In 1991, the group released its jazz-influenced second album, The Low End Theory, regarded for helping shape alternative hip hop in the 1990s. In 1998, the group broke up shortly before releasing its fifth album, The Love Movement, but in 2006, the group's original members reunited and toured the United States. In 2016, the group released its sixth and final album, We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service, which was still incomplete when Phife Dawg died suddenly in March 2016, and was completed by the other members after his death. A Tribe Called Quest was the most commercially successful act in the Native Tongues collective, with all six of its albums certified either gold or platinum.
John Bush of AllMusic called them "the most intelligent, artistic rap group during the 1990s." The Source gave the group's debut album, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990), a perfect rating of five 'mics,' marking the first time that the magazine awarded the rating. In 2005, A Tribe Called Quest received the Founders Award at the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, and two years later, the group was honored at the 4th VH1 Hip Hop Honors. In 2017, the group was awarded the Brit Award for International Group.
AllMusic critic John Bush called A Tribe Called Quest "without question the most intelligent, artistic rap group during the 1990s", further stating that the group "jump-started and perfected the hip-hop alternative to hardcore and gangsta rap." At a time when James Brown drum breaks and P-Funk basslines dominated hip hop production, the group successfully bridged the gap between jazz and hip hop, incorporating bebop and hard bop samples and recording with double bassist Ron Carter. The group's production influenced their contemporaries, thus changing the sound of hip hop; Dr. Dre produced his highly regarded debut The Chronic after being inspired by The Low End Theory, and Pete Rock stated, "There were times when I would walk into a record store and see Tip sitting on the floor with his glasses on, going through albums, looking for beats ... I was like, 'This guy is serious.' Being around [the group] made me step up and become even more serious than I was".
Lyrically, A Tribe Called Quest has been regarded for addressing many social issues through Q-Tip's philosophical viewpoints and Phife Dawg's everyman perspectives. People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm influenced several hip hop artists; Scarface asserted that it "really made me want to rap", and Pharrell Williams expressed that it was "the turning point [which] made me see that music was art." Kierna Mayo, former editor-in-chief of Ebony, said that The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders "gave birth to neo-everything. ... That entire class of D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Maxwell, and Lauryn Hill—and moving on to André 3000, Kanye West, and Talib Kweli—everything that is left of everything begins with Tribe." The group has also been credited for helping launch the solo careers of Busta Rhymes, J Dilla and Consequence.
The group was the subject of the acclaimed 2011 documentary film Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, directed by Michael Rapaport.
Studio albums
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990)
The Low End Theory (1991)
Midnight Marauders (1993)
Beats, Rhymes and Life (1996)
The Love Movement (1998)
We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service (2016)
15 Rock Rock Y'all
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We want ya'll all to know, that it's time
To rock rock ya'll
Freak freak ya'll
To the beat ya'll
It's unique ya'll
My rap'll blast ya, send you to the hereafter
I push a tractor, for horses grazin' in the pasture
Ya heard I was trickin', the whole room filled with laughter
In ciphers, I'm the one you don't rhyme after
You only know half of the math, it don't add up
The lead batter, my hits make ya frame shatter
Watch me now! Just begun like Jimmy Castor
I'm bad luck just like walkin' under ladders
Mad rappers, book of life, last chapter
Me and my squad build just like contractors
I break shit, you only give hairline fractures
Women flash us, don't know ya better ask us
A bastard, wit' more contacts than Lens Crafters
Tear down the rafters, venereals couldn't clap us
You need practice, hit chicks then I'm Casper
The church of scientology, feminine biology
Manic depressive psychologically, A.D.D. alive and we
Polluted by technology, the fumes and its ecology
While your thought you was out of copy I get nastier than sodomy
Probably an oddesey, started back on robbery
Was the degree of the economy that do the sovereignty
Regarded as a prodigy, leery in sociology
Let the wallabees always conceal my gynecology
Rhymin' pathologically, that's how it gotta be!
Never makin' no apology, worshippin' my anthropology
Fuck modesty, studyin' microbiology
Causin' verbal lobotomy, it's in my geneology
Six months of sobriety, movin' very methodically
Like a unicorn, more ways than oceanography
Guard technology, rip shows antibiotically
True thugs bionically, give birth to criminology
Yo as a youngin', I swear to God you couldn't tell me nothin'
I swore I was gettin' somethin', clothes or humpin'
For girls with the church, slacks with some shirts tucked in
I set it up for money, my mom worked when I was cuttin'
Unsigned strugglin', for the heat I lit the oven
One would by the CD, the other would do the dubbin'
Before I met Rob, I was in the clubs frontin'
Oh yeah I know the Tip, when I see him I be duckin'
But now when I'm clubbin', those that used to dis were buggin'
Overweight chicks, spandex, they stomachs sucked in
Stay interruptin', dance and try to cut in
Told people you got in free when you really snuck in
We never get concerned about who's in the league
We just stay workin' so no one will need
An unconcerned outsider givin' niggas feed
My niggas puff weed but negotiate the seed
The family is granite and you can't intercede
I try to switch lanes at this operatin' speed
Cats in the game be gamblin' with greed
We the house, you the player and we gonna catch these
Who's the Sam Sneed makin' microphones bleed
Poker face creed while my mind just read
Shorty got rhythm but her freak got freed
That's insignificant but this take heed
They say I'm pretty like Clay is, bright like the day is
Beats from my fleet be sweet like Sugar Ray is
I'm swingin' this from Bay Ridge to where the Oakland Bay is
My game is tough to play, I'm tough to weigh like your safe is
The aim is, to make you recognize what the name is
Mos Def gon' set it straight from where the 718 is
The place with the greats who originate the flavors
An all-star block with some all-star neighbors
(Turn the music down!) This is probably some haters
Achin' cuz they hear us rotatin' on the playlist
From B-boy laces to Detroit gators
Yo Tip I got to bail, where the scale? Help me weigh this
To rock rock ya'll
Freak freak ya'll
To the beat ya'll
It's unique ya'll
The song "Rock Rock Y'All" by A Tribe Called Quest featuring Punchline Wordsworth Jane Doe and Mos Def is an energetic and upbeat track with each artist showcasing their unique style of rapping. The lyrics talk about the supremacy of the artists in the rap game, their struggle to reach success, and their unique style of music. The opening verse talks about the artist's prowess in music and how they can blast their rap to send the listener to the hereafter. He further talks about how he is the one that starts a cipher and how his math is strong, while others only know half of it. The chorus is an invitation to the audience to dance and enjoy the beat. The next verse by Mos Def talks about his journey from struggle to success, how his game is tough to play, and how he is non-compromising in his music.
The lyrics of the song are an ode to the hip-hop and rap culture with each of the artists showcasing their different styles of rapping to make the song unique. The song is a classic example of old-school hip-hop, where the lyrics were more prominent than the beats. The artists talk about their journey and how they have reached where they are, and this can be an inspiration to young artists who are struggling to make their name in the rap game. The chorus of the song invites the audience to enjoy the music and dance, which was a primary feature of the hip hop and rap culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo! We about to rock this joint, from the family And
We're about to start this party, representing our family
We want ya'll all to know, that it's time
We want everyone to know that it's time to get down
To rock rock ya'll
Let's rock the party
Freak freak ya'll
Let loose and have fun
To the beat ya'll
Dance in rhythm to the music
It's unique ya'll
Our style is one of a kind
A-yo praise the master, make plans wit' your pastor
Acknowledge the higher power, and seek guidance from a spiritual leader
My rap'll blast ya, send you to the hereafter
My lyrics are powerful and can have a profound impact on you
I push a tractor, for horses grazin' in the pasture
I work hard and am willing to do any job, no matter how difficult
Ya heard I was trickin', the whole room filled with laughter
You may have heard rumors about me, but they are untrue and people are laughing at them
In ciphers, I'm the one you don't rhyme after
In a rap battle, I am the one you don't want to challenge
You only know half of the math, it don't add up
You think you know what's going on, but you're missing important information
The lead batter, my hits make ya frame shatter
I'm the leader of the pack, and my rhymes are so powerful they can knock you down
Watch me now! Just begun like Jimmy Castor
Pay attention to me, I'm just getting started like Jimmy Castor's music career
I'm bad luck just like walkin' under ladders
I'm seen as bad luck or an omen of misfortune
Mad rappers, book of life, last chapter
Other rappers may be angry or envious, but I'll have the last word in the book of life
Me and my squad build just like contractors
My crew and I work together like skilled contractors building something
I break shit, you only give hairline fractures
I can destroy things completely, whereas you can only cause small amounts of damage
Women flash us, don't know ya better ask us
Women try to get our attention, but they really don't know us
A bastard, wit' more contacts than Lens Crafters
I am a nobody, but surprisingly have many important connections
Tear down the rafters, venereals couldn't clap us
We'll rock the house down, and even sexually transmitted diseases can't stop us
You need practice, hit chicks then I'm Casper
You need to improve your skills, whereas I'm so good with women that I'm like Casper the friendly ghost
The church of scientology, feminine biology
We're addressing religion and science, specifically female anatomy
Manic depressive psychologically, A.D.D. alive and we
We're discussing different psychological conditions and disorders
Polluted by technology, the fumes and its ecology
We're impacted by technology in harmful ways, such as environmental pollution
While your thought you was out of copy I get nastier than sodomy
While you thought you had me figured out, I'm actually much more intense or aggressive than you anticipated
Probably an oddesey, started back on robbery
The journey has been long and difficult, dating back to when I was involved in criminal activity
Was the degree of the economy that do the sovereignty
The degree of success of the economy determines the power of the government
Regarded as a prodigy, leery in sociology
I'm viewed as a prodigy or child genius, but wary about social sciences like sociology
Let the wallabees always conceal my gynecology
I'll wear wallabee shoes to hide what's in my pants
Rhymin' pathologically, that's how it gotta be!
I must keep rapping in an obsessive way, it's just my nature!
Never makin' no apology, worshippin' my anthropology
I'll never apologize for who I am, and celebrate my unique cultural identity
Fuck modesty, studyin' microbiology
I don't believe in modesty, and I'm studying the study of microorganisms
Causin' verbal lobotomy, it's in my geneology
I'm causing serious damage to others with my words, and it's just part of my family history
Six months of sobriety, movin' very methodically
I've been sober for six months and am moving in a controlled, planned out way
Like a unicorn, more ways than oceanography
I'm rare and unique, like a unicorn, and there are many different aspects to my personality and identity
Guard technology, rip shows antibiotically
I'll protect technology and use it to kill it when performing live
True thugs bionically, give birth to criminology
We're hardcore criminals, with a biological or robotic component, and we're responsible for creating the study of criminal behavior
Yo as a youngin', I swear to God you couldn't tell me nothin'
When I was young, I was confident and wouldn't listen to anyone
I swore I was gettin' somethin', clothes or humpin'
I was determined to get either material possessions or sexual gratification
For girls with the church, slacks with some shirts tucked in
I dressed up in formal clothes to impress women at church
I set it up for money, my mom worked when I was cuttin'
I was trying to make money, while my mother worked hard to support me
Unsigned strugglin', for the heat I lit the oven
I was a struggling, unsigned artist, and even had to heat my home using an oven
One would by the CD, the other would do the dubbin'
One person would buy my music, and the other would make copies for themselves
Before I met Rob, I was in the clubs frontin'
Before I met Rob, I would pretend to be important at the clubs
Oh yeah I know the Tip, when I see him I be duckin'
I know who Tip is, and I try to avoid him when I see him
But now when I'm clubbin', those that used to dis were buggin'
Now that I'm successful and famous, those who used to criticize me are trying to be my friend
Overweight chicks, spandex, they stomachs sucked in
At the club, overweight women would wear tight clothes and suck in their stomachs
Stay interruptin', dance and try to cut in
These women would interrupt my conversations and try to dance with me
Told people you got in free when you really snuck in
I would lie and say that I got into the club for free, when really I snuck in
We never get concerned about who's in the league
We're not worried about competing against others or being better than them
We just stay workin' so no one will need
We just focus on our own work, so that no one will need to worry about us
An unconcerned outsider givin' niggas feed
We don't care about the opinion of outsiders, who try to tell us what to do or how to live
My niggas puff weed but negotiate the seed
My friends smoke weed, but also work hard to create opportunities for themselves
The family is granite and you can't intercede
Our family is strong and impenetrable, and no one can intervene or disrupt it
I try to switch lanes at this operatin' speed
I'm trying to change my approach, while still moving at a fast pace
Cats in the game be gamblin' with greed
Other rappers are too focused on making money and are willing to take risks to get it
We the house, you the player and we gonna catch these
We're in charge, and we'll get the better of those who try to compete with us
Who's the Sam Sneed makin' microphones bleed
Who's the best at rocking the mic and leaving other rappers in awe
Poker face creed while my mind just read
I have a calm demeanor even when my mind is racing
Shorty got rhythm but her freak got freed
This woman can dance, but she's also very sexually adventurous
That's insignificant but this take heed
That may not be important, but pay attention to this next point
They say I'm pretty like Clay is, bright like the day is
People say I'm good-looking and radiant like the light of day
Beats from my fleet be sweet like Sugar Ray is
The beats my crew creates are smooth and enjoyable, like Sugar Ray's boxing style
I'm swingin' this from Bay Ridge to where the Oakland Bay is
I'm rapping from New York to the West Coast and everywhere in between
My game is tough to play, I'm tough to weigh like your safe is
My approach to hip-hop is unique and difficult to imitate or measure
The aim is, to make you recognize what the name is
The goal is for you to know and remember who I am
Mos Def gon' set it straight from where the 718 is
I'm Mos Def, and I'm representing Brooklyn (area code 718) with my music
The place with the greats who originate the flavors
Brooklyn is the birthplace of many legendary musicians who have influenced the sound of hip-hop
(Turn the music down!) This is probably some haters
People who don't like us may be trying to ruin our night by asking us to turn the music down
Achin' cuz they hear us rotatin' on the playlist
These haters are jealous and upset because they keep hearing our music on the radio
From B-boy laces to Detroit gators
We're rocking hip-hop style from sneakers to fancy alligator shoes
Yo Tip I got to bail, where the scale? Help me weigh this
Hey, Tip, I have to go and quickly weigh something, can you help me find a scale?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALI SHAHEED JONES-MUHAMMAD, CHARLES WRIGHT, DANTE SMITH, J. GADSON, KAMAAL IBN JOHN FAREED, LATANIA MORRIS, MALIK IZAAK TAYLOR, RASHAAN TRUELL, VINSON JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Felino Fuego
Rock Rock Y'all
A Tribe Called Quest
Yo! We about to rock this joint, from the family And
We want ya'll all to know, that it's time
To rock rock ya'll
Freak freak ya'll
To the beat ya'll
It's unique ya'll
A-yo praise the master, make plans wit' your pastor
My rap'll blast ya, send you to the hereafter
I push a tractor, for horses grazin' in the pasture
Ya heard I was trickin', the whole room filled with laughter
In ciphers, I'm the one you don't rhyme after
You only know half of the math, it don't add up
The lead batter, my hits make ya frame shatter
Watch me now! Just begun like Jimmy Castor
I'm bad luck just like walkin' under ladders
Mad rappers, book of life, last chapter
Me and my squad build just like contractors
I break shit, you only give hairline fractures
Women flash us, don't know ya better ask us
A bastard, wit' more contacts than Lens Crafters
Tear down the rafters, venereals couldn't clap us
You need practice, hit chicks then I'm Casper
The church of scientology, feminine biology
Manic depressive psychologically, A.D.D. alive and we
Polluted by technology, the fumes and its ecology
While your thought you was out of copy I get nastier than sodomy
Probably an oddesey, started back on robbery
Was the degree of the economy that do the sovereignty
Regarded as a prodigy, leery in sociology
Let the wallabees always conceal my gynecology
Rhymin' pathologically, that's how it gotta be!
Never makin' no apology, worshippin' my anthropology
Fuck modesty, studyin' microbiology
Causin' verbal lobotomy, it's in my geneology
Six months of sobriety, movin' very methodically
Like a unicorn, more ways than oceanography
Guard technology, rip shows antibiotically
True thugs bionically, give birth to criminology
Yo as a youngin', I swear to God you couldn't tell me nothin'
I swore I was gettin' somethin', clothes or humpin'
For girls with the church, slacks with some shirts tucked in
I set it up for money, my mom worked when I was cuttin'
Unsigned strugglin', for the heat I lit the oven
One would by the CD, the other would do the dubbin'
Before I met Rob, I was in the clubs frontin'
Oh yeah I know the Tip, when I see him I be duckin'
But now when I'm clubbin', those that used to dis were buggin'
Overweight chicks, spandex, they stomachs sucked in
Stay interruptin', dance and try to cut in
Told people you got in free when you really snuck in
We never get concerned about who's in the league
We just stay workin' so no one will need
An unconcerned outsider givin' niggas feed
My niggas puff weed but negotiate the seed
The family is granite and you can't intercede
I try to switch lanes at this operatin' speed
Cats in the game be gamblin' with greed
We the house, you the player and we gonna catch these
Who's the Sam Sneed makin' microphones bleed
Poker face creed while my mind just read
Shorty got rhythm but her freak got freed
That's insignificant but this take heed
They say I'm pretty like Clay is, bright like the day is
Beats from my fleet be sweet like Sugar Ray is
I'm swingin' this from Bay Ridge to where the Oakland Bay is
My game is tough to play, I'm tough to weigh like your safe is
The aim is, to make you recognize what the name is
Mos Def gon' set it straight from where the 718 is
The place with the greats who originate the flavors
An all-star block with some all-star neighbors
(Turn the music down!) This is probably some haters
Achin' cuz they hear us rotatin' on the playlist
From B-boy laces to Detroit gators
Yo Tip I got to bail, where the scale? Help me weigh this
To rock rock ya'll
Freak freak ya'll
To the beat ya'll
It's unique ya'll
Traducir al español
Tom Ganderton
she TORE UP twice inna lifetime. actually, everyone on that track did. Black Star is incredible, and that track is one of my favorite of all time.
Felino Fuego
Rock Rock Y'all
A Tribe Called Quest
Yo! We about to rock this joint, from the family And
We want ya'll all to know, that it's time
To rock rock ya'll
Freak freak ya'll
To the beat ya'll
It's unique ya'll
A-yo praise the master, make plans wit' your pastor
My rap'll blast ya, send you to the hereafter
I push a tractor, for horses grazin' in the pasture
Ya heard I was trickin', the whole room filled with laughter
In ciphers, I'm the one you don't rhyme after
You only know half of the math, it don't add up
The lead batter, my hits make ya frame shatter
Watch me now! Just begun like Jimmy Castor
I'm bad luck just like walkin' under ladders
Mad rappers, book of life, last chapter
Me and my squad build just like contractors
I break shit, you only give hairline fractures
Women flash us, don't know ya better ask us
A bastard, wit' more contacts than Lens Crafters
Tear down the rafters, venereals couldn't clap us
You need practice, hit chicks then I'm Casper
The church of scientology, feminine biology
Manic depressive psychologically, A.D.D. alive and we
Polluted by technology, the fumes and its ecology
While your thought you was out of copy I get nastier than sodomy
Probably an oddesey, started back on robbery
Was the degree of the economy that do the sovereignty
Regarded as a prodigy, leery in sociology
Let the wallabees always conceal my gynecology
Rhymin' pathologically, that's how it gotta be!
Never makin' no apology, worshippin' my anthropology
Fuck modesty, studyin' microbiology
Causin' verbal lobotomy, it's in my geneology
Six months of sobriety, movin' very methodically
Like a unicorn, more ways than oceanography
Guard technology, rip shows antibiotically
True thugs bionically, give birth to criminology
Yo as a youngin', I swear to God you couldn't tell me nothin'
I swore I was gettin' somethin', clothes or humpin'
For girls with the church, slacks with some shirts tucked in
I set it up for money, my mom worked when I was cuttin'
Unsigned strugglin', for the heat I lit the oven
One would by the CD, the other would do the dubbin'
Before I met Rob, I was in the clubs frontin'
Oh yeah I know the Tip, when I see him I be duckin'
But now when I'm clubbin', those that used to dis were buggin'
Overweight chicks, spandex, they stomachs sucked in
Stay interruptin', dance and try to cut in
Told people you got in free when you really snuck in
We never get concerned about who's in the league
We just stay workin' so no one will need
An unconcerned outsider givin' niggas feed
My niggas puff weed but negotiate the seed
The family is granite and you can't intercede
I try to switch lanes at this operatin' speed
Cats in the game be gamblin' with greed
We the house, you the player and we gonna catch these
Who's the Sam Sneed makin' microphones bleed
Poker face creed while my mind just read
Shorty got rhythm but her freak got freed
That's insignificant but this take heed
They say I'm pretty like Clay is, bright like the day is
Beats from my fleet be sweet like Sugar Ray is
I'm swingin' this from Bay Ridge to where the Oakland Bay is
My game is tough to play, I'm tough to weigh like your safe is
The aim is, to make you recognize what the name is
Mos Def gon' set it straight from where the 718 is
The place with the greats who originate the flavors
An all-star block with some all-star neighbors
(Turn the music down!) This is probably some haters
Achin' cuz they hear us rotatin' on the playlist
From B-boy laces to Detroit gators
Yo Tip I got to bail, where the scale? Help me weigh this
To rock rock ya'll
Freak freak ya'll
To the beat ya'll
It's unique ya'll
Traducir al español
69jamrock
Mos Def verse is too dope... "My aim is, to make you recognise what my name is!"
Snappy Snoo
Still bumping in 2021 idk how this doesn't have several million views it's one of the most Hip-Hop tracks ever.
Neil Wright
2nd verse is awesome
Elias X
tony rusike Wordsworth
tony rusike
Neil Wright who did the 3rd verse
tony rusike
Neil Wright The 3rd verse is hilarious lol
LionessLady84
Punchline killed the 1st verse.
Kuji Chagulia
This always reminded me of the Black Star 'Twice Inna Lifetime' track. Almost the same line up of MCs.