Profile of The Hip Hop Groutp A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is a hardcore gangsta rap group who looked to 1970’s rock and the help of jazz bass player Ron Carter for their influence. Together with groups such as Gang Starr and De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest helped to pioneer the jazz rap style while confronting numerous African-American issues. These issues included date rape, the use of the nigger word, as well as about their lives as rappers.
This very artistic and influential rap group formed in 1988 and their studio debut occurred in August 1989. The next year, A Tribe Called Quest was signed to Jive Records and the following year, they released their debut album, “People’s Instinctive Travels,” (1990). Their next album, the critically acclaimed “Paths of Rhythm,” led them to have a lot of fans. However, their following album, “The Low End Theory” (1991) was their greatest artistic success. This album included several tracks with props to their hip-hop friends and it appeared on several best of the year. Their next album, “Midnight Marauders” (1993), was also a commercial success.
A Tribe Called Quest is comprised of members Q-Tip (born Jonathan Davis on November 20, 1970 in New York, USA) and Phife (born Malik Taylor on April 10, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York, USA). Phife and Q-Tip both grew up with each other in Queens. While attending high school, Q-Tip met DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad (born August 11, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York, USA). During their high school years, the three guys began performing together. (There was also a fourth member of the group, Jarobi White, who left the group after their first album.)
This group began as a member of the Native Tongues. This is a collection of Hip-Hop artists that became famous for delivering messages that were affirmative in their nature. The Native Tongues Family also promoted the Afrocentricity movement, which set out to make blacks that lived in the U.S.A. aware of their heritage. (This theme can be found emphasized throughout A Tribe Called Quest’s music.)
Membership in this group included Black Sheep, Queen Latifah, Jungle Brothers, Monie Love, Leaders of the New School, and De La Soul. In fact, while part of the Native Tongues family, Afrika Baby Bambaataa of the Jungle Brothers gave them their name: A Tribe Called Quest.
In 1990 A Tribe Called Quest had their biggest success with their laid-back song “Can I Kick It?” This song was later heavily used in advertisements on television. This was also the year when Q-Tip appeared on Deee-Lite’s hit, “Groove Is In The Heart” (August 1990).
In 1993 Q-Tip appeared in the movie Poetic Justice. He played opposite Janet Jackson.
In the summer of 1994 A Tribe Called Quest was featured as the Lollapalooza Festival’s rap act.
In 1994 the group won the Group Of The Year category award from the Source Magazine Hip Hop Award Show. While on stage accepting this award, 2Pac and his Thug Life crew showed up on stage where they attempted to steal some publicity.
In 1996 A Tribe Called Quest released a new album, “Beats, Rhymes And Life.” This album debuted at number one on the Billboard album chart. The lyrics on this album had changed a lot and instead of their previously crude banter they were now more philosophical. This was most likely caused by Q-Tip’s conversion to Islam.
In October 1998 “The Love Movement” debuted at number three. This was a more mature and stylish collection of material. However, it lacked the spark of their earlier work and thus were not received as well as their preceding albums had been. This album was their final recording as the group’s members chose to concentrate on their own solo careers. This impending breakup was announced while they were touring as support for their new album.
After the group’s breakup, Q-Tip and Phife Dawg continued on in pursuit of their own solo careers. On the other hand, Muhammad founded a R&B group that he named Lucy Pearl. The group just recently reunited and made some appearances at concerts in the United States.
