Reviews (page 8 of 14)
Really enjoyed this one! Clever rhymes and good rhythms. I don’t have much knowledge of hip-hop and have not been a big fan of some previous albums in this project, but would definitely come back to this one.
You could isolate either the vocals or the instrumentals and either one would be a good album on its own. So fun to listen to, very upbeat, and you just want to bounce along.
Good album P jizzy
Probably the best flow on a hip hop album I've heard so far, and consistent maybe to a fault. Kinda wish they took a little more risk creatively
Not a HipHop fan but this was good 👍
Very good
Masterful east coast rap. It must be one of the first hip-hop albums to incorporate so much jazz too. Not all songs hit, but the ones that do really hit. Also has one of the best closing songs of any album. Best Songs: Excursions, Butter, Check the Rhime, Everything is Fair, Scenario Worst Songs: Infamous Date Rape, Skypager,
Oddly enough I had this just one week after the other tribe album on this list. I do think the rapping on this one is a lot stronger, better usage of Pfife, but the production seemed to go down. If you could put the best elements from both albums together it’s an easy five, but I don’t think it’s all there on either album.
Glad I finally listened to this one. It’s been hyped through multiple reviewers and deserves all the acclaim. A stage setter for future rap/hip-hop.
4.5 This great and I really wanted to give it a five but couldn’t
Liked it a lot!
Strong hip hop.
The first Tribe album came up long enough ago that I can’t say for sure if I prefer this one, but I think I do. It’s pretty consistent and both music and vocals are super smooth (like butter). I wouldn’t say the ‘jazz’ thing is inherently better or worse than other types of hip-hop production, but these guys make it work in a big way. The double bass-led tracks are particularly ear-catching.
3,5
Another first time listen. From a great era at the start of a brilliant decade for music. Well constructed, produced, performed and worded. This is another on the ‘must investigate further’ list. Who knows what doors this may open. Can I kick it? Apparently, I can…
Nostalgic to hear this again
Opzich kan mijn review van De La Soul hier ook zo worden toegepast. Ik kan met veel hiphop niet goed uit de voeten maar door deze vette fusion van jazz en hip-hop heeft het album een heerlijke groove. Dat komt ook dat - net als bij De La Soul - de rap niet zo luid en agressief is maar meer als instrument past bij de groove die eronder zit. Dat ligt mij beter dan al die 'rapbattles van tegenwoordig'. 8/10 Highlights Excursions Verses from the Abstract Scenario
Old school hip hip that brings me back. Some fun and clever stuff.
Solid classic rap.
I never knew I liked early 90s hip hop till today. Great!
Pretty solid hip hop rap album. The lyrics were pretty solid and I liked how they actually told stories for a lot of the songs. Kinda sad to see where hip hop has gone since this album.
one of my favorite rap albums and thats thanks to the beats. the songs are all so short that the beats never get boring and every one is unique and groovy. 8/10
Yeeeessssssss
How do you rate an album that was formative to your tastes, but that you rarely revisit any more? I’ve had a really hard time trying to gather my thoughts on The Low End Theory. It was the second hip-hop CD I ever bought, right after Ready to Die. I know this album like the back of my hand. Once I started to drive, it was the one CD that never left the CD changer. It was maybe the first album where I had to research what the lyrics meant, because the references were to things that happened 2 years before I was even born, and also because I am very white. Along with DatPiff, it’s probably the reason why I was actively on the hip-hop blogs in the late 2000s. As an introduction to hip-hop, this album taught me not only to love the genre, but *how* to love the genre. It shaped my teenage love for backpacker hip-hop, and also nudged me toward jazz before my ears were probably even ready for that genre. It is the definition of a 101 Course on hip-hop, and remains the best example to throw to someone who “likes everything but rap and country.” But I’ve grown a lot since then. I still love hip-hop as much as ever, and I listen to basically all of its subgenres, from modern cloud rap and trap to Golden Age to Bling era 2000s rap. And I like a *lot* of “conscious hip-hop,” both classic and modern. But something about this album on a relisten rubbed me the wrong way. Objectively, it’s good – Tip and Phife are excellent rappers, with strong pens and great flows. The beats hit, the features are cool, and the style of mixing jazz with hip-hop still sounds modern, even if the mixing feels a bit quiet for my loudness war ears. There are some standout songs – “Buggin’ Out,” “Jazz,” and “Scenario,” plus “Skypager” as a personal fav. So why the hesitation? Maybe it’s the fact that the mere existence of the unlistenable, homophobic “Georgie Porgie” gives this record a certain stink that makes me realize maybe it’s not as socially aware as it claims to be. But critiquing an album for a song that isn’t there is dumb. Maybe it’s all the inside baseball talk about the music business, which feels very lame and very omnipresent when compared to the less-frequent but more impactful story-telling songs like “Butter” or “The Infamous Date Rape.” Maybe it’s the fact that Q-Tip gets over 20% of this record all to himself, which feels…egotistical, and kinda weird? Maybe it’s the built-in censorship, and while I know it had to happen to get Ron Carter’s immaculate bass playing, it still feels a bit holier than thou. And that’s maybe the issue. The Low End Theory just feels…preachy now??? Like, I got into rap too early to get on the “rap is crap” train and complain about its vulgarness, which is all based in racism, internalized or externalized, but there’s a sheltered nature here that The Low End Theory can appeal to, especially to white listeners. It feels deep and complex, and in some ways, it is, and on some tracks, it is, but it’s also not *that* deep, and has some complex problems baked in. And acknowledging those issues doesn’t make it a bad album, or even unlistenable, but it also brings it down a notch from the canonized pedestal I placed it on when I was 12. Because I think sometimes it’s totally fine to think an album is good, great even, and still feel like you’ve outgrown it. Besides, Midnight Marauders and We got it from Here… are both better albums, easily, and I stand by that statement because they’re both still heavily in my listening rotation, while The Low End Theory just isn’t.
Loved this. It was so catchy and I found myself dancing along. Best lyrics: “All I do is write rhymes, eat, drink, shit and bone.”
So, some of this hasn’t aged well. And what are the odds that 2/3 of the NBA players name checked on a song called “infamous date rape” are infamous for sexual indiscretions that came to light after the song’s release? But apart from problematic sexual politics, this is such a fun album. I feel like you could put this on at any party and it would work. It’s on point (phife) all the time (tip).
4+
So fun and sing songy.
Excellent, I know nothing about this group, but have heard the name for years. Excellent chill hip hop.
I could understand the words!
3.5/5
I really liked it! Kinda spaced once I got used to the flow but I enjoyed it!
I love A Tribe Called Quest, this album is incredible. 4/5
3.75
Was sitting around with a bunch of guys who aren't into hip hop and I put this on in the background and even they enjoyed it.
Super fun album. Enjoyed it much more than I expected to!
This album is wild. It almost feels like it could just run forever with one song. The lyrics are so casual and then so poignant all over the place. I could see a dozen very different people all love this for different reasons. Masterful album but I'm putting it at a strong 4 vs weak 5.
Incredible 90s rap, has a great flow in the lyrics and seems to filled with passion and love for the music their making. Has a heavy focus of Black culture and position in American society, plus cool jazz vibes to go with it. Super fun and intriguing listen.
Second favorite Tribe Called Quest record. Flow is unmatched and the 90s Tribe is all about the damn vibes!
Has some low points but I do really enjoy this album. Favorite track: Scenario
Nice HipHop
I already had this album on my spotify favorites. It's really good, reminds me of younger days. I'm sure I will listen to this again.
Really solid, although I’m always more partial to Midnight Marauders.
Man, A Tribe Called Quest was such an awesome influence on early hip hop. Great music, wholesome messages (Infamous _ _ comes to mind). I like the jazz samples within the beats on this album! I also didn't know this was where Scenario came from. I think a 4.5 for me.
influential and obv really good and chill record, its not in my top records but doesnt take away from the enjoyment
Stripped down sound, giving the lyrics some breathing space. Listenable for sure with terrific, hypnotic beats. All this and Ron Carter(!).
Quality beats and flows, somewhat repetitive but a distinct sound
A timely follow up to Nevermind- both of these albums released in the most important year of 1991. “The Low End Theory” is great 90s hip hop, very enjoyable! Four stars
Not really my cup of tea, but enjoyable nonetheless
Favourite song - Jazz we've got
Fresco y funky, beats relajados
Enjoyed reading the wiki on this album, enjoyed the hip hop more
Not my favourite album by them but still banging
You know it’s the nineties when they tell you in every song.
Good stuff! 4.
Great hip hop album. Love the jazz influences. It still sounds fresh even now.
Smooth, sharp, tight, beats and rhymes with a soupcon of jazz thrown in to top it off. Very nice.
If it just had Scenario it would have five stars, everything else is good too.
Really good but maybe slightly overrated
“ANOTHER TRIBE ALBUM?!?!” This is what I said, with excitement, when I saw this pop up last night. I’ve listened to their third and first albums (in that order) and was thrilled to be handed their second. Tribe is just…incredible. The whole package. Masters of flow and vibes. Clear messages, often with social issues in mind. Smart lyrics with clever rhymes. Their demeanor or attitude just creates this feeling like you know them, like their songs feel familiar even if you’ve never heard them before. I adore Tribe. And I adored this album. I didn’t like it quite as much as their first, and so I’ll give it 4 stars. But that’s not to say it isn’t incredible in its own right because it really is. Standout tracks: Excursions, Buggin’ Out, Butter, Show Business, Vibes and Stuff, Check the Rhime, Jazz (We’ve Got), What?
Bra innføring i en sjanger jeg aldri hører på frivillig.
Definitely not their best album but still a solid 4
Excellent old school hip hop. Great beats, great flow and a lovely little taste of the ODB on the last track.
Sounds so modern. Bass lines are groovy. Great flows and can understand.
Great album, but can get a bit repetitive. Easy album to throw on and get lost in, but not great for background noise as the sound lends itself to blending together.
pke erste song schomol huuuuere hard. beboptönt echt wie hip hop?? buggin out weniger cool. aber immerno cool. nocher machter dengdidengdigigigi!! butter maaad geile beat bruuudi. aber de q-tip isch schochli de besser rapper als de ander guy. uuuuuh s sax im refraaaaain. verses from thea stract mega happy gfallt mer. q tip huuuere coolesiech. uuuuh ron carter on the bass??? show business au saugeil. vibes and stuff isch meh so chli afoch en vibe halt? beat geil jnd so aber nöd viel meh. infamous date rape uui ok würi hüt nöd nomel so mache. aber gege sexuelli gwalt schono harde shit. check the rhyme rieese samples riese beat. industry rule #4080 industry people are shadyyy. nocher en mc hammer diss lesgoooo jazz time.
okay scho vill vo ihne ghört ich lieb de bass, so hot "once had a fetish, fetish for some booty" DANKE also ich find es groovt ultraaaa. nöd mega catchy oder so aber z vill catchy würd au d atmosphäre störe? vibes and stuff isch halt fr fr vibe and stuff check the rhime insane mengisch hend sie so abrupti wechsel, was für mich nöd megaaa sinn macht, bi somene album wärs doch nice wenns chli würd inenand flowe statt so herti wechsel aber naja schlimm ischs nöd KLARS 4
Me sorprendi fuerte con este rap de la vieja escuela a puro sample
Todella kokonainen levy! Rennolla tavalla varmaa suorittamista. 4/5
Not my thing, but very impressive all the same. Minimal beat, and impressive lyrical skills. worth a listen for some earlier rap.
So good. The whole album is a groove. The song transitions are 10/10. It’s all so smooth. None of the harsh record scratching and short stops of a lot of other 90’s rap and hip hop. The date rape song…don’t love it. Everything else is excellent. 4.5
Love the jazzy sound - so fresh and fun (even have Ron Carter on the album). The flow is what makes it sort of dated, but it's awesome. I knew "Scenario" but the rest is great. I liked this a lot more than I expected. 4.2
Better than I expected.
Fantastically written hip hop. I tend to prefer hip hop with more melody incorporated, vs. stripped down to the beat and vocals, but even though this one is more the latter, it still does it for me.
Not my cup of tea, but definitely a great rap album
90s eastcoast hip hop at its best.
I don't have quite the ear to review the album proper but I did like it a lot. One thing I noticed was how modern it sounded. My idea of hip hop and rap at this time sounded different. It dates itself here and there with lyrics about pagers etc but it sounds ahead of its time and I like that a lot.
Starts off real strong. Back half is not near as good
Det här albumet var en positiv överraskning!! Tyckte väldigt mycket om blandningen av jazz och hiphop. Favoritlåtan från albumet var ”Infamous Date Rape”. Albumet får 4/5 stjärnor❤️
This is a fun and funky summery album
Sick
Fresh, dope, hip even
heard for the first time like 3 days ago, absolutely wonderful stuff. Heavily recommend breakbeat as a genre to indulge in to anyone who resonates with the instrumentals.
4.5 stars. The jazz influence really makes this hip hop record a masterpiece. The underlying bass lines give it musical depth. Has a more mellow sound than macho hardcore gangster rap. Standouts are "Check the Rhime" and "Scenario".
I always liked 'Can you dig it', with its sample of 'Walk on the Wild Side' but, sadly, that's not on this album. Nevertheless, this is a great collection of old school rap with witty lyrics and judiciously chosen samples which fit in seamlessly. Great stuff!
Absolutely brilliant
I liked it. Specifically liked Jazz - 8/10
I enjoyed it quite a bit, very good walking around and vibing music 8.5/10
Classic 9.5/10
Exactly what you would expect from that genre.
Great!
This really grew on me as I listened to it and probably reflects my age and a nostalgic look back on 1990s rap which has a certain charm. I would have liked to have give it a few more spins.
This was a great album and a real surprise. I had never heard of A Tribe Called Quest before, but I listened to this album all weekend! I'll certainly be listening to them again. Jazzy Hip Hop, loved it!
Straight heat. Favorite track is Skypager.
Old school hip-hop. Rhyming is life!
This is definitely my favorite facet of hip hop, where it feels more like art than a persona. Folks havin fun but actually talking about something other than themselves. Or at least sometimes ;) Also nostalgia automatically adds a star.
Real vibe. Nice old school rap and some of the flows are fr crazy.
yeah good
I liked it but didn’t make it all the way through. You know stuff.
album grew on me, very smooth rap + a solid beat and the jazz is real nice. Sometimes felt a little too smooth?
Amaze
This album feels like they sonically embodied new york. Starts off a bit slow for me but then the beats and lyrical flow find a perfect rhythm that i really love. Above all its fun as hell
Very reminiscent of De La Soul to me, even though they had pretty different sounds in some ways. I enjoyed this album, but was hoping for a bit more variety tune/rhythm-wise (it got a bit more varied in the later tracks, though). Once again, I kind of wonder if this is the best album to showcase Tribe.... (I never listened to them back in the days, aside from whatever might have been on the radio.) A solid 4, I'd say.
Loved this, especially all the samples or just references to other songs (i.e. the way that guy said "leavin'" a few times and you knew he was thinking of "Leaving on a Jet Plane", and am I right in that at some point they referenced Lou Brock?) Very cool. I really enjoyed this.
[I've heard of the group, but never heard them.] After a few pieces, I really like it, and, so far, anyway, no F-Bombs, rapes, or murders - sorry, that's my old white guy stereotyped impression of rap (and I just found out that this genre is Hip Hop - see? you learn something every day!). Is it wrong to say that this reminds me of Arrested Development? This is an easy album to listen to the whole thing and just let it flow, but the lyrics need your attention. You don't often see/hear references to Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego. Or Afrika Bambaataa, for that matter. "...if you really liked yourself, then you would try and be you." True. "...the world is kinda cold and the rhythm is my blanket... Wrap yourself up in it, if you love it, then you'll thank it." Now that I'm 2/3 through, though, I'm not 100% on it. And will have to spend some time researching the people they reference. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 32 🎧 LPs left to review: 969 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 9 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 11 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 8
Another really solid, fun album by A Tribe Called Quest. Even after it started to feel a bit repetitive, it’s hard not to move along.
Appropriately, groovy bass lines are prominent and the backing music is atmospheric. Flow is measured, but lyrics incisive. At times, feels like this bridges the gap between the 80s and 90s. Beat on Infamous Date Rape is particularly nasty and Jazz (We've Got It) is super smooth.
Great album. ATCQ one of the pioneers that help transition hip hop into the new school era. 4.5⭐
Didn't know them. Great album. I really like this old school rap that isn't just about cars, drugs, hoes and Gucci.
Þessi er svakalega næs, minnir mig á Digable Planets, nema helst þegar að Busta Rhymes kemur inn í lokalaginu. Merkilegt hvað það er til mikið af góðu hip-hoppi frá þeim árum þegar ég var sannfærður um að hip-hop væri botninn.
Especially liked Check the rhime
Iconic hip hop album. Love Q-Tip
01) Excursions - 8,0 02) Buggin' Out - 8,0 03) Rap Promoter - 7,5 04) Butter - 7,5 05) Verses From The Abstract - 7,5 06) Show Business - 8,0 07) Vibes And Stuff - 8,0 08) Infamous Date Rape - 7,5 09) Check The Rhime - 8,0 10) Everything Is Fair - 7,5 11) Jazz (We've Got) - 8,5 12) Skypager - 8,0 13) What? - 7,5 14) Scenario - 8,0 TOTAL: 7,82 (78/100) Didn't like Dr.Dre's "The Chronic" (2 stars, it currently ranks #63 out of 69) so let's see how this one will score. Three songs in and it's much more enjoyable. Ok, two songs 'till the end and now I know why I like this one better (Butter?) - there's no excessive cursing... Lyrics are better, beats are minimal, only drum, bass and jazz samples. Much better, it goes in at number 35 out of 70.
Not something I would normally choose for myself, but I liked this one. Backing tracks were interesting and not over the top. Strangely, I found it on the mellow side. Maybe I need to turn it up! 4/5
Ahah je l'ai déjà évalué sur mon autre compte, j'adore les beats, ça a bien vieilli! Classic!
I really liked this. I’m going to have to listen to it more
Rating: 9/10 Amazing album. Fantastic production with great rapping. The jazz-influenced production and sampling are incredible throughout, very revolutionary for the time period and it still sounds great today, definitely timeless. Q-Tip and Pfife Dawg are just having fun for the entire album, not too much substance to what they are saying but there are plenty of clever lines and wordplay, a lot of the lyrics are very humorous. Wish there was a bit more variety on this album in terms of lyrical content and drum beats but there is a reason why this a considered a classic. Favorite songs: Excursions, Buggin' Out, Rap Promoter, Butter, Vibes and Stuff, Check the Rime, Jazz (We've Got), What?, Scenario. Least favorite song: Show Business.
Much better than today’s talentless “mumbo” rappers. Bring back that old-school hippity hip-hop! #thewesthasfallen
"Vibes and stuff?" Oh, you better believe it. To reference a song from a different album—I can kick it.
A pioneer of the hip-hop genre.
This is a nice album. It’s funny to hear, in a way, because it seems so anachronistic it’s almost sweet. It was a very different time in hip hop, the early 90s, and as the antithesis to “gangsta rap,” this is on the “conscious rap” Mount Rushmore. That said, nostalgia aside, I think the chances of me choosing to put this in my current listening rotation is slim to none. It’s a nice trip down memory lane, but I’ll take my feel good dopamine hit and move on to the next. 3.5 stars, if it were possible. *note: Busta Rhymes star-creating bars are always welcome in these ears!
Really good album. No idea how good A Tribe Called Quest is! I listened to a bunch of their stuff after hearing this album. Noddin & bobbin my head through this entire album.
Excellent record! this was truly something I needed to listen before I died. That production which gives the spotlight to the MC is something quite distinct.
1991 - probably my deepest exposure to hip-hop, thanks to living in downtown Oakland CA. At the same time, I was also listening to bunch of acid jazz, which shares a lot of source underpinnings with A Tribe Called Quest. It's really hard to just sit and listen to this without diving into sample sources! 1. "Excursions" 2. "Buggin' Out" 3. "Rap Promoter" 4. "Butter" Pretty sparse accompaniment on the verses, then the jazzy horns come in to dress up the repetitive chorus. Verses comparing hisHS love life with the now. 5. "Verses from the Abstract" (featuring Vinia Mojica and Ron Carter) 6. "Show Business" (featuring Diamond D, Lord Jamar and Sadat X) 7. "Vibes and Stuff" 8. "The Infamous Date Rape" 9. "Check the Rhime" 10. "Everything Is Fair" 11. "Jazz (We've Got)" 12. "Skypager" 13. "What?" 14. "Scenario" (featuring Busta Rhymes, Charlie Brown and Dinco D)
Hadn't heard before, but really enjoyed. More "chilling on a beach in the sun" trip-hop than I'M VERY ANGRY AND GOING TO KILL EVERYONE MUTHAS
*top rocks
+pretty minimalist -- sounds FANTASTIC +mesmerising flow, lyrics i smile at +beat in the background equally so +i can feel the bass +kind of reminds me of lofi music??? +sounds repetitive to me at times -- all the songs sound pretty similar +just not a genre i'm super into 7/10
It was the nineties- as the song says. Chill 90s rap, a bit hypnotic. Not my usual jam but a nice change of pace.
Really enjoyed this!
Have it on vinyl - banger album
Such a chill jazz rap album. I always thought it was kind of linear except for a few really standout tracks, but it doesn't matter here because the vibe is so cool.
Love the opportunity to hear this classic for the first time. Great stuff!
This album hip-hop album has everything to be lovable : jazz, boom bap, conscious, east coast vibes... Not like many albums of the genre, this one is meant to be appreciated as an album, as there are no standout tracks vs fillers. It's just great music all the way through.
One of the best hip hop albums of all time
funky
not normally my genre but i really liked listening to it. will probs listen again
This was a good album, I enjoyed a lot Easy listening Very typical hiphop, vocals were cool, good flow, interesting rhythms 4/5 stars
It is interesting and quite jazzy, and not good background music more of something to sit down and listen to
Good stuff. High quality end to end.
Überraschend erfrischender Rap mit schöner Baseline
frábær. 4,5
Halfway between Def Jam and De La Soul.
I liked Scenario. It was a good rap album for the era. 4/5
So good.
beats had similar drums lines and good jazzy elements. top 3: infamous date rape, show business, buggin out.
Had a great time with this, loved the music, the jazz funk combo is so good, only downside is I’m not very lyrically focused so I feel like I didn’t extract everything out of the album but when I could focus it was great! I’ll keep coming back and get more from it each time.
I really liked the songs on the album. I wasnt expecting old hiphop based off the name. I had no idea who they were but I recognized a few of the songs and even added them to my playlist
one of my favorite hip hop/rap albums I've ever listened to
Phat beats, sick rimes, overall a very solid album. What didn’t age well was referencing Arsenio Hall in literally every single fking song?!?
Such a great album. A few bumps, 3.75/5
rap group from the 90s, had some funky beats. Great album, good vibes but not my style. Did not listen to full thing.
Classic hip hop. Full of humour, social commentary and incite.
Great beats
I liked this. Melodic.
This is a good album, I like a lot of these songs I'm just not in love with them. Good rythms, flows, decent lyrics, its just not missing something maybe tempo or variety. This could be a 5 but it's a 4 to me. Repeats: excursions,buggin' out,show business Skips: butter
Groovy
Happy that listening to this brought A Tribe Called Quest into my top five most listened to artists this year. Learning who Q Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad sampled and which artists sampled Tribe songs is always a good time. I actually have listened to 'We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service' more than this one, but throughout their catalogue they have an untouchable niche with a highly influential and respected formula. I wonder all the amazing rap not included on this list just to be replaced with another dad rock record. 8.5/10
Not really my genre, but gotta admit this is very well produced and, for a hip-hop rap album, I wasn´t expecting the jazz influences. Q-Tip was great in this album and there are some gems, like "What?" and "Check the Rhime" (especially the last one). However, this is not really for me because, even with the production, I found the rapping a little bit monotonous and didn´t really stick with me, but I can definitely say this is a great album.
Wow! Kände inte för hip hop idag, men vilka beats! Ron Carter på en låt!!! Jazz och rap i en skön mix.
This is definitely a grower. Not hugely engaging to begin with, the flows and the hooks give you a bit of background noise before you realise that actually, you're quite digging it.
Pretty good Hip Hop album. Not the biggest fan of hip hop but I could get into it. Favorite song was Check the Rhime
Didn't expect much but very good, will be listening to more
Different from the other albums so far, I like it. "Check the Rhime" is the most famous song but not nearly my favourite from the album.
A pretty solid album, very "early rap" vibes. Lots of good beats on these tracks. I kind of want to give it a 5 but I think this album just falls slightly short of that so I'm giving it a 4.
I really like this album, but there is really not much variation between a lot of the tracks in terms of production.
Scenario was the jam. “Base in your face means peace see ya later” was my go to insult in the 7th grade. Check the Rhime slaps too. Realizing having an older brother into rap may have had an impact on my musical taste
sooo goood.
Nice old school rap, pretty repetitive bit nice
Vet
Extremely smooth, definition of easy listening.
This is good stuff. That is all.
I really enjoy this record and understand how important it is to hip-hop. However, it has never been a go to rap record.
Nice beats, clear rap, easy to understand lyrics. Sadly beats get repetitive real quick, so one song yes, a whole album no. It's too boring.
"The Low End Theory" by A Tribe Called Quest is, without a doubt, an incredible album. The infusion of jazz, particularly the mesmerizing basslines, is nothing short of genius, it offers a dynamic and groovy backdrop to the thought-provoking lyrics and skillful delivery of Q-Tip and Phife Dawg. However, I can't help but agree with another user who pointed out that the album predominantly uses a 4/4 time signature. While this doesn't take away from the album's overall brilliance, it can become a bit monotonous when listening to the entire album in one go. Some variety in the time signatures could have added another layer of depth and complexity. Regardless, it remains a classic and essential in any hip-hop collection.
4'3, bastante bien, Hip hop com temazos
not my usual genre of music but this made my work day more fun. Was a good vibe
an sich ganz geil, aber es wird nach einer weile echt repetitive wenn man sich das ganze album gibt.
4.
Classic album for a reason. Low end theory is an old school jazz inspired rap record. Reminiscent of a time when lyrics took the forefront in rap records. The beats are great, but often simplistic. It accentuates the diction and the creativity in the lyrics. The opening track is the best example of this. The flow isn't some fast paced almost undecipherable flurry of words. ATCQ wants you to hear and marvelous at what they're saying. A couple of dudes from queens talking about thier lives. It is obvious why they are such an influential group to so many.
Really funky and very cool. The rhymes are dope. The flow is excellent. I'm taking away a star for Infamous Date Rape which is an unfortunate inclusion. Otherwise this is a solid hip-hop album.
Very catchy. decent instrumentals. First album I actually liked haha
Fun. Beastie Boys connection.
This album's groove is undeniable. The added jazz definitely is audible in songs like Buggin' Out, Vibes and Stuff, and obviously Jazz (We've Got). A really nice introduction to the genre of hip-hop after the slightly aggressive and oh-so-strong delivery from TPAB. Personal highlights include Buggin' Out (fun bassline), Butter (nice backing track... guitar sound?), Check the Rhime (incredibly satisfying call-and-response structure), and Scenario (the epic finale that I didn't quite expect from an album with such an atmosphere). Side note: finding out that these guys made a flat-out homophobic song (which they, thankfully, decided not to put on this record) derailed this album's impression on me significantly. Still a great album though.
Definitely a cool sound to this album and I know its importance but it can all start sounding same-y over time. Not enough variety of sound for my taste in hip hop. Great lyricism though and strong ending.
Fun and never knew the last song was from this album (here we go yo)
I will admit I don't know anything about ATCQ. I know I've heard their voices before in other media, but I've never jumped in... Man, I think I need to. I love hip hop in the 90s. This album so pure and accessible. These guys sound like they are New Yorkers -- a quick wikipedia tells me I'm correct.. Great mix between fantastic word play, bass lines and jazz riff. It's mellow, but at the same time you can lose yourself in the messaging. Busta Rhymes on the last track was unexpected and probably catapulting. I bet they helped define that East Coast hip hop sound and I'm sure this album is more culturally significant than I'm even aware. Favorite Track: Buggin Out
This album was a real joy. One of those rap albums from the 90s I really enjoyed. 4.5/5
Definitely my preferred type of rap. I enjoyed the sparse, twangy baselines of most tracks.
I enjoy the jazz hip-hop elements of the 90s and this album definitely hit that space with really fresh beats and rhymes. I was always entertained throughout.
Tony Hawkes pro skater vibes
There's nothing I could say about this album that hasn't been said before. Incredible wordplay and production. Really solid album. I would absolutely buy this to keep for my own collection. Favorite track: Show Business
It occasionally shows it's age, but still a great album to listen and vibe to. The album definitely gets better the more I listen to it.
Awesome!
I love A Tribe Called Quest, and this album is fantastic. Totally understand why it's on this list. Lyrically, musically, and stylistically it's top tier. Plus "Scenario" is an all time classic.
Could listen to this album all day long. Have loved it for years. Can’t believe this is from 91.
Fantastic.
Really good rap album. I am not the biggest rap fan, though. Wouldn't mind hearing in a coffee shop. Probably would never play it on my own.
docked a star for the date rape song but otherwise perfect
This is one of the first albums I heard that made me reconsider my relationship with rap. I've always appreciated it, but felt it pretty inaccessible, I was so aware I was not the target audience and lyrics are a thing I don't pay attention to for several listens unless I'm trying really hard. But this was so easy to understand, the jazz samples were choice, and while I'm still not the target audience it didn't feel nearly as unrelatable to my viewpoint. So I'm grateful to ATCQ for starting me on that journey. That being said, listening again over a decade later its age is beginning to show a bit. The 90s in particular it seems were an impossible time for someone to produce a timeless feeling record. So much has followed and our collective understanding of what's edgy and still worthwhile vs just not ok has changed - looking at you, Infamous Date Rape... Still great, just not quite making it to 5 for me.
I’ve got a lot of respect for this album, but musically it’s never stuck with me as One of the Greats. Maybe it’s just because of how hip hop has evolved over time, maybe it’s because of the song Infamous Date Rape (which, why?), but it doesn’t get me going enough to be a 5. That said, it’s still an excellent, wildly influential album. Excursions is a phenomenal opener and the record doesn’t feel too long which I feel was a big issue in the 90s. I might like Midnight Marauders better.
I like getting this after Bowie because I feel similarly about a Tribe Called Quest. People absolutely love them and while I think this was well made music it just did not personally excite me that much. The best part for me is Busta’s verse on “Scenario”. Good rappers, jazzy beats but not thrilling for me.
Maybe my favorite artists from hip hop's golden era, I still love most of the tracks on this album. Something about the production and the samples used on these early Tribe albums just makes them timeless classics to me. There's unfortunately several songs with some peak-90's "nice guy" misogyny which I hadn't really clocked until this listen. Those songs aside, I'll never get tired of Low End Theory.
Listened to this for another list recently. Really good. 4/5
Very nice sound, the production is impeccable. The hooks aren't really there, but I don't think that's the point. This is a perfect album to work to or put on at a gathering.
Great! I really enjoyed the instrumentals and lyricism.
From the great Ron Carter’s eerie double-bass opening & Q-Tip’s amazing opening rap on Excursions, this album proves to be like no other hip-hop album I’ve ever heard. And, indeed, I’d never heard this album before, even though I realise that it’s been one of the most influential albums on my son’s career, and on the development of the genre in the last 30 years. Carter’s bass is prominent on many tracks, notably Buggin Out & the knockout Scenario, which also includes very early Busta Rhymes. The sampling is extremely tasteful - Average White Band’s Love Your Life used in Check The Rhime, the first single off the album, is a good example. And the lyrical content is always interesting - I loved Verses From The Abstract, Rap Promoter - in fact the album contains some of the most intelligent lyrics of any hip-hop album I’ve ever heard. This was a delight to listen to.
There have been so many gangsta rap albums on this list, that I was almost starting to think I didn't like hip hop. The misogyny and violence of gangsta rap just makes me more and more uncomfortable. It wasn't Ok at the time, and it just gets worse with time. Thank goodness for A Tribe Called Quest. I like this record sooooo much more than many of the hip hop records I have been forced to listen to. It is cool and laid back, smart and funny, sensitive and insightful. I love the chilled production and Q-Tip and Phife's flow is so great. Chris Jones for the BBC wrote that Tribe "almost single-handedly defined the alternative rap scene, where intelligence and musical nouse replaced guns, hos and bragging. ... Low End [Theory] pushed the jazz connection even further with a sparse but not quite minimal selection of grooves built around some exquisitely chosen upright bass samples ... Remember that this was in direct contrast to the West Coast G Funk about to explode onto the scene. Like its predecessor, it combined humour with insight to show the world that ‘rap’ needn’t be equated with the worst aspects of the American dream." Amen. A great, great record that reminds us all of what is great about hip hop. It sounds better with age.
I really enjoyed this album. As a first-time listener, there were no stand out tracks as such, but I loved the overall sound of the album - so cool and so, well, of its time and place! Some of the lyrics perhaps haven't aged well, but the beats and use of sampling were great. Will definitely listen again and explore some more of their music.
Feckin love tribe
I remember when I first listened to this album a few years ago being confused at people calling it a bridge between jazz and hip hop, and on today's relisten I still am to a degree. It certainly does infuse jazz elements - especially in the basslines, but it doesn't incorporate jazz further than what serves the hip hop beat. There are no solos or soaring instrumentation or strange time signatures. But while this is a hip hop record through and through - it's a bloody good one through and through
Great albun
i didn’t have high expectations for this website i thought i was just gonna get shit like lana del rey or taylor swift but omgggg this started off with a BANG. this album was fucking incredible i loved it. im so glad that i found this website.
I've been interested in this one, considering it's believed to be up there as one of the hip-hop greats, and it was certainly good, but I did expect a bit more. For instance, this is labeled Jazz-Rap, but I feel the jazz influences are very light, due to the simplified production. You won't be finding any interesting jazz riffs save for one or two. Q-Tip's voice and flow is still super tight though, and I really recommend you walk with earbuds whilst listening, and you'll get pretty into it. This one may grow on me in future listens, but for now, while I get the praise, I don't think I can put it way up there.
yeah this was a great listen, just super high quality beats and lyrics and flow. consistent throughout, never a dull moment on the album. just front to back really really good.
This is exactly why I started using this album a day thing. Sure I’ve heard of A Tribe Called Quest, I’d even heard 1 or 2 of these songs but I’d never go out of my way to listen to the whole album. It was really cool! I really loved the jazzy aspects.
Really good, like wu tang Clan the beats and flow were a cut above other hip hop from the same time. As often happens when going through this list, I learned a couple of parts of songs from other artists I like have been lifted from quest, which is an endorsement. I can't truly put it at the same level as my favourite hip hop (RTJ/Aesop rock) but ill definitely be listening again.
I didn't really have any expectations heading into this - I get them confused with Questlove and the Roots. However - what a great album. Clearly well thought through, with plenty of highlights (Show Business). I did go back and listen a second time but wouldn't a third, hence 4 stars. If any more A Tribe Called Quest albums come up, I can't wait.
How these guys were not the biggest thing going is crazy. They have such crisp lyrics and simple flowing beats. I really enjoyed the Hip-Hop/Jazz mix, will definitely listen to this again. Highlights: Buggin' Out Check The Rhyme Jazz (We've Got) Scenario
I listened to "What?" twice and it took the second time to figure out the little moment of silence in the middle... I have all of De La Soul's stuff, so I don't know why I never picked up any of A Tribe Called Quest. But man, this fits a nice funky spot. Everyone is playing off of each other lyrically, they are really doing some cool stuff here. My favorites so far are "Excursions" and "Buggin' Out". I like the bass riff going throughout "Excursions" very jazzy. Definitely one I'd like to get into more.
These guys were always smooth. This album is no different - slick jazz hip-hop. But it lacks some variety. The songs blend together, which is cool from a chill vibe perspective but not from a unique thing perspective. The songs that did stand out were awesome - Excursions (perhaps because first song), Show Business (witty/clever lyrics), What? (again, super witty/clever and cool beat), Scenario (good energy). When I sit down and really pay attention, the songs are more varied but the really great albums don't require that effort to truly love. Still a very good album, but not great.
If you could wear out a CD, I would have wore out my copy of "People's Instinctive Travels". I will admit that "Low End" hasn't gotten nearly as much play into my ear-balls. This record has some good moments and is more straightforward rap than "People's".
Liked this a lot more than a lot of the earlier rap albums I’ve heard. Rating: 4.2
Loved the vibes - Jazz was reaaaally good - Infamous date rape -> the beat is really cool
Musique bien funky.
The beats and delivery are 🔥 Highlights: Excursions, Buggin' Out, Jazz (We've got), What?
Enjoyable. Will definitely revisit again, along with the other albums by them. Favorite track: Show Business
definitely 1990s hip hop a tiny bit like MF DOOM solid album
Favourites: • Excursions
-i have vaguely heard of this band before but haven’t listened to them -loving this first song -THAT BASSSSSS -okay i love how kinda subtle the background and instruments are because the rap can really shine -and i Love the lines in the raps -its so fun and chill -check the rhime is a genuine bop -this album gets an easy 4 for me, fun chill and easy to listen to
"The Low End Theory" by A Tribe Called Quest is a groundbreaking album that defines the essence of jazz-infused hip-hop. Released in 1991, it's a masterpiece that fuses complex beats, smooth rhythms, and conscious lyrics. Tracks like "Check the Rhime" and "Scenario" exemplify the group's lyrical prowess and skillful sampling. The album's production is rich, with its jazz influences creating a mellow yet engaging vibe. However, for some listeners, the album's laid-back approach might feel a tad monotonous, and certain tracks might blend together. Yet, "The Low End Theory" remains a quintessential record that revolutionized hip-hop, despite moments where its continuous style may not fully captivate every listener's attention.
Classic, vintage, and still sounds great. Less is more, and the tasteful and timely jazz flourishes really make the record. "Butter," "Verses" and "Vibes" are the best cuts. This is just a tick down from a full-on masterpiece, by which one means, a 5.
Truly great hip hop album with several truly essential tracks and a couple of clunkers.
pretty sick'
Almost unbelievable that this is already over 30 years old and still sounds fresh. Relaxed and Jazzy HipHop, where the flow of the songs into each other is only rivaled by the flow of Q-Tip himself.
Kinda repetitive and not the greatest rapping I’ve ever heard, but on the same points, the production is strong and consistent, and the vibes are impeccable. Some really excellent and influential beats. Shoutouts to Busta Rhymes’s random show-stealing appearance on the final track. Best song: Jazz (We’ve Got)
listened to again one of the greats
I mean what’s not to love here, it’s a smoothie
I enjoyed this.
Great album! Excellent vibes, awesome beats, and engaging lyrics! No wonder why it’s a classic!
8/10. Solid as hell, not a new favorite or anything, but I was pleased to discover there was still some Tribe Called Quest left on the list.
I had never heard this album before and I had to listen to it twice. First time through, I just grooved to it and the second time through I listened to it on Apple Music with the lyrics turned on.
If I could do 4.5 I would. 4 is doing this album such a disservice. Some of the best hip-hop pre-2010s. Rating: 8.5/10
Tribe starts slow, but psychodelic. Then they open up, but only a little bit, just to keep the psychodelic vibe going. The beats are great and the flow is absolutely one of the greatest in history.
4.0
un bon flow, bon pace. J'ai adoré c'était en plein dans mon genre. Beat plus old school, le flow et le rap sont a l'honneur 4.5
Very slick and easy to listen to. Clever writing and infectious beats. Will return to this. No particular highlight - enjoyed it all.
Dit album onderscheidt zich van stamalbum. Er is een professionaliseringsslag gemaakt. Alles is in balans. De rap is bijna meer een instrument dan een tekst. Daardoor prikkelt het wat minder. Het album kabbelt vooral lekker door. Het wordt achtergrond-rap. Lekker om bij te werken. Maar stiekem vind ik het eerdere, waarschijnlijk minder uitgedachte album fijner om naar te luisteren.
Weer zo'n lekker laidback hiphop plaatje van A Tribe. Het is eigenlijk drie kwartier dezelfde vibe, waarop de rappers hun lyrics spitten. Geen idee waar ze het allemaal over hebben en het zal me ook een zorg zijn. Het klinkt relaxed en daarom vind ik het prettig om te luisteren.
Legendarisk hiphop, jazz-samples, ordspil, humor, minimalistisk
a tribe called quest er goood
A Tribe Called Quest is one of those hip hop groups I can actually listen to, so this was quite good! Saved tracks: Verses from the Abstract, Check the Rhime, Scenario LP Mix
Ok this was really great but still suffered from the same issue that plagues nearly every rap album - SO VERY LONG.
An old favourite!
quite good, hip hop is not my fav but his one is enjoyable! Recommend!
Stripped back and smooth, with nothing theoretical about its prominent low end bass. Unusually an album that drags a bit in the first half rather than the second.
Hip hop classic: tasteful and influential.
Low end theory has been proven.
Between this and renaissance, q-tip is pretty safely my GOAT old school rapper and it’s cool that I discovered him through this list. His jazzy production abilities and his rapping/lyricism is almost unmatched by anything else from this time period on this list. It didn’t excite me like renaissance did and isn’t something I want to relisten to a lot but it’s still great. Check the rhime is probably my favorite.
Has become a classic Hip Hop album.
Nice. I'll probably use as background music when working.
4/5. Honestly, the more I listen to this album the better it gets. The chill low bass is what drives this album, with some nice rhythmic and smooth riffs and beats. The lyrical content will take some time to digest but if it’s excellent, this could definitely be a 5.
Nice
While this is not to my taste, this is still a good album.
Anybody wanna play Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2?
Loved the old-school vibes and all-round positivity
I love A Tribe Called Quest. The combination of jazz samples and positive raps is nice.
Didn't know about this album, first glance at the artwork, I was already impressed. Enjoyed this way more than I'd expected to.
It's smooth. It flows. It's got a good vibe. But it's not as fun as stuff like Run DMC or Public Enemy. This is more mellow. Not as fun.
I’ll preface this one by saying I haven’t listened to hardly any rap music from before like 2004 so I’m missing a lot of context here. The storytelling on this album is very strong throughout, but my enjoyment of each song correlated with how much I enjoyed each of the instrumentals. I love the dark bass line and then jazzy instrumentals on Excursions, but then Buggin’ Out has a similar instrumental formula with a bass line I don’t like as much as the first one. Because the instrumentals are so minimal, they basically have to be perfect or else they get stale pretty fast. Check the Rhime has a cool conversational dynamic that is really cool to listen to over another one of the album’s best beats. “What?”Is another one of my favorites on here, fun clever verse over a quirky lil beat. I could see this one going up to a 5 for me, I need a few more listens to unpack some of the lyrics. Cover art: 8/10
All the beats are a vibe to chill to and could definitely dig deeper into the lyrics the more I listen to this one. Got a little behind on listening so I only went through once so the main thing that I got into was the jazzy production well mixed beats. I feel like a lot of 90s hip hop beats don’t hold up over time but these ones still seem well mixed. 👍: show business, check the rhime
Fun album, really like vibes and stuff and a few other tracks. The no cursing threw me off tho
The transition from Rap Promoter into Butter…IS SMOOTH LIH BUTTA The influence of tribe is without question but there was a miss or two on here that I wasn’t expecting. 👍: butter, check the rhime, 👎:everything is fair
Great flow, great beats, great hip hop. 4 stars
Tribe is always classic and timeless
I don't have a history with this album but these songs are fantastic. The beats and samples are great, and I really like Q-tip's voice, both the sound of his voice, and the way that he's chill, vulnerable, self deprecating, and still delivers a message.
I don't like most rap, with a few notable exceptions: Kendrick, De La Soul, Outkast, and Tribe. Tribe may just be my favorite among them. They walk the line between fun and intelligence so well. You can be entertained by the cleverness of their prose, or just vibe to the beat. I think the reason why their beat clicks so well with me is that they use a lot of rock samples. Their basslines are always so slick. Anyways, I don't know where I'm going with this. I slightly prefer Midnight Marauders, but this album is deserving of 4.5 stars.
I love Q-Tip's flow. Redundancy of the (drum) riff not appealing, but overall this is a beauty.
Loved the vibes and the flows, great mix of jazz and hip hop. Tribe Called Quest really rewards listening to the lyrics too, they are very clever. A few hits but I mostly appreciated how the album all fits together.
I really enjoyed this one! Fun lyrics, classic 90s rap. I wish 'can I kick it' was on this album! I will definitely listen to this album again, and have added some of the songs to my regular Playlists.
I am familiar with these guys but not this album. This is dope. I was expecting some basically written hip hop lyrics here (hey it’s tribe called quest and I’m here to say, we like to rap in the old school way). Was pleasantly surprised by the flow in these tracks. Some boombap drums take the lead, as they should, and the emcees get all of the credit. Rappers that gain their notoriety in Queens tend to be pretty killer and these guys are no exception. Worth a listen!! I can't get away from sharing a bit of music trivia if you have read any of my reviews on this site! Something that is worth discussing when studying hip hop music is the artist's vocabulary. These guys aren't dumb-dumbs. I enjoy looking at this site sometimes to see where certain rap artists stack up with their vocabulary against other artists. Just like that fighting game Def Jam but with their pure lyrical content. These guys have 4,550-5,000 unique words in their discography which puts them in the same category as artists like Beastie Boys and Nas. Lots of funny observations to be made with this graph, like if you have a Lil in your name, you are pretty much doomed to be a rapper with a lower vocabulary (2750-3200 unique words). Here is the link: https://pudding.cool/projects/vocabulary/index.html
Jazz Rap!
Buttery goodness. This album is perfect for making a batch of cocktails before guests come over for a games night resulting in you get trapped listening to an insufferable pop music playlist. Although I’m not really familiar with Quest’s catalogue, I was happy to take a little excursion and really listen to this respected group. I hear their name tossed around a lot when talking about influential hip hop acts and all that jazz. The art form of rap hangs mostly in the lyrics and cool turns of phrases, with innovative rhimes and intonations. This record has a variety of deep and silly lyrics, making it an enjoyable listen with good vibes and stuff. The beats are fairly similar from song to song, as there is some repetitiveness on the surface but everything is fine because even with that, I was bobbing for most of the record. Especially when a heavy bass or a sax shows up, it gets me buggin out. As exampled by Show Business. I knew it was my favourite track within 4 seconds of it coming on. I feel cool listening to this album.
Been a fan of this album for a while. Love the jazzy sampling and the minimalist beats - this album is about the "vibe". The lyrics are great; meandering from silly to serious, the wordplay is always on point. Q-Tip and Phife are so in-sync here, the flow between them is unreal.
I mean it's prime Tribe.
I gotta get me one of those pagers, they sound cool HL: "Check the Rhime", "Show Business", "Excursions", "Scenario" March 20, 2023
Den här skivans trummor, bas, samples, låter helt härliga... dammiga... Kunde vara typ 2 låtar kortare... för att sammanfatta: Det är tyvärr ingen Spit on a Stranger EP. Super solid 4
Really great flow on everything
I'm usually not very into old rap albums but this one just doesn't sound dated. This is a pretty fun album with a lot of interesting sounds and song concepts. Standouts include: -Buggin' Out -Verses from the Abstract -Check the Rhime -Jazz -Scenario
An easy 4, could have been a 5 prob if I 'enjoyed' the album more. It's obviously great, but just not 'my thing' enough to bring me back to it. I loved this listen, but that's prob enough for a while. The "jazz samples over heavy/deep bass and beats" aesthetic is really awesome and was probably quite a revelation when this record was released. Def it's easy to hear this record in later stuff by The Roots.
A very nice old school hip hop album, nothing to add about it.
Some incredible production, great rhymes, but the album does tend to get a bit repetitive. Good vibes, but overstays its welcome for me.
I *love* the production on this album, but occasionally the flow is... A bit cheesy sounding. I think it's mostly an artifact of the times, and no doubt this is an essential listen, a hip-hop classic... But it does keep it from getting the 5 from me. I don't think that'll change for me either, I've listened to this one a LOT (and will continue to, it's a great album). 4.5 rounded down.
A classic.
Classic
3.5
So so good. Great hip hop, 4/5
From Excursions to Scenario there's not a bum song in the bunch except maybe Butter's content. I love the sound, energy and overall vibe of this record. Lyrics that are singable and worthy of study. It is peak Tribe.
I wasn't aware there was an alternative hip hop genre, but I likes it.
Great hip hop album
solid album, similar beats but it all flowed really well with good lyrics too