People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

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

8/10

This was an excellent listen. Never been a Tribe Called Quest fan, but there’s no doubt that they are really talented. Right from the jump I was hooked into this album. Really great album.

I love pretty much everything by A Tribe Called Quest, and this is also a great one. One star less for not being The Low End Theory or Midnight Marauders.

This album lowered my cholesterol

Pretty good

obv its good its tribe

Awesome, laid back, and just a lot of fun.

It’s getting 4.5 instead of 5 because I like when there’s more interplay between Q-Tip and Phife, and that really only happens on a few tracks here. But man, still, the vibes are IMMACULATE. The samples SO GOOD. The second Q-Tip came in on the first song I just had a big grin on my face because it’s just always so smooth. “Can I Kick It?” is one of the greatest songs of all time!

Me when I leave my wallet in el segundo

This is my kind of hip hop. Laid back, innovative production, great lyrics. Standouts are Bonita Applebum and Can I Kick It.

Honestly enjoying this album more than Low End Theory. LET has its tracks that I love a lot (Excursions and Jazz We Got), but that album does slightly escape me. The rapping can be that old school staccato style that comes off as dated for me, and some of the instrumentals just aren't my thing. However, despite being their debut, I think the rapping is just, in general, smoother on People's Instinctive Travels and across the board I'm enjoying the instrumentals, with them being less stripped down and minimalist. Footprints and After Hours being my standouts. Great record, and kinda annoyed I never listened to any other Tribe album because I just couldn't get into Low End Theory and figured that since that was considered their best, everything else wouldn't be my style.

Kids wondered what the hell it was

Vibes: 5 Instruments: 5 Production: 5 Emotional Value: 3 Storytelling/Lyrics: 4 Stand Outs: Luck of Lucien, Can I Kick It? Overall Rating: 4.4

The flow is a bit outdated but good production and fun to listen to

Another Tribe home run hit.

A really interesting sonic pallette and a delightful blend of sounds/samples. The vibes are correct and I expect to revisit.

So influential, so skillful

A Tribe Called Quest is quickly becoming my favourite rap artist.

Álbum bom, a batida é simples o que faz com que você fique preso apenas na letra, muito parecida com os raps de antigamente

This was a fun one I learned about Tribe Called Quest from my brother..who is a HipHop enthusiast.. and I loved it The Album was good..but at times some songs felt very "Samey".. as in felt very similar ! Some songs stood out from the rest But overall it's a decent album, nothing else to note.

Chunky beats, playful samples and smooth laid-back grooves. This is fun rap/hip-hop. Good vibes all round. Refreshing - especially after the murky and aggressive gangsta rap of Biggie Smalls which I listened to the other day.

Really enjoyed this! Found myself bopping along!

Jazz rap med fokus på at være i opposition til "agressions rap" præget af politik, vold og de mørke sider af miljøet. Det er varmt og snakker om hverdagsting, kærlighed og opløftende emner. Det er funky, groovy og jazzet. Kan generelt bare godt lide groovy og jazzet rap. Det har sådan en varm fornemmelse over sig, som passer rigtig godt til bare at chille og lave ting i sit eget tempo. Det får mig sgu bare til at slappe lidt af i hovedet og det fungerer rigtig godt som baggrundslyd for mig. Men det gør det også svært for mig at differentiere tracks, fordi jeg altid ender med bare at ramme sådan et flowstate hvor det kører lidt i baggrunden. Om det så er fordi jeg driver væk i mine egne tanker, eller jeg sidder og arbejder med noget andet. Men kan rigtig godt lide mange af tracksne og de lyder bare lidt sjove og kærlige. så jeg ligger nok omkring 3-4 hvor jeg bare er tilbøjelig til at give det en 4'er i stedet.

Can I kick It? is obviously a banger, but the rest of this album is such easy listening, great beats, good use of samples. 4 Stars.

groove hip hop mf doom

Patience is rewarded by the outros of several tracks lining us up for what’s next - the true benefit of listening as an album in order from start to finish. Hilarity of Ham n Eggs! Sample of a frog being scratched. Brilliant bass lines. Rap lyrics I can understand relate to. Sing a long able chorus. A thorough joy to listen to.

Hey this is cool and all, and then- there’s a frog solo. A FROG SOLO. Instant- FOUR STARS

uffff

I'd heard a few of the singles, but never listened to the actual album. Loved it. 👍 After Hours, Left My Wallet in El Segundo, Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick It?

Ganz unerwartet sehr geiles hip hop album sehr geile samples drin kann man gut hören Best song: Can I Kick it Rating: 4,0

This lands somewhere between 4-4.5, I like this album from before so not a first listen. "Can I Kick It?" might be the best song ever written

Hip hop without guns, violence, and misogyny.... It is possible! Enjoyed this, it isn't as good as "the low end theory" but it's still very good. Can I kick it obviously pretty iconic. I enjoyed han n eggs too. Nowt wrong with rapping about going to your grans and being cooked ham n eggs

Fav: After Hours, I Left My Wallet…, Can I Kick It, Go Ahead in the Rain

Not so much into hiphop but enjoyed the versatility and humour of this one...

Amazing debut album from basically teenagers. Easy & fun listen, ambitious and experimental. Not everything lands for me, but enough lands that it works, and some tracks are pure fire. I'm not a huge rap fan, but I prefer positive-minded rap like De La Soul and this gave me similar vibes. Not quite making it to the 5-star sphere, as it is still somewhat sophomoric, but well deserving of a place on this list.

Liker old school hip hop.

Smooth but a bit too long

Laid back, fun, low fi. I've never listened to this before. I can hear how it has influenced subsequent artists. Very good.

Amazing

Great production, prefer The Low End Theory but this isn't far behind

This was class

I think I just really like A Tribe Called Quest, because this one was also quite good. I liked the lyrics and the grooves are good. It was well written and well produced, my only issue when compared to the low end theory is it runs a little long. If it ended ten minutes earlier it would be on par but it’s a slightly lower 4

This album really benefits from listening to it as a complete whole. Can You Kick It is obviously a huge hit, but the whole album flows well. Love the understated beats punchy vocals. Luck of Lucien was a new song to me, but I quite liked it

Fantastic album and pretty revolutionary for 1990 when this sort of eclectic sample approach to beatmaking was just starting to take off. I’d give it 4.5 stars if I could but am trying to situate this within the rest of their discography and know I have two 5 star classics to come. Honestly despite being part of the group I was surprised at how little Phife Dawg there is here and it primarily comes off as a Q-Tip project (not a bad thing by any means as his flow and production approach are just so unique). Bonita Applebum is probably my favorite song and is in the list of their all-time greats, but so many other good moments. Footprints is one I hadn’t listened to a ton but hard to wrap your head around just how different this beat was in its time and how much this style would influence 90s boom bap. Overall super super good just not quite my favorite Tribe.

A Tribe Called Quest weren't unprecedented - they weren't unlike anything you'd heard before - but they were a perfection of a certain approach not to be achieved again. That's not a dig at the formula-makers such as De La and the Jungle Bros or those who followed suit like Digable Planets or The Pharcyde. Rather, it's an acknowledgement that, unlike those other classics, Tribe is the most synonymous w/ a philosophy and a sound from which they never really deviated. Tho this is their debut, and in fact not their greatest record (but crucial), it possesses a maturity and confidence unusual for a premiere. In this sense, they were never experimental, only commanding. From Q-Tip: 'This ain't trial and error, more like tribin' era.'

Great early 90s hip hop. Pioneers. Their later stuff is more polished, but this is a good album

You always hear how good “Midnight Marauders” and “The Low End Theory” are, but “PITATPOR” always seems to be forgotten about. A much better album than it gets credit for. Has my favorite Tribe song on it.

My least favorite of every Tribe album I've heard and even then it's still fantastic.

The catalyst to hip-hop emerging in NYC in the early 90s, Tribe makes the genre main stream. This album blends story telling, Afro beats, and the ruggedness that New York is know and while making the newest and freshest sound on the market.

Old school 90s hip hop. Laid back, soulful beats. Classy and jazzy.

yes

i cant remember if i listen or no this album but i think "A tribe Called Quest was a amazing band no doubt

Love this group. This is the hip hop that sends a message, makes you think, and that you can bib your head to.

Strong 4

Great old school hip hop

Cool vibe, found myself grooving, now want to check out their other albums.

Bangers.

This album was so cool! All the samples and jazzy hip hop vibes.

Solid album start to finish

Album 8/1001 The year was 1990: Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, Margaret Thatcher resigned as PM, Goodfellas was gracing the big screen, Twin Peaks the small screen, and Italia 90 was bringing feel good vibes to the nation. And on top of all of this, the golden age of hip hop was about to become even golder with The Tribe's emergence onto the scene with this instant classic of a debut album. The 90s were off to a good start. Now, I'm not old enough to remember any of this stuff happening at the time but still, what a time to be alive! Favourite song: I Left My Wallet in El Segundo 💰 Honourable mention: Can I Kick It? ⚽️ Bonita Applebum 🍎 After Hours ⏰️ Luck of Lucien 🤞

With Tribe you know you've always got a good album; in fact did they ever release a truly bad album? Great flow, intelligent samples and hooks for days. What more do you want? Best Tracks: Luck of Lucien; I Left My Wallet in El Segundo; Can I Kick It?

You learn some classic life lessons from A Tribe Called Quest, like don't leave your wallet in El Segundo, don't eat ham and eggs cuz they're high in cholesterol, and the art of moving butts!

Groovin.

Favourites: Push It Along, Luck of Lucien, I Left My Wallet in El Segundo, Pubic Enemy, Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick It?, Mr. Muhammad, Go Ahead In the Rain

I love this 90s rap! You can tell this album has influenced so many artists. The lyrics are clever and funny. I will listen to more. Favorites: I left my wallet in el segundo, Ham N Eggs

A great listen.

Such a smooth groove and glad to get a full Tribe album to listen to. Love the outro recording on the first track and into the second. Real sense of rawness and community. Enjoyed the little samples and nods to other songs and artists. Consistently chill and easy listening. And the classic ‘Can I Kick It?’ Such great verses in that. Usually like something a little more bombastic or moving but a very good steady album for groove, background or foreground.

A banger of an album, and institution. Really showed where rap could go.

Boom bap

I really enjoyed this. Old school rap, which I imagine would be played in a cool cocktail bar now. I'm not sure if there were a lot of samples used, or these are the original songs which were then used as samples, but I liked this a lot.

hyvää kamaa

Great album

I completely expected to skip this. But the samples are sick and Q-Tip was in this group? I love me some Q-Tip. Awesome stuff. Can't wait to put it on loud. Oh, and that Lou Reed sample? Stick a fork in me.

63/1001 A Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ Really enjoyed this. It's a chilled vibe with some absolutely classic tracks. I enjoyed the embrace of jazz on the record and the flow of the vocals works really well for me.

Push It Along - Really nice beat (I suspect this will be a common theme). Cool flows to start the album. The outro intro as well was great. Luck of Lucien - Cool horns! After Hours - Excellent Sampling work Footprints - Enjoyed the sampling of Sir Duke. Great beats I Left My Wallet in El Segundo - Lyrically more interesting banter. More of this please Pubic Enemy - Wild lyrics in this Bonita Applebum - Sexxxxy Can I Kick It - Great samples again. The backing vocals are hype as hell. Yes I can! Youthful Expression - Nice and cool backing again. Rhythm (Devoted to the art of moving butts) - Despite the name and funk of the song, not so good for moving butts. Still good though. Mr. Muhammad - This is the best beat so far. Ham 'N' Eggs - Great bass groove with some whack lyrics. Outro is great still. Go Ahead In The Rain - A little faster and a little more soulful. Description of a Fool - Great closer for the album. Instrumental forward and with fresh vocals.

"People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm" is the debut album by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest. East Coast hip hop, alternative hip hop, progressive rap and jazz rap are the Wiki-listed genres. The album was self-produced and the laid production encompassed a diverse range of samples that functioned as a template for the group's unorthodox lyrics. The bandmembers learned the studio through their group collective known as Native Tongues which also included the Jungle Brothers and De La Soul. A Tribe Called Quest was Q-Tip (performer, production, mixing), Ali Shaheed Muhammad (scratching, programming), Phife Dawg (performer) and Jarobi White (performer). The album received acclaim from the critics and the hip hop community especially as a central album in alternative hip hop. Commercially, it reached #91 in the US and #54 in the UK. The album opens with "Push It Along." Water running, a baby crying, wind with chimes lead to Junior Mance drum and Grover Washington Jr. samples. The group is introduced but Q-Tip is doing most of the rapping. Things might be unraveling but you got to push it along. "Luck of Lucier" tells the story of a naive French immigrant. It's jazzy, chill and has a 70's vibe. Lucier needs to pay better attention to his dangerous surroundings. The Spanish guitar of the Young Rascals' "Sueno" opens "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo." The song also samples the Chamber Brothers' "Funky" and relays the hilarious story of an ill-fated road trip where, of course, Q-Tip loses his wallet in El Segundo. The band goes somewhat psychedelic at the start of "Bonite Appleburn." A soulful RAMP sample. A dedication and admiration to a fellow rapper Leaf's Mother. Is there a better sample than the "Walk On the Wild Side" bass sample in "Can I Kick It?" The scratching. More chill and Q-Tip just hanging out. Jazzy, chill, laid back and groovy are pervading music vibes on this album. Great use of jazz, rock, R&B and soul samples. Instead of rap bravado, we get funny stories, neighborhood warnings, hanging out and chilling, following a French immigrant and eating ham n' eggs at Grandma's. Q-Tip's rhyming is great. The lyrics are clever. It's a great album (they'd have more) as are the other Native Tongue bands' albums and always a joy to go back to.

Pretty fun, but grating after an hour.

Day 13 Really enjoyed this album, love all the little samples and callbacks - will definitely be listening more. 8/10 Highlights Can I Kick it? Youthful Expression Mr Muhammed.

I'm not kidding these guys taught me that ham and eggs are high in cholesterol like I thought they were making it up but they're not 😅

4/5

Looved the lyrics and flows. It just felt so satisfying to listen to this record. I enjoyed so much more than the previous one. 3.8 / 5

So, not too far back, I did get The Low End Theory from these guys. You know, an album usually considered one of the greatest of all time. And I’m going to be honest, I didn’t really care for it. Every track sounded almost the same and I think I remember thinking it was boring. So initially I assumed this would be worse. And yet somehow, I ended up like this one a lot better. Is that weird? Does anyone else have the same feelings? I think a lot of the tracks here feel more lively, more diverse, and more funky. It’s still suffers a bit from the length (classic hour-long hip-hop), but I didn’t really experience any of the problems here that I did in the Low End Theory. Kind of crazy. Favorite track: Description of a Fool Other hits: Can I Kick It?, Go Ahead In The Rain, Youthful Expression, Footprints, I Left My Wallet in El Segundo, Rhythm(Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts)

On today's roll of 1001 albums to listen to before I die, I got an album I had already heard before but instead of just copying and pasting my already existing review, I thought it would be much more fitting to give this a much deserved relisten. While my original score and review are not really all that crazy or mean towards the album, it really doesn't do this legendary group justice in describing their stellar debut of Jazz Rap legends. While this album may not have the strongest lyrics in the world, I do have to say that this is easily some of their simplest and most accessible production, hence why it is so accessible to all. I genuinely don't get how people can hear something like this and say they don't like Rap, it feels like an afterthought compared to all the soulful Jazz elements scattered all throughout this album. People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm may not be Tribe's magnum opus by any means, but man is this project a tight debut that really shows off who this group is and what they are about.

Classic rap album. I’ve heard several of these tracks previously but never all in one listen. Very enjoyable experience, I’m sure I’ll listen to this album again when I’m in the mood for some old school hip hop.

Vibey

Sorprendido agradablemente

really enjoyed this one. made up for queen latifah being hot garbage

I have such weird feelings on this album. On the one hand, I really enjoyed listening to it - I had a good time, and I thought every song was at least worth the time to listen to it. On the other hand, I couldn't help but wish it had been more than it was. This record is a foundational hip-hop album, featuring some of the earliest forays into experimental and alternative sounds that would shape the genre to this day. A Tribe Called Quest are genuine legends, and their lyricism pushed the boundaries of early hip-hop in so many ways. It's very interesting to hear this album, however, because I personally can't help but notice all the ways this formula has been iterated and improved upon since then. This is probably a super younghead take (and I'm okay with that), but there is just a very dated sound to the rapping on this record. It comes and goes in places (with some songs sounding more modern), but there is a real feeling that the cadence and flow of rap is being discovered in real time here. It must have been mind-blowing at the time, but in retrospect it just feels like Quest is trying to justify and explain their sound more than just telling a story from within it. Several tracks spend entire verses discussing how to rap and how to listen to rap, which is honestly just weird in 2025. I don't know that it's necessarily fair to judge this record by the standard of 2025 rapping, but it did impact my enjoyment. One arena which has not aged a day, however, is the production. This album is full of varied beats, incredible samples, and awesome production throughout. Even now, 35 years later, the sound of the album is still so fresh and clean - you could rap over these beats today, and no one would find it out of place or odd. A lot of the time, I found myself just enjoying the sample work and beats, and tuning out of the vocal work. None of my criticisms of the vocals or lyrics are intended as criticisms of Quest as writers or rappers - this group practically invented a big part of modern hip hop sound, and I'm not blind to that. But you can tell that even they are still figuring rap out, which hurts your enjoyment when listening to the record in the modern day. This is such a historically significant record, but at the same time I just can't see myself returning to it often.

alternative hip-hop with its unconventional production and lyricism. debut, every song different. After hours Can I kick it (lou reed sample)

I nominate A tribe Called Quest for the smoothest vibe in hip hop.

Pesquisas de mestrado e descobrindo, ou melhor, relembrando que vou ter que fazer o TOEFL de novo.

Phenomenal hip hop

So funky and groovy, their flows are immaculate I’m naming my children q-tip and jarobi, regardless of gender “No banana, I ain’t a primate!”

Maybe not as adventurous as I thought it would be, but the flow, sound, lyrics, pretty much everything was as solid as expected

I actually enjoyed this - great historical musical references, beats are fun, wordplay is strong.

Had not had a spin through this Tribe album before. Kept having to consult the whosampled. This one is rich. Can I Kick It, was just icing on the cake. Will come back to this one.

I’m interested by how ground-breaking their sound was but also how you can hear affinities with less “cool” rap of the time.

Highlight Song/s: I Left My Wallet in El Segundo, Pubic Enemy, Can I Kick It? and Youthful Expression This is a landmark album in hip-hop music. The production, the flow, intelligent lyrics and interesting wordplay. What I find kind of neat is that lots of the album seems to flow into each other, as it tends to say the name of the next song on a fair bit of the tracks; it gives it a little bit of a concept album feel to it. This is a notable lack of Phife Dawg on this album, which The Low End Theory corrects that mistake. The jazz and rap combination is pretty unique for its time. It's like as if they are paying tribute to jazz, kind of similar to gangsta rap and funk music and its combination "G-Funk."

God the beats on this album are just so eternal. Classic solid hip hop with flowing lyrics and top tier production. Absolutely deserves to be on this list. 8/10

Great rap album. A good, consistent sound the whole way through. Will listen to plenty more times.

Uno de mis favoritos, va al top

Storytelling and beats are dope

Funky as hell. If only hip hop followed this route throughout the 90s. Joyful and laid back. Songs about worrying about high cholesterol and eating enchiladas rather than any criminal activity. I’m no connoisseur of the genre but for a debut this sounds confident and assured. Enjoyed it far more than I expected it to.

First time listening to A Tribe Called Quest and I liked it. Smoothest hip hop I’ve ever heard.

Man this album is awesome

East Coast's finest.

Mostly a very good project from the Tribe. Flows are quality and beats are fantastic. Only place it lacks could be hooks and lyrics being a bit nonsensical much of the time. But still a pretty cool record to chillax to! 7/10

Fun and interesting songs, with some really catchy beats. One of my favourite hip hop albums on the list.

funky. great stuff

Good earworms. Can’t say how it fits with the ATCQ discography but I would give it future listens

Fun one - feels ahead of its time in a lot of ways. Clean lyrical delivery (clean as in 'clear', definitely not clean as in 'suitable for a bar mitzvah) and great sample flips (never realized Can I Kick It is repurposing Lou Reed!).

It’s obvious how influential this group is. This was a great listen.

The '90s rap album your parents might like. Hooky and fun hip-hop that sounds like it was made by extremely talented dorks.

Overall: 8/10 This feels like it must have been a big game changer in 1990. The beats feel more sophisticated than most rap that was being released at the time and the lyrics are astounding. The only thing that's really stopping me from rating this higher is the fact that I just don't know if I want to listen to it all the time compared to other music I've found. The replayability seems limited but that might change over time. For now, it's a very good album that I'm glad I listened to. Fav Song: Push It Along Least Fav Song: Pubic Enemy

The Low End Theory is my favorite. This is good and clearly influential but doesn't hit as hard as TLET in my opinion. This is also the first hip hop album for me on the list!

Quite good

Love this. But would have picked one of their other albums. 4*

I think for the time especially, the samples were great, unique additions. I like the chill vibe for hip hop.

This was pretty cool and transported me to a good place.

I dig! Particularly fond of Ham 'N' Eggs.

Очень хороший альбом, прям от него веет тёплом и радостью, глоток свежего воздуха после радиохед, только один минус у альбома, это его длина, вырезать бы пару треков, либо укоротить их, хотя ничего прям не выбивалось во время прослушивания, все примерно равно заходило, есть конечно вообще шедевры типо push it along или can I cick it?, но так же есть и послабее треки типа public enemy. В итоге альбом прослушал не зря, думаю буду к нему возвращаться через какое то время. По поводу смыслов этот альбом повествует типичную жизнь обычных людей, также этот альбом является исключением в хип хопе, так как в нем нет ни единого мата, что не характерно для обычного рэпа. Если вы любите хип хоп, и нормально относитесь к джазу, то вы обязаны прослушать этот альбом, это шедевр в джаз-рэпе.

This style of hip hop, the kind that just sounds like a group of people hanging out and jamming, is right in my wheelhouse. Which is interesting because I am NOT a fan of that sort of rock music. Go figure.

Nice.

Great beats and silky instrumentals throughout. Lyrics are absolutely wild. New fan.

Nice vibe. Nostalgic.

The album that taught me the term “Jimmy Hat”! Some stone cold classics and some not so hot tracks. But Ham n Eggs is definitely a SCC and you can’t convince me otherwise! Also maybe my brain is just fricked but did they remix the beat in Mr Muhammad for the 25th anniversary rerelease? I remember the samples not syncing up well at the start of the song in the OG version but they sound a lot better now. Am I crazy? The “ba di ya” and the wump wump always sounded off beat to me but now they don’t. Q Tip PLEASE! Email me personally and let me know because it’s driving me mad

Smooth and funky. Loved the sampling on this. I can absolutely see why this is a landmark album in hip hop, and I totally got lost in the album. Such an enjoyable listen.

Score 7.5/10 | Favorite Song: Description of a Fool A Tribe Called Quest’s debut album feels like flipping through a photo album of everyday life, except every photo talks back to you with smooth beats and clever rhymes. At 7.5 out of 10, this one lands in that sweet spot where you can hear the group’s raw creativity bubbling, even if it has not fully matured yet. Q-Tip’s laid-back voice is front and center, delivering stories about food, love, and street smarts with an almost casual ease, like he is chatting with you on a stoop somewhere in Queens. The jazzy samples and playful production give it a warm, homegrown vibe, but not every track hits the same. Some feel more like sketches than fully painted portraits, and the flow of the album can wander a bit too far into experimentation. Still, Description of a Fool stands out big time. It has a hypnotic bassline and a sharp message about toxic masculinity that feels ahead of its time. You can already hear the DNA of Tribe’s future greatness in moments like that, where groove meets wisdom. This is not the Tribe masterpiece just yet, but it is an important first step on a journey that would eventually reshape hip-hop. A solid and soulful introduction to one of the genre’s most thoughtful and unique groups.

molt top, exotisme a un altre nivell, l'he escoltat mentres feia tdr i molt guai, les ases dde altres cançons molt xulees

This album is so strong throughout, I love the sample choices, the beats are great I constantly found my head bobbing the energy is so good throughout. I'm not great at critiquing lyrics or even catching them as I go, but when I did they were solid and even if not paying attention it still sounded great. It's slightly weaker at the end but still remains pretty good. Push It Along - not in love with the opening baby, drums are decent, Q-Tip spittin. The chorus is decent, kind of low-key. I really like this, I like the switch up towards the end of the track - he's pretty much just talking but still sounds pretty good, it definitely drags on a bit though. Luck of Lucien - when I first went onto this album this song came on and I immediately went to my web browser to see if I had a Beatles song playing. Then the beat came in, these guys sampled them, super cool. Got me bobbing my head, this is very good. Lucien's parts are nice. After Hours - man they just keep coming in strong, the turntable scratching sounds are good here. This guy makes it sound effortless, so good. Fire. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole song, the sample is so good, catchy track. Footprints - drums are nice, and I like the sample and the horns coming in after it, I think in some ways this is a weaker track but again I still liked it and I love the ending so much. I Left My Wallet in El Segundo - this is good and gets kind of catchy too, but I'm surprised its more popular than some of the previous songs. It's a good performance and I like the personality to it. Pubic Enemy - good beat. I initially read this as public enemy, I was so confused Bonita Applebum - recognise the sample from Lauryn Hill, cool. A slower more relaxed song, I'm vibing with it. Good drums. Can I Kick It? - Kanye kind of sampled the same thing recently (and I just found out David Bowie helped produced the song its from, wow), I really like it. Youthful Expression - I'm into it Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts) - good sample and drums. Whilst the last track was good I was worried my enjoyment would drop off - due to being tired of it but also noticing the streams are weaker on the second half, but this is still really strong. Mr.Muhammad - Ham 'N' Eggs - immediately makes me think of MM.. FOOD. Tracks about food are just destined to be good I guess. The energy at the end is so damn good. Go Ahead In the Rain - they got a Jimi Hendrix sample in here too, what. I mean whilst that was cool I do think this is one of the weaker, maybe weakest so far. Still not bad. Description of a Fool - fun track, I like the responses from the guy, and the stories are well told. I wish the instrumental wasn't so long but now that I realise the rest of the tracks I'm seeing are remixes (so this is the end) it makes more sense, still makes the song way weaker though. Best - Luck of Lucien, After Hours, Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick It, Ham 'N' Eggs Worst - Go Ahead In the Rain

Great vibes

I like their other albums more

Very delightful! Gets a little too repetitive for me after awhile.

Influential album, famous samples like Killing Me Softly (in Bonita Applebum) and Walk on the Wild Side (in Can I Kick It); definitely feels like the 90s

Just feels like the 90s. Really loved the beats and I could listen to this all day. Not to mention the samples that I think a lot of people would recognize.

An easy to like album Lots of good hooks and samples and lyrics Enjoyed this one

classic rap as well. Really liked this one. Well enunciated too. Kinda funk so it's fun 1. I Left My Wallet in El Segundo 2. Can I Kick It ? 3. Luck of Lucien

Back to the 90s when times were a lot less.… crap and I liked this one. Took me back to the clubbing days.

Very nice

Not to pat myself on the back too much, but this is an album that I really wouldn't have enjoyed at the start of working through this list. The first time A Tribe Called Quest came up (The Low End Theory) on my listen was within the first 20 albums, and now over 400 albums ago. I did my best to recognize how quality it was, but I would say I didn't really personally enjoy it. I'm genuinely enjoying listening to this today. My biggest worry when an album relies heavily on loops is that they get overused and tired by the end of each song, but here they're used, for lack of a better word, very tastefully. The album does have a small problem of some of the songs feeling same-ish, though. I think some people would say that isn't a problem, but I have a hard time staying engaged through the entire album because of it. A really fun album. Well written, well designed, well produced. Favorite Song(s): Luck of Lucian, Can I Kick It?

4.5 Go ahead in the rain.

Very good

Great album that you can tell was the impetus for a lot of modern rap. The sampling is just so much more modern, and the lyrics and flow are starting to go to the next level of what rap and hip hop would become.

Didn't expect any less from Tribe. Some of the absolute GOATs of Hip Hop, with the production here being particularly smooth (as is expected). I find it so fascinating how the group are able to create such slightly different albums within the same sonic backdrop each time. Super cool. Love them so much. 8/10

3rd best tribe

Fave tracks: I Left My Wallet In El Segundo, Can I Kick It?, Youthful Expression, Mr. Muhammad

It’s not quite to the level of their follow ups ‘The Low End Theory’ and ‘Midnight Marauders’, but ‘People’s Instinctive Travels…’ is still great. For any other group something like this would be their magnum opus. For the Tribe this was the first in a consistently excellent series of albums that they would release. Sure, it’s probably a bit too long, and it loses a bit steam towards the end, plus they could’ve made the interludes shorter or cut them out completely, but this doesn’t detract greatly from what’s still a fine record overall, debut or otherwise.

Can I Kick It?

I love this group and this album, though I don’t think it’s as strong as their subsequent albums. It’s a really solid debut with some classic jams, but there is a little unevenness in the overall work. I really want to give it a 5; it’s damn close, but not quite.

Just a really fun album. I've been vaguely aware of ATCQ for ages but never really got into them beyond a few songs, and for some reason I always had them filed in my mind as like a "conscious rap" group, which is a genre I mostly find unbearable. Really pleased to see that this wasn't the case. Unsurprising, I suppose, but the highlights for me were the instrumentals, lots of which were really interesting and fun (some of them just made me grin) and which hold up really well. The lyrics did less for me than I imagine they might've done for other people - not sure why, perhaps because I was focusing so heavily on instrumentals and flows that I didn't feel the urge to unpack the texts as much. I do like the fact that they manage to be quite lighthearted while still broaching serious subjects, while some of the songs (ham n eggs) are just so stupid that they're pretty hilarious. Biggest criticism is the fact that some of the songs have that "hippity hop" old school rap thing going on that I just can't help finding extremely corny despite knowing that it's a product of its time. That threw me a little bit on some songs and definitely impacts replayability. But there's no arguing on the merits with this one, clearly a great album. Fav songs: after hours ham and eggs can i kick it youthful expression Least fav songs: I left my wallet in El Segundo

I thoroughly enjoyed this surprisingly but too long

It is just a vibe, my favorite rap group of all time with amazing jazz samples.

Tribe doing Tribe things, good beats, fun raps, just a joy to listen to.

I feel deeply conflicted about being another old white man who wishes this strain of hip-hop had outcompeted the the gangster version, but there it is.

Always interesting to listen to old school hip hop and hear samples that have been used and reused recently. Paying respect to the OGs!

Something I never would have picked and I thought it was fabulous

I left my wallet in El Segundo!!

The sonic collage of this album was a fun ride - made me realize how much I miss good sampling. They were able to capture the sense of hanging out with a group of friends swapping stories and observations of life. Not a small feat. Also appreciated the overall sense of claiming who you are without pretense or posing.

Really enjoyed this. Loved the use of samples, the wittiness of the raps, and the overall positivity of it.

This album is funky as hell.

So smooth and I've never heard the album, only Can I Kick It which is a great track but the rest is fantastic. Sort of what I wanted Arrested Development to be. This hits a 4.5 for me and might go up eventually, but going for:

The first 1001 albums that I listened to was a tribe called quest album. I liked that one but I loveeeee this one. Super cool, suave, I’m tapping my foot the whole way through. Yeahhhh I can see how these fellas would do well after this debut album

intersting start - the child crying is distressing. i like the wind chime/water sound; and the airy otherworldly clock and whooshy sounds... prooving to be pleasant to listen to. not my usual style, but i like the grooviness & the general relaxed mood.

Very good,

Good rhymes, full of funk

Boy does this one take me back. Dig this group and this album, just a shame it's been relegated to the shelf for so long in the forgotten pile of music of my past. Great funk, clever lyrics, no complaints here

That was enjoyable

I know the big singles off of this. I'm pretty sure I listened to it in high school. Q-tip has one of those voices that grates on me. I think my perception of this is way skewed by Can I Kick It? The production sounds way less dated than i expected. The last two songs sound like they could have been made today. Theres less Jazz Rap than I expected. It's not Digable Planets. Some of the raps sound dated on a couple tracks never heard/noticed Luck of Lucien before. That's a highlight. Also liked Go Ahead In the Rain and Description of a Fool. Low 4

Not my favorite Tribe album but boy is this slick.

Really enjoyable alternative hip-hop. It has it’s flaws but it’s a fun time throughout the album.

There's something always endearing about listening to earlier projects of artists. In fact, sometimes I like it even more than their most acclaimed album (like Section 80 w/ Kendrick). That is not the case here, so the 5 star rating will be reserved for the other Tribe Called Quest album.

Muy rap old school, con elementos de funk, me recuerda algo de triphop, un par de canciones estan muy bien, pero no me enganchó por mucho tiempo