be on this list too cause as good as this album is, those two are absolutely legendary. RIP Phife Dawg

There was a lot here I liked. The music was really good and despite it being over an hour long it didn't drag. I also really liked the absence of overt misogyny. However some of the lyrics were a bit tough. An entire song about how they are fake vegetarians?

57/1089 3.6383* I'd love to put this on in the background of game night. It keeps the energy but does get bot repetitive. Regardless, this is a very nice album and a couple of the tunes are going on my work out mix. Hits....ILMWIES, CIKI, youthful expression

High 4 for this, very fun album

A classic throwback!

Not my favorite Tribe album but very good just the same.

I really enjoyed this. Very nice flowing album.

The flow the rhythm the sampling just DAMMMNNNN what a great collection of what hip hop was in the 90’s. Insane that this album of theirs is their debut, honestly just kudos to them omg

The whole album is so consistently great, with just fire sampling work and a unique sound compared to what was out in the industry at the time. This level of quality on a debut album is just really impressive.

7.5

This was really ahead of it's time

It’s “a bit more necessary hip hop album” time. quite nice but quitted at the second song in which there's random french references. downgraded to a 3.5/5

I liked the funky rythem and impactful rhyme that this album brought!

Tribe albums are like the hip hop equivalent of comfort food for me. Flows are always on point and the beats always have me nodding my head. Favorite track: Can I Kick It?

great listen for a thursday morning

Great record. I love the variety of samples and how they use them. The vocal modulation effects make this one standout from other hip-hop records. Really enjoyed the sound. Standout tracks: Luck of Lucien, Can I Kick It?, Description of a Fool.

Great album and groundbreaking for its time, but not my favourite tribe album. 4.5 stars but rounding down.

Probably my least favourite ATCQ album, but still very good.

4/5. What an intro from Tribe. Revolt music that reflects the times of the late 80s, when people still had a glimmer of hope. Boom bap at it's finest.

I like the happy vibes and reggae tone

Love this album. Haven’t listened before but so far so good !!!!

hippetyhoppety

can i kick it 1990 hip hop united states

Amazing and creatice jazzy beats, they established their iconic sound right from the get-go. The only real drawback is that some of the hooks feel flat and repetetive at times, but still very solid. Best song: Footprints Worst song: Mr. Muhammad Cover check: Cartoonish with a charming aged 90s aesthetic.

me diverti mucho!!! me encantó honestly creo que jamás había escuchado hip hop pero me pareció muy divertido me dan ganas de aprenderme todas las letras

Love the beats. Will probably listen to more of them

Good vibe, super unique

Not my cup of tea but still pretty good.

He can kick it

Liked the early hip-hop sound and jazz influence especially the sir duke sample on Footprints

First listened on 29th January 2025. Favourite songs are Bonita Applebum and Can I Kick It?

Solid 90’s hip hop album. I’m sure very influential in its time. Notable tracks include After Hours, Footprints, I Left My Wallet in El Segundo, Can I Kick It, Youthful Expression, Rhythm, Description of a Fool.

I like it a lot and I feel like this was more to the genres I usually listen to but it had its own twist and feel to it. It’s a light and playful album.

Grew up listening to ATCQ, my least favorite of their albums but still has lots of gold. Always felt that tribe was one of the easiest entries into hip hop. Low key, smart word play, excellent sampling and instrumental. Well produced. Hits are basically side a, the rest of the album isn't bad but largely relegates itself to good background music.

ヒップホップに詳しくない自分でも何となく聞いたことあるグループのファーストアルバム。 ジャジーなビートに適切なラップが乗っていれば、嫌いになりようがないと思う。 数年前にこのグループのDJの人がフェスに出てたけど少し聞いたあと素通りしてしまったな。

Super fun and chill rap album. 8/10

Really surprised how much I enjoyed this. Well worth a revisit

Push It Along // Luck of Lucien // After Hours // Can I Kick It? // 4.5/5

I will never ever get bored of a tribe called quest, cracking album

A capsule of hip hop at the time, groovy and good lyricism.

Great vibes in here.

Really good, definitely coming back. Excited to hear the Low End Theory.

Honestly i have heard a lot od modern rap so hearing such an influencial band is somwthing else. Just hearing the songs i can remember so many other song that seemed to be inapires by the. Honesty a great start as its my first album of my journey. I also particularly love the melodies of so many of the songs they itch my brain in a nice way. I am probably going to be generally more open yo more hip hop i really got to appreciate the general cadence the songs have.

4.5 million monthly listeners and I have never heard of them?? very 90's

Like this quite a bit. Some great samples. Can see why it was influential in its time. “Left my wallet…” is hilarious! Would defo listen again. 4

Loved the old retro vibe and the samples

Inte min typ av genre men uppskattar beatet och rytmkänslan

Smooth. Great background music

vibey as hell fav tracks push it along after hours i left my wallet in el segundo bonita applebum mr muhammad

3 - The first part of the album is really enjoyable and I especially liked Footprints for some reason. The whole album felt like a friend group improv, pulling you into the songs and making you feel like you’re really there. After Can I Kick It?, it started to feel a bit repetitive, even though Ham n Eggs was hilarious. Overall, this album is pretty good and definitely out of my comfort zone. 17th of December, 2025

love the production

This was a group I had heard of, but never listened to. A fun, creative album.

Generally good album. I can see where some of the songs were referenced in other artists work.

Listening to classics for the first time is always an absolute treat.

To jest dobry rap. Szczególnie single z tej płyty zatrzymują się w głowie na dłużej. Trochę za długa ta płyta, ale ma porządne flow i trudno się do niej jakoś bardzo przyczepić. Waham się między 6.5/10 równane w dół lub w górę. Dam w górę chyba mimo wszystko, ale no taka na granicy jest - nie zachwyciła ale też nie nazwałabym ją przeciętną.

Can they kick it? Yes.

3.5/4.0

"Can I kick it?" legendär, sonst für mich zu mellow zu sehr sprech als Gesang. 1990 jetzt auch nicht die allerersten...c

Альбом скорее понравился, особенно учитывая не любовь к хип-хапу.

Rating: 4stars

Finding their feet, some bangers but a lot that doesn't stand out. Around 8

90's hip hop

142/1089 got this pretty quickly after the other ATCQ album on here and it’s also pretty good! I think it took longer for me to get into and might need more listens than the last one for me to properly appreciate it but i liked it a lot, it was a good listen faves: Go Ahead In the Rain, Description of a Fool, Can I Kick It?, Bonita Applebum, Public Enemy 75/100

Excellent - ham and eggs

Really waffled but I think it's too important for 3 stars so it barely slides into 4

Onpas letkeän mukavaa meininkiä ja oikein positiivinen yllätys. Taustat ihan todella hyvän kuuloisia ja päälle puhuttu verbaliikka toimii myös

Tästähän löytyy viittauksia myöhempiin pop-biiseihin ihan rutosti. Robbie Williams ainakin kuunnellut tätä. I left my wallet in El Segundo löytyy Me and my Monkeyltä, ja Can I Kick It Rock DJ:ltä. Bonita Applebumin pikku riffi taas on Fugeesin myöhemmin lainaama. Oon aikaisemminkin kuunnellut tätä, kun Yrtsin meiningit joskus johdatti Can I Kick Itiin, mutta koskaan en oo aikaisemmin näin ajatuksella kuunnellut. Tykkään kyllä hemmetin paljon. Mukavan letkeetä meininkiä, ja tosiaan lainattu on vaikka mistä, mutta sitten myös laitettu hyvä kiertämään lainaamalla muille. Ihan parhaita hipetihoplevyjä mitä on koskaan tullut vastaan.

8/10

Great grooves and rhythm

Another great ATCQ album. I was familiar with the singles (Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick It, Luck of Lucien) but the entire project was thoroughly enjoyable. This is one of those albums that you can listen to over and over again - with memorable samples, hooks, and the rapping that flows between each member. Enjoyed "Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts)", "Footprints", "Push it along" and have a soft spot for "Ham N Eggs".

This album is such a vibe. My college roommate put me onto Tribe and while they aren't my favorite group, they're undeniably hugely influential. The production and sampling on this record are insane.

7/10 Intelligent, interesting hip hop. Proper lyrics about proper things with no F/N bombs falling all over the place. Misogyny rates low too.

Impressive debut album! Chilled grooves and clever lyrics, definitely the lighter, more humorous side of hiphop with some great storytelling. Can I Kick It is obviously one of the all time bangers but I also particularly enjoyed Luck of Lucien, I Left My Wallet, Youthful Expression and the cheeky Bonita Applebum

I only knew the big songs, but the full album showed me so much more—ideas are fresh, Left My Wallet in El Segundo is cool, and the whole thing flows with an ease that made me appreciate how confident Tribe already were on their debut.

Dope

I mean es A Tribe Called Quest, poco más se puede pedir. Prefiero el segundo y el tercer disco (y puede que también el último), pero compararlo con esos es poner el listón demasiado alto para cualquiera. Sigue siendo un discazo, súper divertido, con sample de Lou Reed y todo, que marca el origen de uno de los mejores grupos de hip hop de la historia, y que con el rollo Native Tongues abrieron una corriente de las más guays de la historia del género. Clásico indiscutible.

Two of my favorite artists back to back and boy these records could not be more different. This one is the Tribe’s first and it has the blueprint but the tracks are not quite there yet. For me, they peaked with the next record, which I’ll also get to review here at some point. In 1990, mainstream hip hop was already moving towards gangsta as the dominant form, two years post Straight Outta Compton and months before The Chronic would turn the genre on its head. Then there is the alternative lane, first cut by De La Soul and soon after perfected by Tribe. As I said, this is a great first record but very much a first record. Close but not quite there. That said, Can I Kick It is in the running for greatest hip hop track of all time. Perfect sample perfectly used (Walk on the Wild Side) and some killer verses from both Q and Phife. There are several other great tracks here as well, but Can I Kick It is perfection

Can I kick it?

I forgot Can I Kick It was on here, I thought it was a later album. 4

Classic hip hop. Iconic album that begins the 90s hip hop era

Wow That one hits hard. Such a good album. Can't believe it's 35 years old. The production is so fresh, intelligent and sophisticated but fun as at can be. The rapping is fabulous. Witty and playful. This is how it's done. I don't have a in depth review on every song because I listened to it all the way through I'll say that I love their sophomore album deeply (I guess It's will show up at some point) and this listen just made me admire Tribe even more. It's such a great start to an incredible career that I can't wait to dive into in It's entirety. It's a beautiful, bangery 4.6.

One for the “drinks and chillin’ with some friends” playlist

Can they kick it? Yes. They can.

Hyvä hiphop levy. Biitit monipuolisia, osa kappaleista chillejä kun toiset intensiivisempia. Tasapaksun hyvää koko levy. Lopun remixit oli myös hyviä. Parhaat: Can I Kick It, Push It Along, Youthful Expression

Love Tribe. Some dated beats and bars so giving a 4

Quite an interesting Album. It's aged well, still sounds fresh 30 years down the line. It's slightly of its time, but like all good albums, has largely stood up well.

Just love Tribe so much. Not their best album (midnight marauders) but still a belter.

Not my favorite ATCQ album but its still has great lyrical preformance and songs 8/10

Måste säga att flow:et är liiiite enformigt ibland - men vad gör det egentligen när musiken som helhet är så härlig?

När hiphop låter såhär så är jag glad. Medryckiga grooves, snygga melodier o bra arr!

Mysig 80-tal

Love how chill this album is, which feels embodied in the well-loved single Can I Kick It?, which is still a great track. I also really dug the fun weirdness of Ham 'N' Eggs.

While this rapping style is antiquated now, even compared to Tribe's later releases, this is a milestone in hip-hop that is still fresh and enjoyable. The production feels like you're hanging out with the Tribe and friends at the studio, complete with corny segues that introduce the title of the next song. The beats still bump and the flow is on point even if the rhymes are simple. Does "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo" make any narrative sense? Not really. But the hook and beat are so catchy, I find myself riffing on it after it comes on. "Can I Kick It?" will always be a classic. There's a youthful naivety that's infectious. This album shows hip-hop when it was still green. Some of the sampling is a bit annoying. (I *get* why a baby is crying in the intro, but I don't want to listen to a baby crying.) Nonetheless, it's an influential album that's actually still a fun listen. 3.5, but I'll round up to 4 for historical importance.

This is hip-hop at its coolest and most laid back. You can feel the vibe of just hanging out with your buddies and creating something fun and engaging. A Tribe Called Quest sits in an era right after arena hip-hop from Run-DMC and right before gangsta rap from Tupac and Biggie. Where these artists get big and boisterous, Tribe stay mellow and refined. Q-Tip dances on a fine line of profound consciousness and outright silliness. It's like giving a deep philosophical lecture while half cracking a smile. Production is grooving along with perfectly interlaced samples. From Lou Reed to the Beatles, Tribe takes apart songs to their bare bones and makes them even better in their own way. With legends like that, it's a brave thing to even try, let alone succeed at. The total package of lyrics and beats brings along a new level of hip-hop not previously explored. You can very easily see its influence up to today and most certainly beyond. 4.5 Stars