A TRIBE CALLED QUEST

'A Tribe Called Quest' is a critically acclaimed and highly-influential American hip-hop group, formed in 1988. The group is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip (Kamal Fareed), rapper Phife Dawg (Malik Taylor), and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but occasionally tours with the group. Along with De La Soul, the group was a central part of the Native Tongues Posse, and enjoyed the most commercial success out of all the groups to emerge from that collective.
They released five albums in ten years, the first three of which were very highly acclaimed, and disbanded in 1998. In 2006, the group reunited and toured the US and plan to release an album after some works in the studio. The group is generally regarded as pioneers of alternative rap music, having helped to pave the way for socially aware hip-hop artists.
The group is also cited and thanked as an influence in the liner notes of Rage Against the Machine critically acclaimed first album.

Contents

Biography

1988 - 1990: Formation and ''People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm''

1991 - 1993: ''The Low End Theory''' and ''Midnight Marauders''

1996 - 1998: ''Beats, Rhymes and Life'' and ''The Love Movement''

2006: Reunion

Discography

Albums

Compilations

Other Appearances

References

External links

Biography

1988 - 1990: Formation and ''People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm''

Q-Tip and Phife had grown up together in Queens, and met Muhammad in high school. The group's name was coined in 1988 by the Jungle Brothers, who attended the same high school as the trio^[1]. Soon after, the group began performing live and recording on a local label and released the single Description of a Fool in 1989^[2]. In 1989, the group signed to Jive Records and a year later released their debut album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm.
Although now heralded as a classic, at the time of its inception it was met with less fanfare. Chuck Eddy of Rolling Stone wrote that the album "is one of the least ''danceable'' rap albums ever" and he went on to say "it's impossible to imagine how people will put this music to use"^[3]. The album was also panned by the public, not reaching the Billboard 200 chart^[4] and only going gold six years after its release.

1991 - 1993: ''The Low End Theory''' and ''Midnight Marauders''

The group's second album, ''The Low End Theory'' (1991) was a massive artistic success, appearing on several "best of the year" lists. Their lyrics focused on a range of social issues, from date rape to consumerism. Musically, the group helped pioneer the jazz rap style (along with groups such as Gang Starr and De La Soul). ''The Low End Theory'' is considered by many to be one of the most important hip-hop albums to date.^[5] It was followed by another commercial success, ''Midnight Marauders'' (1993). Though not necessarily as groundbreaking or critically acclaimed as its predecessors, the album has a devoted following, and is thought by some to be the group's best work.

1996 - 1998: ''Beats, Rhymes and Life'' and ''The Love Movement''

''Beats, Rhymes and Life'' (1996) and ''The Love Movement'' (1998), the group's final two albums, featured production by The Ummah and were less well-received than their predecessors. Following ''The Love Movement'', the group disbanded. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg went on to pursue solo careers, while Muhammad founded the R&B group Lucy Pearl

2006: Reunion

In 2006, the group reunited and performed several sold-out concerts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. A Tribe Called Quest was a co-headliner at the 2006 Bumbershoot festival in Seattle, but have not announced any plans to release a new album. The group is also appearing in 2K Sports' Bounce Tour promoting the ''NBA 2K7'' game and remix of their song, "Lyrics to Go", which is included in the game.

Discography

Albums

Album information
'''People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm''' ★ Released: April 17, 1990 ★ Billboard 200 chart position: #91 ★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #23 ★ Singles: "Bonita Applebum", "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo", "Can I Kick It?" ★ RIAA Certification: 'Gold'
'''The Low End Theory''' ★ Released: September 24, 1991 ★ Billboard 200 chart position: #45 ★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #13 ★ Singles: "Check the Rhime", "Jazz (We've Got)", "Scenario" ★ RIAA Certification: 'Platinum'
'''Midnight Marauders''' ★ Released: November 9, 1993 ★ Billboard 200 chart position: #8 ★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #1 ★ Singles: "Award Tour", "Electric Relaxation", "Oh My God" ★ RIAA Certification: 'Platinum'
'''Beats, Rhymes and Life''' ★ Released: July 30, 1996 ★ Billboard 200 chart position: #1 ★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #1 ★ Singles: "1nce Again", "Stressed Out" ★ RIAA Certification: 'Platinum'
'''The Love Movement''' ★ Released: September 29, 1998 ★ Billboard 200 chart position: #3 ★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #3 ★ Singles: "Find a Way", "Like It Like That" ★ RIAA Certification: 'Gold'

Compilations

Album information
'''Revised Quest for the Seasoned Traveller''' ★ Released: 1994 ★ Billboard 200 chart position: - ★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: - ★ Singles: ★ RIAA Certification: -
'''The Anthology''' ★ Released: October 26, 1999 ★ Billboard 200 chart position: #81 ★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #28 ★ Singles: ★ RIAA Certification:
'''Hits, Rarities, and Remixes''' ★ Released: June 17, 2003 ★ Billboard 200 chart position: #190 ★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #51 ★ Singles: ★ RIAA Certification:
'''The Lost Tribes''' ★ Released: 2006 ★ Billboard 200 chart position: ★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: ★ Singles: ★ RIAA Certification:

Other Appearances

★ 1992: 'Hot Sex' from Boomerang Soundtrack

★ 1995: 'Glamour And Glitz' from The Show Soundtrack

★ 1996: 'Peace, Prosperity, & Paper' from the High School High Soundtrack

★ 1996: 'The Remedy' from the Get on the Bus Soundtrack

★ 1997: 'Same Ol' Thing' from the Men in Black Soundtrack

References

1. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dcfixq95ld6e~T1
2. http://www.rapaholic.blogspot.com/
3. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/atribecalledquest/albums/album/241965/review/5946297/peoples_instinctive_travels_and_the_paths_of_rhythm
4. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/index.jsp?pid=37186&aid=101183
5. http://www.time.com/100albums

External links

★ A Tribe Called Quest - Official Site

★ Jive Records - A Tribe Called Quest

★ Official Myspace

★ A Tribe Called Quest at Discogs