the low end theory

A Tribe Called Quest took hip hop back to its jazz roots with pensive loops built around heavy rhythms. When most of rap was focused on violence and an aggressive sound, Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad focused on a more positive and laid-back vibe. Phife says, “a lot of people will scare you into believing certain things or liking their material, but it was never like that with us. We just spoke on how we felt at the moment and it was the truth. We were one of those groups that didn’t have a problem admitting that we cried in front of our mothers.” They produced the album alongside Pete Rock and Skeff Anselm, using live drums and upright bass to get a realistic jazz sound. Q-Tip recalls, “I just felt like a conduit… like I wasn’t even conscious...It was just like energy that we didn’t even plan on, we just got in and it was almost just like how a band jams.” The downbeat Afro-centric intelligence of 'The Low End Theory' was a game changer for hip hop, selling platinum and influencing a whole generation. 







http://atribecalledquest.com/








'Excursions' sets the scene with samples from 'Time' by The Last Poets, 'Tribute to Obabi' by The Last Poets, 'The Soil I Tilled for You' by Shades of Brown, and 'A Chant for Bu' by Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers.

“Back in the days when I was a teenager
Before I had status and before I had a pager
We could find the Abstract, listening to hip hop
My pops used to say it reminded me of bebop
I said, ‘Well daddy, don’t you know that things go in cycles?
The way that Bobby Brown is just ampin like Michael
It’s all expected, things are for the lookin’
If you got the money, Quest is for the bookin’”







'Check the Rhyme' was the first single and debuted the vocal interplay between Q-Tip and Phife. It made it to number one on the Hot Rap Singles chart. It samples 'Fly Like an Eagle' by Steve Miller Band, 'Love Your Life' by Average White Band, 'Hydra' by Grover Washington, Jr., and 'Baby, This Love I Have' by Minnie Riperton.

"You on point Phife?
All the time, Tip."









This black-and-white video for 'Jazz (We've Got)' segues into a bit of 'Buggin' Out in full color. The single for 'Jazz' peaked at number sixteen on the Hot Rap Singles chart. It samples 'Don't Change Your Love' by the Five Stairsteps, 'Sing a Simple Song' by Sly & the Family Stone, 'Red Clay' by Freddie Hubbard, 'Green Dolphin Street' by Lucky Thompson, and 'Long Red' by Mountain.

"So push it, along, trails, we blaze
Don't deserve the gong, don't deserve the praise
The tranquility will make ya unball your fist
For we put hip-hop on a brand new twist"








'Scenario' hit number six on the Hot Rap Singles chart. It samples 'So What' by Miles Davis, 'Blind Alley' by Emotions, 'Give It Up' by Kool & the Gang, 'Soul Vibrations' by Kool & the Gang, 'Ecstasy' by Ohio Players, 'Oblighetto' by Jack McDuff, and 'Little Miss Lover' by the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

"It’s a Leader Quest mission and we got the goods here
Never on the left cause my right's my good ear
I could give a damn about a ill subliminal
Stay away from crime so I ain't no criminal
I love my young nation, groovy sensation
No time for hibernation, only elation"







 'The Low End Theory' 
full album:


All songs produced by A Tribe Called Quest, except tracks 6 and 10 produced by Skeff Anselm


1. "Excursions"   Jonathan Davis 3:55
2. "Buggin' Out"   Davis, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Malik Taylor 3:37
3. "Rap Promoter"   Davis, Muhammad 2:13
4. "Butter"   Davis, Muhammad, Taylor 3:39
5. "Verses from the Abstract" (featuring Vinia Mojica and Ron Carter on double bass) Davis 3:59
6. "Show Business" (featuring Diamond D, Lord Jamar and Sadat X) Skeff Anselm, Davis, Lorenzo Dechalus, Joseph Kirkland, Muhammad, Derrick Murphy, Taylor 3:53
7. "Vibes and Stuff"   Davis, Taylor 4:18
8. "The Infamous Date Rape"   Davis, Muhammad, Taylor 2:54
9. "Check the Rhime"   Davis, Muhammad, Taylor 3:37
10. "Everything Is Fair"   Anselm, Davis, Muhammad, Taylor 2:58
11. "Jazz (We've Got)"   Davis, Muhammad, Taylor 4:10
12. "Skypager"   Davis, Muhammad, Taylor 2:12
13. "What?"   Davis 2:29
14. "Scenario" (featuring Leaders of the New School) Davis, Bryan Higgins, James Jackson, Muhammad, Trevor Smith, Taylor 4:10