A Tribe Called Quest

MARCH

March's 'Who To Know' reaches way back to one of the true pioneer groups in hip hop. A Tribe Called Quest dropped their first album in 1990, entitled "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm." Needless to say, this doesn't make them the first group to ever pick up a mic, however the way they changed the game and helped bridge the gap from a Run DMC type sound to what we now recognize as modern day rap, puts them on the top of a very short list of true innovators in the history of hip hop. The Tribe consists of rapper/producer Q-Tip, emcees Phife Dawg and Jarobi White, and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Together, A Tribe Called Quest has created some of the most iconic beats, rhymes, and hooks of all time. "Bonita Applebum" and "Can I Kick It" still ring out in clubs and before concerts, around the world. Samples from those very beats have been recycled many times over, just as the Tribes signature style has been emulated by nearly all who have come after them.

(Bonita Applebum - A Tribe Called Quest)

Unfortunately, the legacy of A Tribe Called Quest was not absent controversy. After a while, a fissure began to develop between the two strongest personalities in the group. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg, who had been friends since they were little kids, started to resent one another; a problem that ultimately bled into their music and on-stage chemistry. It'd be difficult to find a rapper or producer with any level of worth, who does not cite A Tribe Called Quest as one of their main creative influences, and it's sad to see such an iconic group fall to such petty differences. If you're interested in finding out more about the break up, I encourage you to watch Michael Rapaport's critically acclaimed debut documentary, "Beats, Rhymes, & Life." I've seen it myself, and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, for this particular blog, I would rather gloss over the tragedy and focus on the artists, themselves.

(Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest - Official Trailer)

Q-Tip has arguably the best flow in the game. With a truly unique voice, both literally and metaphorically, Tip has laid down some of the most ridiculous verses I've ever heard. Since the last Tribe album, Q has pursued a successful solo career, lending his vocal and production talents to the likes of Kanye West, Jay-Z, The Roots, and Talib Kweli among others. He has also released several solo albums, most recently "Kamaal/The Abstract" back in 2009. With plans to drop his fourth album, entitled "The Last Zulu," sometime this year, and an upcoming appearance on the highly anticipated G.O.O.D. Music album, "Cruel Winter," Q-Tip fans have a lot to look forward to in 2013. 

Although Q-Tip is probably the most popular rapper in A Tribe Called Quest, let's not forget about Phife Dawg. In what reminds me a lot of the Andre 3000/Big Boi relationship, Phife is every bit as talented as any other rapper from that era, but doesn't get all the credit he necessarily deserves due to his position in the shadow of Tip. However, much like Big Boi, Phife Dawg is responsible for some of the groups best verses. "Microphone check, one, two, what is this!" is one the most famous opening lines in all of hip hop, never mind among the Tribe Called Quest library of music. 

(Buggin' Out - A Tribe Called Quest)

Finally, the other two members of the Tribe should not be forgotten simply because they haven't been involved in any controversy lately. Jarobi White, the on again off again hype man, concept writer, and producer for A Tribe Called Quest, served as a positive influence for the group. Doing a lot more spirit raising than anything else, Jarobi is/was well liked by every member of the group, an important role as things often got too serious with Q-Tip and Phife Dawg constantly butting heads. In fact, it was Jarobi who first introduced Q-Tip to Phife Dawg back when they were kids. So if you like A Tribe Called Quest, you can thank Jarobi White for making it happen. Strangely enough, Jarobi left the group to pursue a culinary career, a dream he continues to strive for to this day. Watch Jarobi display his culinary talents at August in New York.

(Jarobi's Kitchen)

Last, but certainly not least, is the groups DJ/Producer, Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Perhaps the most affected by the drama of the breakup, Ali was torn between trying to stay neutral and being forced to take sides. By far the most quiet and reserved member of the group, Ali mostly hung out in the background, avoiding the spotlight that came with being in one of the biggest rap groups of all time. The Muslim faith is very important to Ali, who frequently feels discriminated against for his religion and African American/Native American heritage. After A Tribe Called Quest, Ali formed an R&B supergroup with Raphael Saadiq and Dawn Robinson of Tony! Toni! Tone! and En Vogue respectively. The group saw mild success, but never established themselves as the premier product in R&B. Check this interview with A Tribe Called Quest's silent assassin on the turntables.

(Ali Shaheed Muhammad Interview)

XV

FEBRUARY

It's amazing how many trends link all of today's talented up and coming rappers together. We are finally at a point in time where kids who grew up on real hip hop are coming of age and exploding onto the scene with their own unique style. Rappers are also taking advantage of the huge internet presence in hip hop by uploading a bunch of high quality music videos to sites like youtube and vimeo. This obviously lends to the talents of artists with more charisma and character. Finally, the growing movement of honest, introspective lyrics in rap is coming back with a vengeance. Hip hop went through a long period of gangster rap where emcees would talk about how many people they killed or drugs they sold. Before this time, hip hop was a type of folk music coupled with soul, where rappers could talk about their hardships and the struggle rather than how much money they have or how many women they get. Granted, this content never completely disappeared from the main stream as rappers like Nas and Kanye West have kept it alive throughout the years. It seems inevitable that with all of these new school rappers coming out like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Childish Gambino, it is only a matter of time before the realness takes over the radio once again.

XV embodies all of the above. His lyrics deliver an undeniable relatability that allow the listener to immediately connect to his songs. If you make a skin deep track, people may like that one song. But if you pour your heart and soul into it, people are going to like the person behind the song. That simple truth can go a long way. XV gained national attention with his mixtape Everybody's Nobody, subsequently signing a deal with Warner Bros. Records in 2010. Since then, he has put out seven mixtapes rounding out an astonishing collection of 19 total mixtapes since 2006. He has released a plethora of music videos as well which show off his personality, a winning combination of humor and originality. Completing his multifaceted approach to hip hop is his outstanding on-stage ability. His energy at shows grabs the attention of the crowd allowing rock all sorts of venues. Often playing the part of the opening act, XV handles the tough situation masterfully. There are few scenarios more difficult than opening for another artist as the entire crowd is waiting for someone else's performance. If you are not the best, you can lose a crowd quickly. Good thing XV is the best. His debut studio release with Warner Bros. Records is set to drop in early 2013 entitled The Kid With The Green Backpack. I expect great things from XV in the future. His body of work certainly demonstrates an unparalleled drive and determination that is sure to take him far in this competitive industry. Check him out!

(XV - Awesome)

(XV - The Kick)

Big Boi

JANUARY

January's "Who To Know", the first of 2013, is Antwan Andre Patton a.k.a. Big Boi. After beginning his rap career in high school as one part of the legendary duo, Outkast, Big Boi has pursued a solo career earning critical acclaim and a wide new variety of fans. Lyrically, he hasn't lost a single step, still flawlessly blending his smooth delivery with some of the most complex and brilliantly crafted rhyme schemes ever heard. However, this is not to say he hasn't changed it up a bit as well, recently dabbling in the electronic/indie rock scene, working with the likes of Phantogram and Little Dragon. He has also begun experimenting with more synth heavy beats of late, which has proved to be a perfect match for his voice. While Outkast fans the world over sit and wait for the two wordsmiths to reunite, solo work has done as good a job as possible to hold us over until then. While Andre has resorted, in large part, to being a guest feature, and a damn good one at that, Big Boi has spent his post-Outkast days putting out top shelf albums.

In 2010, he dropped Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty. Although Andre didn't appear on the album, nor will he according to his current stance on an Outkast reunion, he contributed to the production effort along with Outkast regulars Organized Noize and a few new faces. Big Boi's solo debut was met with a large amount of critical acclaim. Claire Suddath of Time described it as "an amalgam of beats, chants, and raps mixed together with exacting precision." Pitchfork Media ranked it as the number 4 best album of 2010, and Vibe ranked it in the 8 spot on a similar list. Singles like "Shutterbugg" proved, beyond a doubt, that Big Boi was more than capable of achieving massive success despite the absence of his counterpart; one of just many statements made both explicitly and not with the popularity of Sir Lucious.

But why now? What makes Big Boi the January 2013 selection for the "Who To Know" segment? The answer is simple. In December 2012, Big Boi, in my opinion, topped his debut with the release of his sophomore solo album, Viscous Lies and Dangerous Rumors. This album brings with it a wide variety of genres and guest features. The project dives into the fields of electronic, indie, and of course, hip hop, calling on newbies and veterans alike to round out the masterful release. Among the more unexpected guest contributions are Little Dragon, a downtempo/electronic band out of Sweden, Phantogram, an indie pop duo from Saratoga Springs, New York, and Wavves, an American surf rock band based in San Diego, California. Some of the more likely collaborators included T.I., Ludacris, Kid Cudi, and B.o.B. Kelly Rowland, Sleepy Brown, and Bosko also lend their vocal talents in spectacular fashion. In fact, throwing Kelly Rowland on a track is pretty much a sure way to get me to buy your album; not that I need much convincing when Big Boi's involved. Big Boi's creative approach to the album brought the best out of everyone involved, properly showcasing each individual skill set without allowing a single entity to be drowned out by the others. Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors is definitely a must buy, as is Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty. And yes, Big Boi was a shoe-in for January's "Who To Know".

(Mama Told Me - Big Boi feat. Kelly Rowland)

(In The A - Big Boi feat. T.I. and Ludacris)