Biography
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group formed in Queens, New York City, in 1985, originally composed of Q-Tip (Kamaal Fareed), Phife Dawg (Malik Taylor), Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Jarobi White[1]. The group emerged from the vibrant New York hip hop scene, with Q-Tip and Phife Dawg growing up together in the St. Albans neighborhood, bonding over a shared love for music and culture[1]. Their early demos, crafted over Q-Tip’s pause tape beats, caught the attention of the local scene, and by 1988, they had joined the Native Tongues collective, a group of like-minded artists including Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, Queen Latifah, and Monie Love, who championed Afrocentric ideals, positivity, and eclectic sampling[1][2]. A Tribe Called Quest’s debut album, People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990), was critically acclaimed for its playful lyricism and innovative fusion of jazz, funk, soul, and rock samples, setting the stage for their reputation as pioneers of alternative hip hop and jazz rap[1][2]. Their follow-up, The Low End Theory (1991), is widely regarded as a landmark in hip hop, seamlessly blending jazz instrumentation with hip hop beats and socially conscious lyrics, influencing a generation of artists and listeners[1][3]. Over their career, which included a breakup in 1998 and a reunion leading to their final album We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service (2016), A Tribe Called Quest became one of the most respected and influential groups in hip hop history, known for their musical innovation, artistic unity, and enduring legacy[1][2].
Fun Facts
- A Tribe Called Quest’s debut album was the first ever to receive a five-mic (perfect) rating in The Source magazine[1].
- The group’s name was suggested by the Jungle Brothers, who attended the same high school as Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad[1].
- Phife Dawg’s nickname 'The Five Foot Assassin' referenced his height and lyrical prowess.
- Chalmers 'Spanky' Alford, a renowned jazz guitarist, contributed to their album The Love Movement, blending live jazz instrumentation with their signature hip hop sound[6].
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Kool DJ Red Alert - First manager and early supporter (Early demos and career guidance) [Late 1980s]
- Afrika Baby Bam (Jungle Brothers) - Childhood friend and collaborator, helped integrate ATCQ into Native Tongues (Native Tongues collective, early collaborations) [Late 1980s–early 1990s]
Key Collaborators
- Q-Tip (Kamaal Fareed) - Rapper, main producer, founding member (All A Tribe Called Quest albums) [1985–2016]
- Phife Dawg (Malik Taylor) - Rapper, founding member (All A Tribe Called Quest albums) [1985–2016]
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad - DJ, co-producer, founding member (All A Tribe Called Quest albums) [1985–2016]
- Jarobi White - Rapper, founding member (left after debut, returned later) (People’s Instinctive Travels..., We Got It from Here...) [1985–1990, 2006–2016]
- Chalmers 'Spanky' Alford - Jazz guitarist featured on The Love Movement (The Love Movement (1998)) [1998]
Artists Influenced
- The Roots - Cited ATCQ’s jazz-rap fusion as a major influence (Their entire discography) [1990s–present]
- Common - Admired their conscious lyricism and eclectic production (Resurrection, Like Water for Chocolate) [1990s–present]
- Kendrick Lamar - Inspired by their socially conscious themes and musical experimentation (To Pimp a Butterfly, DAMN.) [2010s–present]
- Anderson .Paak - Credits ATCQ for blending jazz and hip hop (Malibu, Ventura) [2010s–present]
Connection Network
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
- Can I Kick It? (People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (25th Anniversary Edition))
- Electric Relaxation
- Check the Rhime (The Low End Theory)
- Jazz (We've Got) (The Low End Theory)
- The Hop (Beats, Rhymes & Life)
- Award Tour (feat. Trugoy The Dove) (Midnight Marauders)
- Find a Way (The Love Movement)
- Buggin' Out (The Low End Theory)
- Excursions (The Low End Theory)
- Scenario (feat. Busta Rhymes, Dinco D & Charlie Brown) - LP Mix (The Low End Theory)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
A Tribe Called Quest, Spanky has been played 5 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 6, 2026 | 00:07 | Find a Wayfrom The Love Movement | Adjacentw/ Benny Poppins | |
| Nov 4, 2025 | 07:38 | 4 Momsfrom The Love Movement | The Morning Setw/ Fox Duhon or Mark LaMaire | |
| Oct 13, 2025 | 22:43 | Find a Way | Kitchen Sinkw/ Derrick Freeman | |
| Oct 6, 2025 | 22:40 | God Lives Through | Kitchen Sinkw/ Derrick Freeman | |
| Sep 22, 2025 | 22:56 | Check the Rhime | Kitchen Sinkw/ Derrick Freeman |