Tag Archives: A Tribe Called Quest

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Song of the Day #5,975: ‘Scenario’ – A Tribe Called Quest

The last 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee in the Performers category is New York hip-hop band A Tribe Called Quest. Eligible since 2015, they were nominated in 2022 and 2023 before making the cut in this year’s class.

Releasing five celebrated albums during the 90s, Tribe was one of the most innovative and influential hip-hop acts, known for blending jazz into their rap compositions. The band split in 1998 but reunited in 2016 to record one last album, the critically-acclaimed We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service.

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Song of the Day #3,911: ‘Check the Rhime’ – A Tribe Called Quest

I definitely prefer the rap and hip-hop artists of the 80s and 90s to the ones we hear today. I regret not being more into the genre back then, because every time I spend a little time with what are now considered throwbacks, I love it.

A Tribe Called Quest released their second album, The Low End Theory, in 1991, to critical raves. The Queens-based trio took hip-hop in a new direction, introducing elements of jazz to their low-tempo sampled beats and call-and-response lyrics. It’s a great sound.

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Song of the Day #3,413: ‘Can I Kick It? (Unplugged)’ – A Tribe Called Quest

In April of 1991, MTV Unplugeed featured its first rap artists, with LL Cool J, MC Lyte, De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest taking the stage backed by a live band.

The performance was hailed as both a breakthrough for the genre and an excellent live set, with most of the kudos going to LL Cool J’s rendition of ‘Mama Said Knock You Out.’ Sadly, that performance is not available on YouTube in the United States.

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Song of the Day #3,134: ‘We the People’ – A Tribe Called Quest

a_tribe_called_questI’ve heard of A Tribe Called Quest but I don’t know if I’ve ever heard their music. The hip-hop group put out five albums in the 90s before splitting, then reunited last year to release their sixth, titled We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service.

The album was very well-received and shows up in the third spot on Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop poll.

The track ‘We the People’ is at #5 on the singles poll (following Rae Sremmurd’s ‘Black Beatles’ at #4).

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