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Without question the most intelligent, artistic rap group during the ë90s, A Tribe Called Quest jump-started and perfected the hip-hop alternative to hardcore and gangsta-rap. In essence, they abandoned the macho posturing which rap music had been constructed upon, and focused instead on abstract philosophy and positive message tracks. The ìsucka MCî theme had never been completely ignored in hip-hop, but Tribe confronted numerous social issues in their music. Just as powerful musically, Quest built upon De La Soulís jazz-rap revolution, basing tracks around laidback samples instead of the played- out James Brown-fests, which many rappers had made a cottage industry by the late ë80s. Comprised of Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Phife, A Tribe Called Quest debuted in 1989 and released their first album Peopleís Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm one year later. Their second album The Low End Theory was, quite simply, the most consistent and flowing hip-hop album ever recorded, and is considered by many to be one of the best hip hop LPs of all time. A spot on the Lollapalooza Tour showed their influence with the mainstream crowd ó but the group kept it real on 1996ís Beats, Rhymes and Life, a dedication to the streets and the hip-hop underground. The band has reunited in 2006,and Q-Tip has a new solo release on Motown Records. If ever the time was right for a Tribe reunion, now is that time.

"Lyrics To Go (Remix)"
A Tribe Called Quest
Decon Records (©2006)
Courtesy of Jive Records
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