In this reoccurring feature, I break down the discography of some of my favourite artists and recommend where to start with their music.
A Tribe Called Quest have, and always will be, my favourite hip hop act. From their smooth jazz-sampled production to the entertaining back-and-forth between primary members Q-Tip and Phife Dawg, these New Yorkers are synonymous with the expressive spirit of hip-hop in the nineties. Following the release of their final album in wake of Phife Dawg’s passing, there is no better time to review this seminal discography.
First Listen: Ten Songs to Spin
10. The Space Program – (We got it from here… Thank You 4 Your Service, 2016)
This excellent track opens Tribe’s final album with a brilliant back and forth between Q-Tip and Jairobi before giving Phife Dawg the posthumous outro verse. Hearing Phife after his death is just as eerie as it would appear, particularly when you consider the stark political climate that he and the others rap about.
9. Show Business – (The Low End Theory, 1991)
Tribe had a troublesome relationship with Jive Records throughout their career, with the label even blamed for their initial break-up. As such, this funky track from The Low End Theory sees the gang ramble about their interaction with ‘show business.’
8. Keep it Rollin’ – (Midnight Marauders, 1995)
With the renowned Large Producer’s smooth Roy Ayers-sampled production behind Phife’s superb intro verse, this track immediately gets the head nodding. Even Large Producer himself gets the final verse, where he names Nas’ dominance following their collaboration on Illmatic in 1994.
7. I Left My Wallet in El Segundo – (People’s Instinctive Travels & the Paths of Rhythm, 1990)
A Tribe Called Quest are nothing if not creative, and this isn’t demonstrated stronger than in this standout track from their debut record. Although Q-Tip stands solo, he holds his own as he details his escapades in California. Simply put, this idiosyncratic gem is a required listen in Tribe’s discography.
6. Hot Sex – (The Love Movement, 1998)
This funky tune has a somewhat confusing existence. First appearing as a single from the soundtrack of Eddie Murphy’s 1992 comedy Boomerang, the track appeared in European editions of Midnight Marauders in 1993 before being released generally in the deluxe edition of The Love Movement in 1998. Despite its sporadic release, the track is Tribe at their best: funky, wry and angry.
5. Bonita Applebum – (People’s Instinctive Travels & the Paths of Rhythm, 1990)
Many acts never make a bona-fide classic, much less from their first album alone. Nevertheless, Bonita Applebum became one of Tribe’s greatest tracks as Q-Tip once again goes solo to confess his love for what is supposedly a girl from high school
4. Conrad Tokyo – (We got it from here… Thank You 4 Your Service, 2016)
Pair a posthumous Phife Dawg ruminating about the socio-political climate of years past with a legendary feature from Kendrick Lamar dissecting the perpetuation of class hierarchy and you get what is arguably the strongest track from Tribe’s final album. Note, the distorted guitar outro is performed by none other than Jack White; as if the track couldn’t get any better!
3. Check the Rhime – (The Low End Theory, 1991)
Although the reoccurrence of a funky jazz sample behind Q-Tip and Phife Dawg trading verses sounds awfully formulaic by now, no track sounds the same albeit as excellent as Check the Rhime. The rhythmic horn sample immediately gets the track bumping before Q and Phife go back and forth on the tracks smooth bass line.
2. Jazz (We’ve Got) – (The Low End Theory, 1991)
As the title suggests, this track is the epitome of jazz rap as a glorious trumpet sample is used sparingly over the chorus. Phife is the true standout on the track, as his flow soars over a crisp snare beat. Additionally, the track’s placement as the outro for The Low End Theory is even further proof of its significance.
1. Electric Relaxation
Electric Relaxation is a masterpiece. Not only does this song encapsulate A Tribe Called Quest for me, but the spirit of hip-hop itself. The ebbs and flows of the slick production allow Q and Phife’s mesmerising lines to shine. One of Tribe’s brilliant characteristics is their unorthodox approach to the structure of verses, with one member after another dropping in and out with a few bars in between. This is exhibited in no greater song of theirs than in Electric Relaxation, as Q and Phife weave in and out of one another to develop their greatest track in a phenomenal discography.
Comprehensive Retrospect
The Low End Theory (1991)
Although it should go without saying after running through Tribe’s top ten tracks, The Low End Theory should be the first stop on any first timer’s journey into this group’s discography. After a brilliant debut record, The Low End Theory finds the crew at their best and continues to stand as a hallmark jazz-rap album.
We got it from here… Thank you for your service (2016)
This album was shrouded in hype from being Tribe’s final release alone. When you add Phife’s passing with the development of a contentious socio-political climate in recent times, it is safe to say that this album had expectations out of this world. Nonetheless, this album provided a fantastic farewell to Phife’s legacy and Tribe as a whole and is thus a required listen.
Live
A network television debut cannot be greater than this. In wake of releasing The Low Theory, Tribe took to Letterman to showcase their funky single Check the Rhime with an exceptional live band in place of sampling. To add to the greatness of this performance was the reveal years later that Phife was struggling with the severity of his diabetic condition during this very performance. It only takes one look at the clip to see no signs of such suffering- a testament to his strength and gusto on and off the stage.
One only has to observe Arsenio Hall’s unbridled excitement as he announces Tribe to predict where this performance of Scenario will go. This performance is energetic, to say the least, as each member gives it their all for what I believe is Tribe’s greatest act.
As a standout track from Tribe’s later discography, this performance of 1nce Again is a lovely reminder of how Q and Phife can nail it with a simple beat and timeless flow.