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)
Crew
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About the cats who be fronting
You know the Tip, he be huntin
For all the goodness gracious
All across the wide spaces
Yo, check it out, bust me down, yo
You'se my peoples, why it got to come down to this shit
Remember what I said to you, you bleed, I bleed
C'mon, you know how we get down, if you're down, you need
And I'm supplying, the dynamic duo, electricfying
Everybody had to wet us, cuz no one will forget us
Son, I testify sure as God was my guide
Any petty little bullshit you did will slide
Same on my end, after all, what are we, friends
If niggas ran me this, too much grounds we defend
In the honor or brotherhood cuz it's all good
Get on some grown man shit and let's knock on wood
But now seeing you baby in this stall out position
Wondering who's the dime piece that you're kissing
You night as well take the jigger and take my life
Cuz the dime piece you happen to be kissing is my wife
Shit, I should have know not to let these crab asses
Get within the circle of my girl and make passes
Now you disrespected me and everything I stand for
(But I'm saying though, son) Shhh, say no more
Allah forgive me, my thoughts is traveling to low desires
Should I turn the other cheek or react and perspire
Don't wanna see myself in penitentiary attire
But I caught him in the act and my emotion is dire
In "Crew," A Tribe Called Quest reflects on friendship and loyalty, betrayal, and the consequences of violence. The song opens up with Q-Tip declaring that he's "huntin' for all the goodness gracious" all across town while criticizing those who are fronting. He then moves to verse two, where he addresses a friend who betrayed him. He recognizes that they used to think as one, but now they’re split. Q-Tip reminds him that anything he does affects their friendship. He then acknowledges the importance of their friendship and invites the other person to make amends so that they can move forward.
In the third verse, Phife Dawg, the late Tribe member, picks up from where Q-Tip left. He's more aggressive as he states that he caught the betrayer kissing his wife and that the betrayal was committed by someone he invited into his circle. He then debates whether he should react or turn the other cheek. Phife Dawg goes on to say that this person’s actions have put him in a desperate position, indicating he has no other choice but to react.
Overall, "Crew" by A Tribe Called Quest is a song about the highs and lows of friendship. It showcases both the good and bad aspects of relationships and explores the consequences of when those bonds are broken. It reminds listeners that betrayal can sometimes lead to violence and that they should think twice before compromising any relationship they hold dear.
Line by Line Meaning
Just a lil somethin-somethin
Here's a small message for you
About the cats who be fronting
I'd like to talk about people who are fake and insincere
You know the Tip, he be huntin
It's me, Tip, who's seeking out what's good and true
For all the goodness gracious
I'm looking for all things that are positive and kind
All across the wide spaces
In all parts of the world
Yo, check it out, bust me down, yo
Listen closely and I'll tell you more
You'se my peoples, why it got to come down to this shit
We're supposed to be like family, why are we in this conflict?
Two people thinking as one so now he split
We used to be united, but now we're separated
Remember what I said to you, you bleed, I bleed
I told you before that we're in this together, through thick and thin
C'mon, you know how we get down, if you're down, you need
You know that we have each other's back if we're true friends
And I'm supplying, the dynamic duo, electricfying
I'm fulfilling my part in our friendship, we used to be unstoppable
Everybody had to wet us, cuz no one will forget us
We used to be respected and admired by everyone
Son, I testify sure as God was my guide
I swear to you that what I'm saying is true
Any petty little bullshit you did will slide
I forgive any small mistakes you may have made
Same on my end, after all, what are we, friends
I'm willing to let bygones be bygones, we're supposed to be friends
If niggas ran me this, too much grounds we defend
If I had been disrespected like this, I would have reacted the same way
In the honor or brotherhood cuz it's all good
We need to uphold the principles of loyalty and brotherhood
Get on some grown man shit and let's knock on wood
Let's act like mature adults and hope for good luck
But now seeing you baby in this stall out position
Now I see you in a compromising situation
Wondering who's the dime piece that you're kissing
I'm curious who the woman is that you're romantically involved with
You night as well take the jigger and take my life
You might as well kill me now because of what you've done
Cuz the dime piece you happen to be kissing is my wife
Because the woman you're kissing is actually my wife
Shit, I should have know not to let these crab asses
I should have been more careful in choosing my friends and who to trust
Get within the circle of my girl and make passes
I shouldn't have let these people get close to my girlfriend and flirt with her
Now you disrespected me and everything I stand for
Now you've insulted me and betrayed everything I believe in
(But I'm saying though, son) Shhh, say no more
It's okay, let's not talk anymore about it
Allah forgive me, my thoughts is traveling to low desires
I'm asking God for forgiveness, but my thoughts are turning to violent revenge
Should I turn the other cheek or react and perspire
I don't know if I should forgive you or take revenge and fight
Don't wanna see myself in penitentiary attire
I don't want to end up in prison for doing something stupid in the heat of the moment
But I caught him in the act and my emotion is dire
But I found out about your betrayal and I'm feeling extreme anger and sadness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALI SHAHEED JONES-MUHAMMAD, KAMAAL IBN JOHN FAREED, MALIK IZAAK TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tate Buitrago
on Electric Relaxation
another of my dads