I’ll say at the outset that I’m not a fan of the “rap” subgroup of the “hip hop” genré. I’m used to the hard, nasty, curse laden words that are so harmful to women, and other marginalized groups. But wouldn’t the worst of worst rap groups like Two Live Crew, NWA, and Tupac NOT be included in the 1001 albums that you need to hear before you die? Wouldn’t these groups be considered too rude, lewd, and socially unacceptable to be considered to gain entry into this vaunted list of “The 1001 Albums that you need to listen to before you die”? But A Tribe Called Quest is a bit different from these more raucous rap groups. They appear more refined, uttering poetry rather than raw aggressive lines. This poetry is articulated clearly and defines a story. This is what makes A Tribe Called Quest stand out from the rest of the hip hop community. While the group can’t resist throwing in an explicative here and there, especially on some of the songs like “Butter,” and “Infamous Date Rape.” A Tribe Called Quest proves that not all hip hop is created equal. One must keep an open mind, and decide for oneself if this group is truly a “cut above the others.” I think it is. I give “The Low End Theory” Four out of Five stars.