The Low End Theory is the classic second album by American hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. Released on September 24, 1991 through Jive Records, the album produced three singles; "Check the Rhime", "Jazz (We've Got)", and "Scenario", and stands as one of hip-hop’s greatest and most influential albums of all time. After A Tribe Called Quest's debut album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, Jarobi White left the group to study culinary art. Phife Dawg learned that he was diabetic a month after the album's release and after a discussion with fellow member Q-Tip, they agreed to Read Full BioThe Low End Theory is the classic second album by American hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. Released on September 24, 1991 through Jive Records, the album produced three singles; "Check the Rhime", "Jazz (We've Got)", and "Scenario", and stands as one of hip-hop’s greatest and most influential albums of all time.
After A Tribe Called Quest's debut album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, Jarobi White left the group to study culinary art. Phife Dawg learned that he was diabetic a month after the album's release and after a discussion with fellow member Q-Tip, they agreed to increase his participation on their second album and to "step it up in general as a group. "Q-Tip credited N.W.A's album "Straight Outta Compton" as an inspiration for the record. The group hired double bassist Ron Carter on the track "Verses from the Abstract". Q-Tip stated, "We wanted that straight bass sound, and Ron Carter is one of the premier bassists of the century." Carter agreed to record tracks on the condition that the group avoids profanity, to which Q-tip assured they were addressing "real issues".
The Low End Theory is stylistically reminiscent of mid-1980s hip-hop. Producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad and rappers Q-Tip and Phife Dawg showcase how rap was done before commercial success influenced many rappers' creativity. The album's minimalist sound is "stripped to the essentials: vocals, drums, and bass." The bass drum and vocals emphasize the downbeat on every track.
The Low End Theory helped shape alternative hip-hop in the 1990s. It established the musical, cultural, and historical link between hip-hop and jazz. Writer Oliver Wang called the album "a consummate link between generations", which took the essence of jazz and hip-hop, and "showing they originated from the same black center." The group's "mellow innovations" helped jazz rap gain significant exposure from 1992 to 1993. Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 154 in "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time", stating that "people connected the dots between hip-hop and jazz -- both were revolutionary forms of black music based in improvisation and flow -- but A Tribe Called Quest's second album drew the entire picture."
In Time Magazine's "All-Time 100" albums, Josh Tyrangiel called the record an exception to jazz rap often being "wishful thinking on the part of critics". He described the album as "socially conscious without being dull" and likened a few tracks to "smoky rooms where cool guys ... say cool things." Pitchfork Media listed the album at number fifty-six in its "Top 100 Albums of the 1990s". The Low End Theory was voted at number thirty-two in The Village Voice's 1991 Pazz & Jop critics poll. Allmusic writer John Bush, who declared it "the most consistent and flowing hip-hop album ever recorded", summed up the record as "an unqualified success, the perfect marriage of intelligent, flowing raps to nuanced, groove-centered productions." On February 1, 1995, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album Platinum, and the album is usually praised as the group's best work.
After A Tribe Called Quest's debut album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, Jarobi White left the group to study culinary art. Phife Dawg learned that he was diabetic a month after the album's release and after a discussion with fellow member Q-Tip, they agreed to increase his participation on their second album and to "step it up in general as a group. "Q-Tip credited N.W.A's album "Straight Outta Compton" as an inspiration for the record. The group hired double bassist Ron Carter on the track "Verses from the Abstract". Q-Tip stated, "We wanted that straight bass sound, and Ron Carter is one of the premier bassists of the century." Carter agreed to record tracks on the condition that the group avoids profanity, to which Q-tip assured they were addressing "real issues".
The Low End Theory is stylistically reminiscent of mid-1980s hip-hop. Producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad and rappers Q-Tip and Phife Dawg showcase how rap was done before commercial success influenced many rappers' creativity. The album's minimalist sound is "stripped to the essentials: vocals, drums, and bass." The bass drum and vocals emphasize the downbeat on every track.
The Low End Theory helped shape alternative hip-hop in the 1990s. It established the musical, cultural, and historical link between hip-hop and jazz. Writer Oliver Wang called the album "a consummate link between generations", which took the essence of jazz and hip-hop, and "showing they originated from the same black center." The group's "mellow innovations" helped jazz rap gain significant exposure from 1992 to 1993. Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 154 in "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time", stating that "people connected the dots between hip-hop and jazz -- both were revolutionary forms of black music based in improvisation and flow -- but A Tribe Called Quest's second album drew the entire picture."
In Time Magazine's "All-Time 100" albums, Josh Tyrangiel called the record an exception to jazz rap often being "wishful thinking on the part of critics". He described the album as "socially conscious without being dull" and likened a few tracks to "smoky rooms where cool guys ... say cool things." Pitchfork Media listed the album at number fifty-six in its "Top 100 Albums of the 1990s". The Low End Theory was voted at number thirty-two in The Village Voice's 1991 Pazz & Jop critics poll. Allmusic writer John Bush, who declared it "the most consistent and flowing hip-hop album ever recorded", summed up the record as "an unqualified success, the perfect marriage of intelligent, flowing raps to nuanced, groove-centered productions." On February 1, 1995, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album Platinum, and the album is usually praised as the group's best work.
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Excursions
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics
Back in the days when I was a teenager
Before I had status and before I had a pager
You could find the Abstract listening to hip hop
My pops used to say, it reminded him of be-bop
I said, "Well daddy don't you know that things go in cycles
The way that Bobby Brown is just ampin' like Michael"
Its all expected, things are for the looking
If you got the money, Quest is for the booking
Come on everybody, let's get with the fly modes
Still got room on the truck, load the back boom
Listen to the rhymes, to get a mental picture
Of this black man, black woman venture
Why do I say that? 'Cause I gotta speak the truth man
Doing what we feel for the music is the proof and
Planted on the ground, the act is so together
Bona fide strong, you need leverage to sever
The unit, yes, the unit, yes, the unit called the jazz is
We deliver it each year on the street for the beat 'cause
You can find it on the rack in your record store(store)
If you get the record, then your thoughts are adored and appreciated
'Cause we're ever so glad we made it
We work hard, so we gotta thank God
Dishing out the plastic, do the dance till you spastic
If you diss, it gets drastic
Listen to the rhymes, 'cause its time to make gravy
If it moves your booty, then shake, shake it baby
All the way to Africa a.K.a. The Motherland (uh)
Stick out the left, then I'll ask for the other hand
That's the right hand, Black Man (man)
Only if you was noted as my man (man)
If I get the credit, then I'll think I deserve it
If you fake moves, don't fix your mouth to word it
Get in the zone of positivity, not negativity
'Cause we gotta strive for longevity
If you botch up, what's in that (what?)
A pair of Nikes, size ten-and-a-half (come on, come on)
We gotta make moves
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
We gotta make moves
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
We gotta make moves
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
We gotta make moves
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
You gotta be a winner all the time
Can't fall prey to a hip hop crime
With the dope raps and dope tracks for you for blocks
From the fly girlies to the hardest of the rocks
Musically, the Quest, is on the rise
We on these Excursions so you must realize
Hip hop continually, about the Zulu
If you don't like it, get off the Zulu tip
So what can you do in the times which exist?
You can't fake moves on your brother or your sis
But if your sis is a (bitch), brother is a jerk
Leave 'em both alone and continue with your work
Whatever it may be into this society
Everything is fair, at least that how it seems to me
You must be honest and true to the next
Don't be phony and expect one not to flex
Especially if you rhyme, you have to live by the pen
Your man is your man, then treat him like your friend
All it is, is the code of the streets
So listen to the knowledge being dropped over beats
Beats that are hard, beats that are funky
It could get you hooked like a crackhead junkie
What you gotta do to is know that the Tribe's in this sphere
The Abstract Poet, prominent like Shakespeare
We gotta make moves
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
We gotta make moves
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
We gotta make moves
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
We gotta make moves
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
Time is running out on black power advocates in the day (excursions, excursions)
And white thighed supporters at night (excursions, excursions)
Every time you see them, they're chasin' some white woman (excursions, excursions)
With their tongue hangin' out (excursions, excursions)
Time is running and passing, passing and running (excursions, excursions)
Running and passing, passing and running (excursions, excursions)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ali Shaheed Jones-Muhammad, Malik Izaak Taylor, Kamaal Ibn John Fareed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Chris Metz
Verse 1: Q-Tip]
Back in the days when I was a teenager
Before I had status and before I had a pager
You could find the Abstract listenin' to hip-hop
My pops used to say, it reminded him of Bebop
I said, "Well, Daddy, don't you know that things go in cycles?
Way that Bobby Brown is just amping like Michael"
It's all expected, things are for the lookin'
If you got the money, Quest is for the bookin'
Come on everybody, let's get with the fly mode
Still got room on the truckload of black boom
Listen to the rhymes, then get a mental picture
Of this black man, and black woman fixture
Why do I say that? 'Cause I gotta speak the truth, man
Doin' what we feel for the music is the proof, and
Planted on the ground, the act is so together
Bona fide strong, you need leverage to sever
The unit, yes, the unit, yes, the unit called the jazz is
Delivering each year an LP filled with street goods
You can find it on your rack in your record store
If you get the record, say your thoughts are adored
And appreciated, 'cause we're ever so glad we made it
We work hard, so we gotta thank God
Dishin' out the plastic, do the dance till you're spastic
If you diss—it gets drastic
Listen to the rhyme, 'cause it's time to make gravy
If it moves your booty, then shake, shake it, baby
All the way to Africa, A.K.A. the Motherland
Stick out the left, then I'll ask for the other hand
That's the right hand, Black man
Only if you are noted as my man
If I get the credit, then I think I deserve it
If you fake moves, don't fix your mouth to word it
Get in the zone of positivity, not negativity
'Cause we gotta strive for longevity
If you botch up, what's in that [ass]
(What?) A pair of Nikes, size ten-and-a-half
[Chorus]
We gotta make moves (words)
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
We gotta make moves (words)
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
We gotta make moves
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
We gotta make moves
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
[Interlude: Sample]
"Time, time is a ship on a merciless sea
Drifting toward an abyss of nothingness
Until it can be recharted for its own destiny
Time is an inanimate object paying and paying and paying for no justification for belief
Time is dancing, boogalooing-away all memories of past—"
[Verse 2: Q-Tip]
We gotta be a winner all the time
Can't fall prey to a hip-hop crime
With the dope raps and dope tracks we move blocks
From the fly girlies to the hardest of the rocks
Musically the Quest, is on the rise
We on these excursions so you must realize
That continually, I pop my Zulu [shit]
If you don't like it, get off the Zulu tip
So what can you do in the times which exist
You can't fake moves on your brother or your sis
But if your sis is a [bitch], brother is a jerk
Leave 'em both alone and continue with your work
Whatever it may be in today's society
Everything is fair, least that's how it seems to me
You must be honest and true to the next
Don't be phony and expect one not to flex
Especially if you rhyme, you have to live by the pen
Your man is your man, then treat him like your friend
All it is, is the code of the streets
So listen to the knowledge being dropped over beats
Beats that are hard, beats that are funky
They could get you hooked like a crackhead junkie
What you gotta do is know the Tribe is in the sphere
The Abstract Poet, prominent like Shakespeare
(Or Edgar Allan Poe, or Langston Hughes, or...)
[Chorus]
We gotta make moves
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
We gotta make moves
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
We gotta make moves
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
We gotta make moves
Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on)
[Outro: Sample + Q-Tip]
"—time is running out on black power advocates in the day and white thighed supporters at night
Every time you see them, they're chasin' some white woman with their tongue hangin' out
Time is running and passing, passing and running, running and passing, passing and running—"
Excursions
Samba Nelly
16 April 2022
I've been listening to People's Instinctive Travels and the paths of rhythym for 2 years now, because I wanted to really grasp the tribe sound and understand the native tongues. I took my time with that album and really enjoyed it. I listened to The Low End Theory today and now I can't stop playing it! The jazz influence really turned up a notch and they took a different turn to really reel you in. From the lyrics,the rhyme scheme, the beats, jazz , bass and the overall feel is fantastic. It's like Tip knew that the beats gotta be better and phife knew he needed to come in spittin.
This album, The Low End Theory is iconic, plus we hear Busta Rhymes's humble begginings and hear the earliest lyrics of him refrencing dungeon dragons that nicki minaj borrowed for romans revenge ft eminem AND lyrics which were also used in his 2002 song 'As I come back' produced by The Neptunes. Maybe skateboard told busta to bring it back since he is a stan of Q-tip and Tribe. If it was then pharrel is a genius. Now I'm hooked to Tribe the same way I was hooked to The Fugees, especially Wyclef and Lauryn. If The Fugees did more material together I would say that they should have done a VERZUZ with A Tribe called quest. I'm gonna take my time with this album before I move on to Midnight Marauders. The Low End Theory is a classic. 10/10.
I feel like tribe showed the world that you do not need to be a gangsta to rap, swear a lot in your raps, do commercial raps like mc hammer and sir mix a lot, last but not least, you do not need a chain or be materialistic to be a rapper and make it in rap. I'm definetly not against the ones that do or did all that shit, its dope but with Tribe, they showed the world that all you need is great artistry. That's what they display
I hope they get inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame.
Shoutout to anyone who take their time to read this. Rest Easy Phife and Hip Hop for life!
OJ’s Bloody Glove
This song definitely set the tone for the rest of the album with its dark streetwise edge and stark hitting beats. The Low End Theory just may be the greatest sophomore album ever created by any Hip-Hop artist.
Malachi Radcliffe
It is
kil44ua
That and liquid swords and gkmc
Bob Vila's Home Again
No Need For Alarm - Del.. also a fantastic soph.
Sgt Meatball
Nah, GKMC by Kendrick is.
Sane Smith
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Karl Püschel
one of the best intros to an album of all time
Isaac Rouse
Beats , Rhymes & Life...
Ricardo Paris
One of the best hip hop albums of all time!
Kaleo Alexander
This group was both ahead of it’s time and a throwback at the same time