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)