A Tribe Called Quest

Not only is this essential hip-hop, it's essential music for true music lovers. What more can I say that hasn't already been said by countless other reviewers; this music is perfect. It's not only music for your mind but also moves your feet too. For those uninitiated I would listen to TCQ's "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm" first to get a feel for the loose, jazzy, laidback arrangements with smooth flows from Q-Tip and Phife D. They were amongst the first true laidback philosophers of hip-hop that spawned the sub-genre now known as "alternative rap."

if you're someone who regularly listens to alot of hip-hop, you'll recognize that this album is not all that great. in my opinion, it's tribe's 3rd best record.
sure, there are a few quality tracks worth a listen, but the majority just don't do it for me. if you're looking to get started with some atcq, check out 'people's instinctive travels and the paths of rhythm, 'beats, rhymes and life' or 'midnight marauders', they won't let you down.

The 2nd album from A Tribe Called Quest, The Low End Theory is definitely their best album as well one of the greatest albums to come from the East Coast. One of the reasons for that is this album combindes both hip hop and jazz perfectly, especially since jazz bassist Ron Carter is featured on here. Another reason why its a classic album is because of the lyrical ability of Q Tip and Phife Dawg. Phife especially showcases his skils as an mc. The subject matter is also more serious than their debut. On The Low End Theory, ATCQ touches on sexual politices ("Infamous Date Rape"), violence in hip hop ("Vibes and Stuff"), and the music industry ('Rap Promoter" and "Show Business"). It also features the classic posse cut "Scenario", which is repsonsible for launching the careers of Leaders of the New School. as well as introducing the world to Busta Rhymes. This album is definitely worth the pickup if you're either a die hard hip hop or if you're a fan of ATCQ.

I'll be honest and say that this is the first album I've heard from ATCQ. I heard their first album[[People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm]]afterwards and loved that album at first listen too. I mean how can you forget a classic joint like Check The Rhime? Butter is a great solo joint by Phife Dawg who tells a story of a foul type of chick. "What" is Q-Tip's solo joint as he asks a lot of good questions especially "what is Chris Lighty if he wasnt such a baby?". Q-Tip also has another solo joint that he shuts down called Verses From The Abstract. Show Business is explaining all the crooks in the business. Skypager is dedicated to that famous form of communication. You can sense that jazz influence in tracks like Vibes And Stuff and Jazz(We Got). If you want me to say something negative about this album dont even waste your time because there's nothing negative about it. Excursions was a great song to kick off the album with and Scenario feat Leaders Of The New School was a great track to end it with. How can you forget a track like that? Everybody's verse was sick and Busta's verse was a classic just like this album. In short, The Low End Theory is the best hip hop album of 1991 and is worth every minute of your time. The production as well as the rhymes are on point so what are you waiting for? Cop it now! Standouts: EXCURSIONS, RAP PROMOTER, BUTTER, VERSES FROM THE ABSTRACT, SHOW BUSINESS, THE INFAMOUS DATE RAPE, CHECK THE RHIME, EVERYTHING IS FAR AND SCENARIO.

Well, that pretty much sums of The Low End Theory, quoted from the one and only Robert Christgau (not that I really support this guy), but I think I should explain it more...

Even during ganster rap, The Tribe was refreshing. Instead of listening to Ice Cube talking about putting his foot in your @$$, you got Q-Tip rapping about jazz. Like the rest of the Native Tongue Posse, these guys weren't afraid to get in gangster rap's face. That's the best history lesson I can give.

Okay, when it comes to rap, I mostly look for three things (you should to), the message, beats (one of the most important things) and the actual ability to rap. The Tribe pull a ______ triple punch with that. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg are the masters at the mic, they deliver and flow like Butter. The lyrics are also top-notch, rapping about jazz, the show business, fake girls, music itself, and more! Just listen to them rapping, trust us on this one. If they were warming up (according to so many people), dwell on that one for a second.

However, the Mic skills are the glass half full. The beats are DOPE. Funky drums and groovy bass go pair and pair most of the time, with a handful of unconventional samples. It's so ________ organic, if you can't get down to the grooves, you must have a lack of rhythm. It's a gift man. The gift of rhythm is a beautiful thing. Savor it.

While it's a cliche hyberbole (that's a cliche too!), It needs to be said this: I hate what today passes for rap (same thing you hear from everybody, but that's a good sign. However, people are rebelling. More people are realizing today's mainstream, radio rap is garbage.
9/10

Classic! In this case we loot for ears... Uh? Do you really need to read a review about any TCQ album. If you don't know by now,...you'll never know. I bought this to replace the cassette tape version I used to rock back in the day when I was a teenager.

One of the best hip hop albums of ALL TIME. Smooth beats and catchy yet clever rhymes.

What group in history can claim to put out 3 straight 5 star classics? Tribe called quest. Midnight was yet another great album from arguably one of the best groups in Hip Hop History. I wish many kids today could live in in the early 90's because this was the golden age of HIP HOP. This album was one of many that was golden.

and you had your choices (Hip Hop/Rap Music wise) between Rakim's Follow The Leader, KRS (Boogie Down Production) Criminal Minded, Big Daddy Kane's Long Live the Kane, NWA's Straight Outta Compton, Dre and Snoop's The Chronic, and a Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauder, which one would you seriously pick???

Well this almost happened to me literally- but figuratively speaking. My Junior year of high school my family moved from Jamaica Queens- home to ATCQ and moved me to the middle of west-bubblefuc-coondocks (where you have more racoons as neighbors than humans) woodland Virginia and I almost popped - like when Neo was pulled out of the matrix and wanted to go back at first.

It was a hard-time adjusting, but just when I moved- ATCQ came out with Midnight Marauders to save the day and my life. If it wasn't for my fellow Jamaica Queens Native tongue-Sons and this album to get me by until I at least graduated from high-school joined the military and escaped from the area- I might have went columbine at my school and on my parents. The most vivid memory even more clearer than the first time I lost my virginity was when I demanded that my mother drive me to the nearest mall out of the coondocks to get the Midnight Maurader album immediately when it dropped. As soon as the cash register printed the receipt I had the plastic wrapper off the casette tape case(yeah thats right - and your grandparents had 8-tracks -just ask them about that). I rush my mother to the car to get the tape in the crappy car's casette deck and pump the volume up as high as it would go. As soon as I heard Phife go "Linden Blvd. Represent, Represent" -thats all I needed- it was like taking a Bob Marley jumbo spliff to the head and entering Shri-La or Nirvana. I had climbed the seven steps to heaven and escaped from the cabin fever I was severely suffering from out in the coondocks of VA.

This album is one of the best MUSIC albums ever created and produced - period. How does that help you the Music Reviewer deciding whether or not to buy this album- I dont know- but confessing my passion for this album sure as hell helped me from going down the wrong route in life. This album served as my therapy like those sessions Tony Soprano used to get. Thank you ATCQ - you saved my life. Big Up & Nuff Respect!!!

1993, a year of classic hip hop albums, east and west coast were releasing grounbreaking ones. Native Tongues were in full effect and A Tribe Called Quest, with already two classics under their name brought out their third album - Midnight Marauders.

Beats: Mostly produced by Ali Shaheed Muhammad, the beats focus on jazz samples, from all types of older music like Kool And The Gang, and Weldon Irvine. Large Professor has a producer guest spot on 'Keep It Rollin,' without interrupting the flow between each track. The beats compliment Phife's and Q-Tip's smooth flow perfectly, and the DJ scratches from Shaheed are exceptional, complete genius. Heavy drums, horn samples, pianos, and tight basslines make the instrumentals a 10/10.

Rhymes: Q-Tip and Phife are one the greatest duo's in hip hop ever. Phife has so many classic hip hop quotes on this album, and Q-Tip shows his conscious style on 'Sucka Nigga,' a track about the use of the word nigga:

'Now the little shorties say it all of the time
And a whole bunch of niggas throw the word in they rhyme
Yo I start to flinch, as I try not to say it
But my lips is like the oowop as I start to spray it'

Tip, Phife, and Ali Shaheed create laidback, dark, upbeat, smooth, conscious tracks on this album, which are all brilliant tracks. It is not often when you love every track on an album, but Midnight Marauders is a perfect example.

This is alternative hip hop at its best, simply flawless.

I was fairly new to hip-hop when I got this disc. I count myself a true fan after hearing it. If you want a representative collection of tunes to introduce you not only to the magic of ATCQ, but also to the hip-hop fusion of clever word play and melodic singing and sampling, you cannot go wrong with this anthology.

For a Quest fan looking for a true anthology, get a better Greatest Hits album. The second CD of "Anthology" was not worth the extra few dollars...

I am one of the few young people who truly appreciate's hip hops roots. I cant even listen to the stuff thats out now b/c most of it has no substance or is just merely a copy of what the originators have already done. A Tribe Called Quest is a group that hasnt gotten the praise they deseve in hip hop (to me.) THey have created a style of hip hop all thier own. They infuse jazz and hip hop. Now thats sexy!Just somthing to sit back, groove to, dance to, or learn from, because its definitely story telling. I miss those days in hip hop. The album is definitely a great buy! My favorite rap album of all time!
My favorite songs are: Bonita Applebum, Sucka N**ga, We've Got The Jazz, and Electric Relaxation.

A proper anthology would include every song on their 1st three albums, then you could pick a few songs from Beats Rhymes & Life and Love Movement. But overall this is a good intro for beginners.

A Tribe Called Quest mixes so much flavor into each track. Each track was very different and offered a great variety of sounds. Its music that is great to listen to considering its tempo and lyrics. I wish more modern hip hop was like this. Definitely recommended on my list.

Ok, all you young thugs cranking the same "holla" raps need to listen up. I used to love Hip Hop. Then it got played out, thug heavy, uncreative and plutocracized (look it up bitches)by P-Ditty and Wu-Family schlock. Nothing can compare to Tribe Called Quest at their peak. This album was the pinnacle of stylistic raps, groovy rhythms and a track lineage that works as a full album.
They dont make them like this anymore.

Tribe is one of the best hip-hop (and I mean real hip-hop not what passes for it these days) groups of all time. Great album, what else can I say?

It's hard to summarize the power of this album in a simple album review. These artists understand the power of communication and they use it effectively. The tracks on this CD are so deep and multi-layered that I still find myself discovering new words and sounds almost 15 years later.

To put it in perspective, I purchased this CD 3 times and I'd buy it again if I had to.

Purchase one: Cassette tape. I listened to it so many times it got warped.
Purchase two: another cassette tape (I STILL didn't have a CD player yet)
Purchase three: CD

If you love strong beats and music with a positive, yet real message you'll groove on this CD.

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm is the best rap album ever created. This is why:

1.No one ever will make an album as jazzy and smooth as this. It bleeds with cool, wit, and vibes. Listen to those samples, the beats, the way they are composed. The smooth jazz guitars of Push it Along and a cool wit of After Hours. The only thing I would call dope is this.

2.Tribe cared about everything. The artwork is a freakin' work of art.
The music is, the videos. I don't even care about this stuff!

3.At times, this is actual jazz rap. Many artists have tried to do that,
but failed. Push it Along actually sounds like jazz and hip hop, mixed seamlessly.

4.Where else do you find a love song for rap, that brims with emotion? Soulja Girl? I don't think so. Or emotion like this in general? The beats and rapping have them too? You bet. Listen closely to After Hours, Description of a Fool, Bonita Applebum, Footprints, and Those songs have a lot. Listen to everything. And they put songs like Mr. Muhammad and Go Ahead in The Rain. They balance things? COOL.

5.As a matter of fact, Tribe go through some of the most character filled raps ever. Playful, no nonsense, funny, sultry, cool, positive. Ever noticed how Push It Along's beat at the beginning is dark as night?

6.Least danceable rap album ever. Rolling Stone said that. After Hours? Rhythm (Dedicated to the Art of Moving Butts)? Push It Along? Sure, you can't dance Hammertime or Vanilla Ice (like that's saying anything), but who says you can't dance your own style? Variety in dance? You dang right, people at the dances I go to (oh, wait, I'm done with that ______).

7. I consider Eric B. minor compared to this Muhammad guy. And all respect for the legendary Eric B. and Rakim.

8.Wait a sec? What are some of these songs about? You mean, the greatest hip hop album has some messages and lines still waiting to be discovered? That means the music has been so compelling, I merely just listened to the music the most. Heck yes!

9.The concept of the gospel group. What other rap album has a gospel format? More rap artists should pull off stuff like this. It just feels more complete. Of course, it's rhythm based with positive messages. You'll be feeling on top of the world in no time.

10.Every song on here is a classic, the beats are one of a kind, and it's my favorite rap album and set the bar on what I consider a good rap album. I give high praises to artists that makes every other artists in their genre (or close to similar) have their bar lowered (Amon Tobin), and an album is even more impressive. The whole rap genre, as a matter of fact. And THAT, is impressive. When does THAT happen for people?

11. It has it all. Thanks to George Carlin (hilarious comedian) for pointing out something in his Ten Commandments banter.

This suffers from hyperbole, I know. Oh wait, in your eyes if it does.

10/10

I first heard the track "Footsteps", from this album, on my cousin's turntable (he's a DJ) when I was 18.

I HAD to know who made it and I got it the first week before i went to university. Their sound was jazzy and their flow was dynamic. I fell in love with Q-Tip, Fife and most definitely Mr. Muhammad.

My favorites would be "Push It Along", "Footsteps", "Bonita Applebaum" (although I like the remix version best), "Go Ahead in the Rain" and "Description of a Fool"

If you have any appreciation for hip hop or want to know what good hip hop is (not most of the BS currently in rotation), get it.

One of Tribe's best and also one of the most unheard of. Some of their greatest tracks except for the sellout "stressed out" - which inspired the industry to label them as anything but "real"

The addition of Q-Tip's cousin Consequence on BRL, threw me for a loop. It totally messed up the chemistry between Abstract and the 5 footer. This joint was just okay for me. Nothing like the 3 preceding classics.

A Tribe Called Quest's album "Beats, Rhymes and Life" is an overlooked album. The success of "The Low End Theory" and "Midnight Marauders" shadowed its greatness, for now, 10 years later, one can look at it and see what it was really trying to say. Much of the album complains about the East Coast vs. West Coast atmosphere of the time, urging their macho gangsta rap companions to stop the violence before things get out of hand. In September of that year, 2Pac was shot and killed in Vegas. Notorious BIG was killed next year in 1997. Nobody, apparently, was listening.

The Album marks the turn from the Low End/Midnight sound and towards what would eventually become The Love Movement. It demonstrates a perfect middle ground between the two sides and ends up better than most would expect. You wont find the greatest songs Tribe produced here, but there are some excellent tracks to be heard. Pick this up for your Tribe collection and take a glimpse into history.

A Tribe Called Quest's (Q-Tip, Phife, Ali Shaheed Muhammad) fourth album was "Beats, Rhymes & Life" (1996). Following the release of three albums I consider classics ATCQ dropped this solid fifteen-track release after a three-year hiatus. Jay Dee (R.I.P.) teamed up with Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhamammad for "The Ummah" and helped with production on this release. My favourite track on this one is "Stressed Out", ATCQ and Faith Evans collaborate for an outstanding track. Faith Evans really impressed me on this cut, her soulful singing is excellent. Backed by some sick production ATCQ shine on cuts like "Jam", "1nce Again" and "What Really Goes On". Overall their is a notable change in production (more hard, less upbeat) and lyrics, less Jazz oriented cuts (the type I love), and more serious lyrics in my opinion. I don't consider "Beats, Rhymes & Life" to be among ATCQ's best work, it does however have some memorable moments, and some impressive production, which makes it a keeper for any big ATCQ fan. A Tribe Called Quest 1988-1998.

This is an ill TCQ album! This album has some pretty ill beats on, some laid back but some with some sick loops on it. The lyrics are of course, always ill, when arent they? This is real hiphop beats though, on the real and the lyrics. Some of the beats arent that great, im more of a wu-tang beat fan haha. But there nice. Nice rhymes, good production, overall a good album. Check this out!! Real hiphop fans!

My Top 5
1.Phony Rappers
2.Motivators
3.Jam
4.The Pressure
5.Word Play

tracks 2, 7, 5 and 10 are best. Anybody who fails to recognize ATCQuest as the most unflawed, most respected, best beat-production and rhyme delivery is crazy. Maybe, in the next 200 years, God might grant humans another opportunity such as this for Three Black men to do this again for the trained ear.

When I first heard this album when it came out, I didn't take it too seriously cause it was just different from low end theory and midnight marauders. After a couple of listens, I realize that this album was the perfect ending to a spectacular career. The only way I can describe this album is "futuristic native tongue." I think that this album was ahead of it's time when it was released, hence some of the indifferent or negative feedback on this album. My personal favorites are 1: Da Booty 2: Busta's lament 3: Mutty Ranks 4: Find a way.

Don't sleep on this album!!!! It's genius in it's own way.

There's some good beats and rhymes here, but it is not Tribe at the top of their game like on "Low End" for example. This is very laid back and jazzy, sounds alot like early Roots.

The problem I have is that the album tends to sound repetitive a bit towards the end, but the first half of the album will definetely have you groovin.

Wow! I just sampled their albums, and they just can't let go of that old-school swing, even when most other rappers were going new-school! Impressive! I think the other rappers should learn from A Tribe Called Quest!

There is no doubt that this is not Tribe's best album. You have to listen to this album quite a few times through in order to like it. After extensive listening, quite a few tracks caught my ear, although there are others that I am indifferent to. "Like It Like That", "Give Me", "Pad & Pen", and "The Love" are the catchiest tracks, and incoincidentally they are also the most melodic. The Love Movement goes wrong in having Busta Rhymes guest on this album, it just does not match their style. Tracks that feature Q-Tip exclusively are the best and give the album the proper environment that they should have been aiming for.

Not only is this essential hip-hop, it's essential music for true music lovers. What more can I say that hasn't already been said by countless other reviewers; this music is perfect. It's not only music for your mind but also moves your feet too. For those uninitiated I would listen to TCQ's "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm" first to get a feel for the loose, jazzy, laidback arrangements with smooth flows from Q-Tip and Phife D. They were amongst the first true laidback philosophers of hip-hop that spawned the sub-genre now known as "alternative rap."

if you're someone who regularly listens to alot of hip-hop, you'll recognize that this album is not all that great. in my opinion, it's tribe's 3rd best record.
sure, there are a few quality tracks worth a listen, but the majority just don't do it for me. if you're looking to get started with some atcq, check out 'people's instinctive travels and the paths of rhythm, 'beats, rhymes and life' or 'midnight marauders', they won't let you down.

The 2nd album from A Tribe Called Quest, The Low End Theory is definitely their best album as well one of the greatest albums to come from the East Coast. One of the reasons for that is this album combindes both hip hop and jazz perfectly, especially since jazz bassist Ron Carter is featured on here. Another reason why its a classic album is because of the lyrical ability of Q Tip and Phife Dawg. Phife especially showcases his skils as an mc. The subject matter is also more serious than their debut. On The Low End Theory, ATCQ touches on sexual politices ("Infamous Date Rape"), violence in hip hop ("Vibes and Stuff"), and the music industry ('Rap Promoter" and "Show Business"). It also features the classic posse cut "Scenario", which is repsonsible for launching the careers of Leaders of the New School. as well as introducing the world to Busta Rhymes. This album is definitely worth the pickup if you're either a die hard hip hop or if you're a fan of ATCQ.

I'll be honest and say that this is the first album I've heard from ATCQ. I heard their first album[[People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm]]afterwards and loved that album at first listen too. I mean how can you forget a classic joint like Check The Rhime? Butter is a great solo joint by Phife Dawg who tells a story of a foul type of chick. "What" is Q-Tip's solo joint as he asks a lot of good questions especially "what is Chris Lighty if he wasnt such a baby?". Q-Tip also has another solo joint that he shuts down called Verses From The Abstract. Show Business is explaining all the crooks in the business. Skypager is dedicated to that famous form of communication. You can sense that jazz influence in tracks like Vibes And Stuff and Jazz(We Got). If you want me to say something negative about this album dont even waste your time because there's nothing negative about it. Excursions was a great song to kick off the album with and Scenario feat Leaders Of The New School was a great track to end it with. How can you forget a track like that? Everybody's verse was sick and Busta's verse was a classic just like this album. In short, The Low End Theory is the best hip hop album of 1991 and is worth every minute of your time. The production as well as the rhymes are on point so what are you waiting for? Cop it now! Standouts: EXCURSIONS, RAP PROMOTER, BUTTER, VERSES FROM THE ABSTRACT, SHOW BUSINESS, THE INFAMOUS DATE RAPE, CHECK THE RHIME, EVERYTHING IS FAR AND SCENARIO.

Well, that pretty much sums of The Low End Theory, quoted from the one and only Robert Christgau (not that I really support this guy), but I think I should explain it more...

Even during ganster rap, The Tribe was refreshing. Instead of listening to Ice Cube talking about putting his foot in your @$$, you got Q-Tip rapping about jazz. Like the rest of the Native Tongue Posse, these guys weren't afraid to get in gangster rap's face. That's the best history lesson I can give.

Okay, when it comes to rap, I mostly look for three things (you should to), the message, beats (one of the most important things) and the actual ability to rap. The Tribe pull a ______ triple punch with that. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg are the masters at the mic, they deliver and flow like Butter. The lyrics are also top-notch, rapping about jazz, the show business, fake girls, music itself, and more! Just listen to them rapping, trust us on this one. If they were warming up (according to so many people), dwell on that one for a second.

However, the Mic skills are the glass half full. The beats are DOPE. Funky drums and groovy bass go pair and pair most of the time, with a handful of unconventional samples. It's so ________ organic, if you can't get down to the grooves, you must have a lack of rhythm. It's a gift man. The gift of rhythm is a beautiful thing. Savor it.

While it's a cliche hyberbole (that's a cliche too!), It needs to be said this: I hate what today passes for rap (same thing you hear from everybody, but that's a good sign. However, people are rebelling. More people are realizing today's mainstream, radio rap is garbage.
9/10

I mistakenly ordered this not realizing I had it already - I emailed the vendor and they kindly told me that I could return it upon receipt, however I ended up giving it to my friend as I know she would enjoy! shaunna stevens

well this cd is tight cause i like the beat and a tribe called quest they are the best and the whole cd sounds great and the beats are tight

Because there is a remix to Lyrics to go that is unbelieveable and the other songs I've already heard and liked so I still give it 5 stars (Classics are Classics even if they are on another album) anyway get this if you are a true Tribe fan like me!

I really liked this particular group which in terms I am really not a rap fan but I loved Tribe Called Quest. They had nice beats you can flow to especially in the club and with Q-tip rhymes to add to the beats just made the music perfect. The didnt get a chance at the music industry either.

I really a agree with rob from AZ. If you can get the all 4 of the groups cd's get them ,i cant think of a bad tribe song.
If you are new to the tribe get this cd and you will be hooked for life and upset that they broke up.

Classic! In this case we loot for ears... Uh? Do you really need to read a review about any TCQ album. If you don't know by now,...you'll never know. I bought this to replace the cassette tape version I used to rock back in the day when I was a teenager.

One of the best hip hop albums of ALL TIME. Smooth beats and catchy yet clever rhymes.

What group in history can claim to put out 3 straight 5 star classics? Tribe called quest. Midnight was yet another great album from arguably one of the best groups in Hip Hop History. I wish many kids today could live in in the early 90's because this was the golden age of HIP HOP. This album was one of many that was golden.

and you had your choices (Hip Hop/Rap Music wise) between Rakim's Follow The Leader, KRS (Boogie Down Production) Criminal Minded, Big Daddy Kane's Long Live the Kane, NWA's Straight Outta Compton, Dre and Snoop's The Chronic, and a Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauder, which one would you seriously pick???

Well this almost happened to me literally- but figuratively speaking. My Junior year of high school my family moved from Jamaica Queens- home to ATCQ and moved me to the middle of west-bubblefuc-coondocks (where you have more racoons as neighbors than humans) woodland Virginia and I almost popped - like when Neo was pulled out of the matrix and wanted to go back at first.

It was a hard-time adjusting, but just when I moved- ATCQ came out with Midnight Marauders to save the day and my life. If it wasn't for my fellow Jamaica Queens Native tongue-Sons and this album to get me by until I at least graduated from high-school joined the military and escaped from the area- I might have went columbine at my school and on my parents. The most vivid memory even more clearer than the first time I lost my virginity was when I demanded that my mother drive me to the nearest mall out of the coondocks to get the Midnight Maurader album immediately when it dropped. As soon as the cash register printed the receipt I had the plastic wrapper off the casette tape case(yeah thats right - and your grandparents had 8-tracks -just ask them about that). I rush my mother to the car to get the tape in the crappy car's casette deck and pump the volume up as high as it would go. As soon as I heard Phife go "Linden Blvd. Represent, Represent" -thats all I needed- it was like taking a Bob Marley jumbo spliff to the head and entering Shri-La or Nirvana. I had climbed the seven steps to heaven and escaped from the cabin fever I was severely suffering from out in the coondocks of VA.

This album is one of the best MUSIC albums ever created and produced - period. How does that help you the Music Reviewer deciding whether or not to buy this album- I dont know- but confessing my passion for this album sure as hell helped me from going down the wrong route in life. This album served as my therapy like those sessions Tony Soprano used to get. Thank you ATCQ - you saved my life. Big Up & Nuff Respect!!!

1993, a year of classic hip hop albums, east and west coast were releasing grounbreaking ones. Native Tongues were in full effect and A Tribe Called Quest, with already two classics under their name brought out their third album - Midnight Marauders.

Beats: Mostly produced by Ali Shaheed Muhammad, the beats focus on jazz samples, from all types of older music like Kool And The Gang, and Weldon Irvine. Large Professor has a producer guest spot on 'Keep It Rollin,' without interrupting the flow between each track. The beats compliment Phife's and Q-Tip's smooth flow perfectly, and the DJ scratches from Shaheed are exceptional, complete genius. Heavy drums, horn samples, pianos, and tight basslines make the instrumentals a 10/10.

Rhymes: Q-Tip and Phife are one the greatest duo's in hip hop ever. Phife has so many classic hip hop quotes on this album, and Q-Tip shows his conscious style on 'Sucka Nigga,' a track about the use of the word nigga:

'Now the little shorties say it all of the time
And a whole bunch of niggas throw the word in they rhyme
Yo I start to flinch, as I try not to say it
But my lips is like the oowop as I start to spray it'

Tip, Phife, and Ali Shaheed create laidback, dark, upbeat, smooth, conscious tracks on this album, which are all brilliant tracks. It is not often when you love every track on an album, but Midnight Marauders is a perfect example.

This is alternative hip hop at its best, simply flawless.