A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory
In order to be taken seriously as a music journalist, I believe one must research and provide insight towards music across all genres. One must include examples that he/she believes changed the face of music forever.
In 1990, four men from a mix of the five boroughs of New York City called A Tribe Called Quest, entered Battery Studios in NYC to record their sophomore record, The Low End Theory. Released in September of 1991, this album takes the groove of 1950s and 1960s Jazz and mixes it with beats, rhymes and samples. The first adjective I think of is “smooth”. Close your eyes and the music takes you on a smooth ride. The band members take a different approach than their predecessors. Their music is less about violence, frustration, racial separation and anger. Influenced by early Harlem and Bronx artists such as Grandmaster Flash and DJ Red Alert, A Tribe Called Quest lay down a mixture of rap and hip-hop that sit on top of Ron Carter’s bass playing. The groove inducing beat of the album’s opener Excursions, reminds you of a softer, easier “De La Soul-esque” approach to hip hop.
Excursions is a collaboration. Members Kamaal Ibn John Fareed (aka Q-tip) and Malik Taylor (aka Phife Dawg) conduct the equivalent of a “no look pass” in basketball, rhyming back and forth in a synchronized manner. The song takes you on a slow ride to a groove that conspires to leave you completely relaxed. When did we listen to rap music to relax? Now we do.
During Excursions, when referring to hip-hop, Q-Tip states, “My pops used to say, it reminded him of BeBop. I said well Daddy don’t you know that things go in cycles.” He sure was right. The early 1990s were a time when hip hop and rap were transforming. Tribe was on the front lines of this transformation.
Perhaps the strongest track on the album is Buggin’ Out. But maybe you should be the judge? In Buggin’ Out, once again, Q tip and Phife break out a back and forth takeover of the rhyming. Both rhyme about fortune and fame. By this point, they had just scratched the surface. What jumps out at me immediately is that Tribe chose to rhyme over beats where the drums incorporate the hi hat and switches carefully over to the ride. The hi hat produces the consistent “tish, tish, tish” sound that is hit along with the bass and snare drum, a standard in most drumbeats. It is the small cymbal that opens and closes, usually sitting directly to the drummer’s left. The beats on The Low End Theory switch it up going back and forth from the “tish” sound of the hi hat to the ride cymbal. This is the larger, heavier cymbal that usually sits to the right of the drummer. The ride offers a harder “tang” sound as opposed to the softer sound from the hi hat. If you pay attention, the beat can guide you in virtually any direction where as important as these lyrics are, you find yourself hooked, tapping your foot.
Another strong number on The Low End Theory is Jazz (We’ve Got). Sound Engineer, Bob Power called this album the, “Sgt. Pepper of hip hop”. This means groundbreaking. The group members were known as perfectionists, typically forcing their record company to demand the group hand over the finished product after months of mixing. “Jazz” presents a cool, soft beat and forces you to close your eyes as you feel the groove. You can hear mixes of Jazz saxophone. The smooth sax paints a perfect picture of looking out the window on a rainy night, riding a cab through New York City on the lookout for the next late - night club.
On the track What, the group raps, “What’s Ali without Shaheed Muhammad? What is life if you don’t have fun? DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad is the backbeat of this group’s rhythm. Muhammad is said to have brought the strongest jazz influence on the group. The amalgamation of sax, trumpet, drums and rapping provide the foundation of their success. This album is also void of lyrics directed towards violence, which was more of a turn on for me.
Fourth member Jarobi White did not rhyme on this album. White, included as a founding member of Tribe, left the group towards the end of the recording of “Theory”. He went on to pursue a career as a professional chef, only to return in 2016 to record their last album, We Got it Here……Thank you 4 Your Service. White is credited with several lyrical ideas the group pushed forward with and despite his background presence, Tribe considered him one of their brothers.
This album is incredibly unique for its time. The fourteen tracks deliver a similar vibe, leaving you to wonder what else this group has up its sleeve. The lyrics mention figures of pop culture relevant to the early 1990s such as Arsenio Hall and Bo Jackson. For those of you not old enough to remember, Arsenio was the leader in late night TV at the time, and Bo….? Well Bo was a freak of nature athlete that dominated both professional baseball and football (he was a member of each) for a short time before succumbing to a hip injury. “Bo Knows”….
Singer, rapper and record producer, Pharrell Williams is quoted as saying, “We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Tribe Albums”. Although I have not listened to much of Pharrell’s music, I am aware of his presence and respect in the music industry, therefore I took his comments very seriously.
Sadly, fellow member Phife Dawg passed away at the age of 45. Phife had lived with type 1 diabetes for most of his life and tragically lost the battle in March of 2016. Public Enemy founder, Chuck D called Phife not only a hip - hop pioneer, but a music pioneer.
Many believe Tribe has been snubbed by the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame as they have been eligible since 2015. For me, I grew up apart from hip hop. I had my 80s hair metal phase, and my 90’s Seattle grunge phase. Today, I crave music that is smart, fresh and not obvious, regardless of genre. If you follow 90s hip hop, you probably know this album. If you did not, like me, well now is your chance. You will not be disappointed.
Or pick up the follow up album to Low End Theory, titled, Midnight Marauders. You can pick this up on vinyl, CD or MP3.
Also, if you are interested in some Tribe merch, check out the link below.