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)
Clap Your Hands
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Clap your hands now"
"Clap your hands now"
"Clap your hands now"
"Clap your hands now"
"Clap your hands now"
"Clap your hands now"
"Clap your hands now"
Brothers know the flavs when the Quest gets loose
Slamming sucker fuckers like the wrestler Zeus
Crazier than 2Pac in the flick called "Juice"
Cock is longer than the hat worn by Dr. Seuss
Love a girl in Daisy Dukes like them kids called Duice
Gets paid to sex the hoochie like my main man Luke
Control the mic like Denzel on the girls
Wack MCs be on the nuts like Rocket J. Squirrel
The worst thing in the world is a sucker MC
Favorite rap group in the world is EPMD
Can't forget the De La, due to originality
And if I ever went solo my favorite MC would be me
Phife Dawg up in the house, I give a shout out to Snoopy
Peace to all the Questers, to hell with the groupies
Like um, Ralph Malph to Potsie, Brooklyn to Dodger
Laverne to Shirley, Rerun to Roger
Ren to the Stimpy, Laurel to Hardy
Q-Tip and Phife, they mashed up the party
Kick the rhymes and more rhymes
Kick the beats and more beats
We'll have you scratching in your head like Shaheed on Technics
For those who wanna oppose then take a stand
But for now, just shut your shit and clap your hands
"Clap your hands""Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands "
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
You just wanna dance man, then clap your hands
If you venture up the wrong road, then the circumstance
Will be crucial, I got hundreds of rhymes that'll suit you
So listen
The Abstract intuition is very very worthy
I can feel ya out from Russia to Jersey
Can't understand the underground, it gets deep
The Lo, the Nikes, the links, the jeeps
The women, the lingo, and all the other goods
Peace to the hoods, keep my shit on play
Please don't do the mute when you hear me on the juke
Brothers know the angle, it's the Star-Spangled black banner
Hook up the beats at the funk manor
If you want a roll, then the dough I be raking
The scope is on the world 'cause it's mine for the taking
You know I'm gonna do it
My shit is rock solid, but it flows like fluid
Chemists get confused of my ill composition
This is the third of the new Tribe addition
MCs be swinging, but a lot of them be missing
So shut your bloodclot and listen
'Cause I'm bringin you the ill rendition
I'd like to send this out to the L.E.S
Gotta a lot of rhythm and style and finesse
Come here love, hot sex on a plat
And when your done with that then clap
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands"
"Clap your hands now"
"Clap your hands now"
"Clap your hands now"
"Clap your hands now"
Keep bouncing
The chorus of "Clap Your Hands" by A Tribe Called Quest simply tells the audience to clap their hands, as the title suggests. However, the rest of the song is a showcase for the group's lyrical talents. The first few lines talk about how the members of the group - Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad - are more skilled than their competition, likening themselves to Zeus, 2Pac, and Dr. Seuss. They also reference EPMD and De La Soul, two other important hip-hop groups of the time.
In the second verse, Q-Tip asserts that he has a unique and valuable perspective, as he can understand and appeal to audiences across the world. He also name-drops various elements of hip-hop culture, such as "The Lo" (short for Polo Ralph Lauren), Nike sneakers, and Jeep cars. The verse ends with a boast that his music is "rock solid, but it flows like fluid."
The final part of the song repeats the "Clap your hands" chorus while encouraging listeners to keep dancing. Overall, "Clap Your Hands" is a feel-good party anthem that also serves as a testament to A Tribe Called Quest's lyrical skill and cultural knowledge.
Line by Line Meaning
Clap your hands now
The song encourages listeners to clap their hands.
Brothers know the flavs when the Quest gets loose
Fans of A Tribe Called Quest recognize their musical style and vibe.
Slamming sucker fuckers like the wrestler Zeus
The band will aggressively take down anyone who disrespects their music or tries to bring them down.
Crazier than 2Pac in the flick called 'Juice'
The band is wild and unpredictable, like the late rapper 2Pac was in his role in the movie 'Juice.'
Cock is longer than the hat worn by Dr. Seuss
The singer is boasting about his sexual prowess in a playful way by comparing it to the tall, iconic hat of Dr. Seuss.
Love a girl in Daisy Dukes like them kids called Duice
The band members have a fondness for women dressed in short shorts like the ones worn in the song 'Daisy Dukes' by the rap group Duice.
Gets paid to sex the hoochie like my main man Luke
Like fellow rapper Luke (of 2 Live Crew), the band earns money by performing sexually explicit music and engaging in sexual encounters.
Control the mic like Denzel on the girls
The band has complete command over the microphone when they perform, similar to how Denzel Washington can captivate an audience with his acting.
Wack MCs be on the nuts like Rocket J. Squirrel
Untalented rappers try to imitate the band and ride on their coattails for success, like how Rocket J. Squirrel from the cartoon series tries to befriend and mooch off his pal Bullwinkle.
The worst thing in the world is a sucker MC
The band members loathe rappers who are copycats and unable to create their own original style or music.
Favorite rap group in the world is EPMD
The members of A Tribe Called Quest are fans of the rap group EPMD and their music.
Can't forget the De La, due to originality
The band members respect De La Soul for their unique and distinct sound.
And if I ever went solo my favorite MC would be me
If one of the band members were to pursue a solo career, they would consider themselves their own favorite rapper and would trust their own abilities.
Phife Dawg up in the house, I give a shout out to Snoopy
Phife Dawg, one of the band members, greets his listeners and gives a shout-out to the cartoon character Snoopy.
Peace to all the Questers, to hell with the groupies
The band members appreciate their loyal fans (Questers) but have no patience for groupies who latch onto them for personal gain.
Like um, Ralph Malph to Potsie, Brooklyn to Dodger
The band members are talking about different partnerships and dynamics, such as Ralph Malph's friendship with Potsie on the show Happy Days and the dynamic between Brooklyn and the Dodgers baseball team.
Laverne to Shirley, Rerun to Roger
The band members continue to list off examples of dynamics, such as the friendship between Laverne and Shirley on the TV show Laverne & Shirley and between Rerun and Roger on the show What's Happening!!
Ren to the Stimpy, Laurel to Hardy
The band members are referencing classic pairs, such as Ren and Stimpy from the cartoon series The Ren & Stimpy Show and the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.
Q-Tip and Phife, they mashed up the party
Q-Tip and Phife Dawg, two of the band members, put on a great performance and hyped up the party they were at.
Kick the rhymes and more rhymes
The band members deliver clever lines and wordplay in their lyrics.
Kick the beats and more beats
The band members create unique and catchy beats for their songs.
We'll have you scratching in your head like Shaheed on Technics
The band members' music is so good that it will stick in your head, similar to how DJ Shaheed's scratching skills on the turntables (Technics) are mesmerizing.
For those who wanna oppose then take a stand
The band challenges those who criticize or dislike their music to make their opinions known.
But for now, just shut your shit and clap your hands
Until someone has valid criticism, the band asks them to simply enjoy the music and clap along.
You just wanna dance man, then clap your hands
The band acknowledges that some people just want to dance and enjoy the music, and encourages them to clap along.
If you venture up the wrong road, then the circumstance
If someone takes the wrong path in life, they will face negative consequences.
Will be crucial, I got hundreds of rhymes that'll suit you
The band members have plenty of raps and rhymes that can help someone out of a bad situation.
The Abstract intuition is very very worthy
The singer, Q-Tip, prides himself on his unique and creative ideas and instincts.
I can feel ya out from Russia to Jersey
Q-Tip is able to connect with people from all over the world and understand their thoughts and feelings.
Can't understand the underground, it gets deep
Some people may not be able to understand the music created by underground/alternative artists because it is often complex and thought-provoking.
The Lo, the Nikes, the links, the jeeps
The band references popular fashion brands and the type of cars people drive in certain social groups that are inspired by hip-hop culture.
The women, the lingo, and all the other goods
The band members are attracted to women, unique language/vernacular, and other aspects of hip-hop culture.
Peace to the hoods, keep my shit on play
The band members show respect to urban neighborhoods and ask that their music continues to be played and appreciated.
Please don't do the mute when you hear me on the juke
The band members ask for listeners to not mute or silence their music when it plays, and appreciate people who enjoy it.
Brothers know the angle, it's the Star-Spangled black banner
Fans of the band know their view and approach to music, which combines elements of black culture and American patriotism.
Hook up the beats at the funk manor
The band members create funky beats and music that can be played and enjoyed in dance/club settings.
If you want a roll, then the dough I be raking
The singer boasts about making money and achieving success through his music.
The scope is on the world 'cause it's mine for the taking
The band members believe they can achieve great things and attain success on a global scale.
My shit is rock solid, but it flows like fluid
The band members' music and compositions are solid and well-constructed, yet flow and move effortlessly.
Chemists get confused of my ill composition
People who analyze and study music may find the band members' songwriting and composition confusing or complex.
This is the third of the new Tribe addition
This song is the third release from the band's most recent album or project.
MCs be swinging, but a lot of them be missing
Rappers often try to compete with the band members and their music, but fail to create something equally as good or meaningful.
So shut your bloodclot and listen
The band members tell listeners to pay attention and stop talking or interrupting.
Cuz I'm bringin you the ill rendition
The singer is creating and performing a unique and high-quality version of a song or musical piece.
I'd like to send this out to the L.E.S
The band members give a shout-out to the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York City, where they are from or where they often perform.
Gotta a lot of rhythm and style and finesse
The band members possess a great deal of musical talent and skill, as well as a unique personal style and flair.
Come here love, hot sex on a plat
The singer is calling out to someone for sexual intimacy and pleasure.
And when your done with that then clap
After completing their sexual act, the singer asks that they join in clapping to the rhythm of the music.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Malik Izaak Taylor, Ali Shaheed Jones-Muhammad, Robert M James, Kamaal Ibn John Fareed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tate Buitrago
on Electric Relaxation
another of my dads