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A Tribe Called Quest

Biography

A Tribe Called Quest emerged from St. Albans, Queens, New York, in 1985, founded by childhood friends Q-Tip (Kamaal Ibn John Fareed), Phife Dawg (Malik Taylor), Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Jarobi White[5][6]. The group quickly distinguished itself in the late 1980s and early 1990s by blending jazz, funk, and Afrocentric themes into their music, pioneering the jazz-rap subgenre and helping to define alternative hip hop[4][6]. Their debut album, 'People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm' (1990), introduced their innovative sound, but it was their sophomore effort, 'The Low End Theory' (1991), that cemented their legacy, seamlessly fusing jazz basslines with hip-hop beats and socially conscious, witty lyrics[4][5]. Over the next few years, they released 'Midnight Marauders' (1993), further solidifying their status as one of hip-hop’s most influential acts. The group disbanded in 1998 but reunited in 2006 for touring and again in 2015, leading to their final album, 'We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service' (2016), completed after Phife Dawg’s death[5][6]. A Tribe Called Quest’s legacy lies in their musical innovation, lyrical depth, and enduring influence on generations of artists, remaining a cornerstone of hip-hop culture[1][6].

Fun Facts

  • The group’s name was suggested by the Jungle Brothers, another influential hip-hop group; initially, they were just called 'Quest,' but 'A Tribe Called' was added for uniqueness[6].
  • Phife Dawg, who had diabetes, referred to himself as 'the funky diabetic' in the song 'Oh My God' and continued to perform despite his health challenges until his death in 2016[6].
  • Q-Tip was one of the first rappers to embrace digital production methods, notably using the SP-1200 sampler to revolutionize beat-making in hip-hop[6].
  • A 2011 documentary, 'Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest,' directed by Michael Rapaport, chronicled the group’s history and internal conflicts, receiving critical acclaim[6].

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

  • Jungle Brothers - Early collaborators and part of the Native Tongues collective, who suggested the group’s name and shared a mutual creative exchange (Native Tongues collective projects) [Late 1980s–1990s]
  • De La Soul - Fellow Native Tongues members and peers who influenced and were influenced by A Tribe Called Quest’s style (Native Tongues collective projects) [Late 1980s–1990s]

Key Collaborators

  • Q-Tip - Rapper, main producer, and founding member (All A Tribe Called Quest albums) [1985–1998, 2006, 2015–2016]
  • Phife Dawg - Rapper and founding member (All A Tribe Called Quest albums) [1985–1998, 2006, 2015–2016]
  • Ali Shaheed Muhammad - DJ, co-producer, and founding member (All A Tribe Called Quest albums) [1985–1998, 2006, 2015–2016]
  • Jarobi White - Rapper and founding member (left after first album, returned for final album) (People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service) [1985–1991, 2015–2016]
  • Busta Rhymes - Frequent collaborator and close associate, featured on several tracks (Midnight Marauders, We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service) [1990s, 2016]

Artists Influenced

  • The Roots - Cited A Tribe Called Quest as a major influence in blending live instrumentation and jazz with hip-hop (Early albums like 'Do You Want More?!!!??!') [1990s–present]
  • OutKast - Admired their genre-blending and lyrical creativity (Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, ATLiens) [1990s–2000s]
  • Kendrick Lamar - Acknowledged their influence on his socially conscious lyricism and jazz-infused production (To Pimp a Butterfly) [2010s–present]
  • J. Cole - Cited their storytelling and musical innovation as formative (2014 Forest Hills Drive) [2010s–present]

Connection Network

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Discography

Albums

Title Release Date Type
The Low End Theory 1991-09-24 Album
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (25th Anniversary Edition) 1990-04-17 Album
Midnight Marauders 1993-11-09 Album
Beats, Rhymes & Life 1996-07-30 Album
The Love Movement 1998-09-29 Album
We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service 2016-11-11 Album
Boomerang 1992-06-30 Album
Scenario (Remixes) 1991-09-22 Album
Nova 40 ans de Grand Mix 2023-11-24 Album
We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service 2016-11-11 Album
Music from Porcelain 2016-07-15 Album

Top Tracks

  1. Can I Kick It? (People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (25th Anniversary Edition))
  2. Electric Relaxation
  3. Check the Rhime (The Low End Theory)
  4. Jazz (We've Got) (The Low End Theory)
  5. The Hop (Beats, Rhymes & Life)
  6. Award Tour (feat. Trugoy The Dove) (Midnight Marauders)
  7. Find a Way (The Love Movement)
  8. Buggin' Out (The Low End Theory)
  9. Excursions (The Low End Theory)
  10. Scenario (feat. Busta Rhymes, Dinco D & Charlie Brown) - LP Mix (The Low End Theory)

Tags: #alternative-hip-hop, #alternative-rap, #boom-bap

Heard on WWOZ

A Tribe Called Quest has been played 5 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.

DateTimeTitleShowSpotify
Jan 6, 202600:07Find a Wayfrom The Love MovementAdjacentw/ Benny Poppins
Nov 4, 202507:384 Momsfrom The Love MovementThe Morning Setw/ Fox Duhon or Mark LaMaire
Oct 13, 202522:43Find a WayKitchen Sinkw/ Derrick Freeman
Oct 6, 202522:40God Lives ThroughKitchen Sinkw/ Derrick Freeman
Sep 22, 202522:56Check the RhimeKitchen Sinkw/ Derrick Freeman