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 Hillβand moving on to AndrΓ© 3000, Kanye West, and Talib Kweliβeverything 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)
Find a Way
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kissed my cheek, moved in, you confuse things
Should I just sit out or come harder?
Help me find my way
Messing me up, my whole head
Teasing me, just like Tisha, did Martin
Now look at what you're starting
The whole world see it but you can't (uh)
My peoples they complain, sit and rave and rant (come on)
Your name is out my mouth like a ancient chant (say what?)
Got me like a dog as I pause and pant
Speaking of which, got a leash and I wish just to rock you miss (come on)
Make a militant move, peep my strategy (what?)
End of the day you're not mad at me (uh)
Not dealing with nobody, now that's what you told me (what?)
I said, hey yo, it's cool, we can just be friendly (come on)
'Cause yo, picture me messing it up
Her mind not corrupt with the ill C-cups
Shit, I'm on my J.O. (come on)
Bullshitting, hoping that the day goes slow (what?)
Got me like a friend, what confuses me though
Is kisses when we greet, tell me what's the deal yo? (deal yo, yo, yo)
Now you caught my heart for the evening
Kissed my cheek, moved in, you confuse things
Should I just sit out or come harder?
Help me find my way (ha ha)
Now you caught my heart for the evening (woo)
Kissed my cheek, moved in, you confuse things (come on)
Should I just sit out or come harder?
Help me find my way
Now why you want to go and do that, love, huh?
Making things for me towards you harder
Killing me, just when I think we there
You got the whole vibe and the flows in the air
Telling me 'bout next man
But next man ain't the nigga with the plan
Who got your heart in mind?
It's about time that you just unwind (come on)
And let it just happen, make it front-free (uh)
Just sweat me like Money penny (uh)
Digging you, getting inside of your stee (what?)
It's the Quest that keeping you company
Forever, or however you want it
Word word, now wait a minute now before you jet it to the curb (yeah, yeah)
Try to make impressions, which is good not the hurt
But it, it ain't me, and I, I ain't blurred (uh)
I'ma still just chill with you
Maybe things could change if you change your view (come on)
If not then I guess it is cool (yeah)
Just, to keep to yourself and abide by the rules, right
Check it out now
Check it out now
Check it out now
Check it out now
Check it out now
Like that now
Check it out now
Check it out now
Yeah yeah now
Check it out now
Import it out now
Check it out now
It's like that now
Check it out now
It's like that now
Check it out
What you say, what, what?
Now you caught my heart for the evening
Kissed my cheek, moved in, you confuse things
Should I just sit out or come harder?
Help me find my way (now sing it)
Now you caught my heart for the evening (sing it out)
Kissed my cheek, moved in, you confuse things
Should I just sit out or come harder?
Help me find my way (now talk it out)
Now you caught my heart for the evening (sing it out again)
Kissed my cheek, moved in, you confuse things (come on)
Should I just sit out or come harder?
Help me find my way (now talk it out right now)
Now you caught my heart for the evening
Kissed my cheek, moved in, you confuse things
Should I just sit out or come harder?
Help me find my way (come on)
Now you caught my heart for the evening
The lyrics to A Tribe Called Quest's song "Find a Way" describe the confusion and mixed emotions that arise when two people develop feelings for each other. The singer describes being caught off guard by a person who has "caught [their] heart for the evening" with a kiss on the cheek, but who also "confuses things" by sending mixed signals and making it difficult to determine their intentions. The singer struggles with whether to hold back or pursue the relationship more aggressively, but ultimately wants help figuring out how to proceed.
The lyrics use a lot of pop culture references to emphasize the singer's confusion and sense of being manipulated. One line references the characters Tisha and Martin from the TV show "Martin," who had a complicated romantic relationship. Another line describes the singer feeling like "a dog" following the other person's lead. These references help to convey the sense of being caught up in a situation that is both frustrating and exhilarating.
Overall, "Find a Way" is a song about the complexity of relationships and the difficulties of navigating the confusing signals that can arise when two people are attracted to each other. It captures the excitement and uncertainty of a new connection, but also the anxiety and awkwardness that can come with trying to figure out what the other person really wants.
Line by Line Meaning
Now you caught my heart for the evening
You have captured my heart for the night
Kissed my cheek, moved in, you confuse things
Your actions have made it difficult for me to understand what you want
Should I just sit out or come harder?
Should I give up or try harder?
Help me find my way
Assist me in figuring out what to do
Messing me up, my whole head
You are confusing me and making me feel disoriented
Teasing me, just like Tisha, did Martin
You are playing with me, like Tisha Campbell-Martin's character did to Martin Lawrence's character on the TV show Martin
Now look at what you're starting
You are initiating something between us
Schoolboy crush and it ain't on the hush
I have a crush on you and it's not a secret
The whole world see it but you can't (uh)
Everyone else can see how I feel, but you are oblivious
My peoples they complain, sit and rave and rant (come on)
My friends complain and talk about my feelings for you
Your name is out my mouth like an ancient chant (say what?)
I can't stop talking about you
Got me like a dog as I pause and pant
You have me under your control and I am struggling to resist
Speaking of which, got a leash and I wish just to rock you miss (come on)
I wish to have you in my control and be able to please you
Make a militant move, peep my strategy (what?)
I need to make a bold move and see if my plan works
End of the day you're not mad at me (uh)
You are not angry with me at the end of the day
Not dealing with nobody, now that's what you told me (what?)
You said you are not interested in anyone else
I said, hey yo, it's cool, we can just be friendly (come on)
I said it's okay, we can just be friends
'Cause yo, picture me messing it up
Imagine me making things worse
Her mind not corrupt with the ill C-cups
She is not influenced by material things like large breasts
Shit, I'm on my J.O. (come on)
I am focused on my goals and aspirations
Bullshitting, hoping that the day goes slow (what?)
Wasting time, hoping that time passes slowly
Got me like a friend, what confuses me though
You are treating me like a friend, but it's unclear what you want
Is kisses when we greet, tell me what's the deal yo? (deal yo, yo, yo)
You kiss me when we greet, what does that mean?
Now why you want to go and do that, love, huh?
Why are you making it difficult for me, love?
Making things for me towards you harder
Your actions are making it difficult for me to pursue you
Killing me, just when I think we there
Your actions are hurting me, especially when I think we are making progress
You got the whole vibe and the flows in the air
You are in control of the mood and atmosphere
Telling me 'bout next man
You are talking to me about other men
But next man ain't the nigga with the plan
The other men are not as focused and driven as I am
Who got your heart in mind?
Who is considering what is best for your heart?
It's about time that you just unwind (come on)
It's time for you to relax and let go
And let it just happen, make it front-free (uh)
Just let things happen naturally, without hesitation
Just sweat me like Money penny (uh)
Give me your attention and focus like the character Money Penny in the James Bond movies
Digging you, getting inside of your stee (what?)
I am fond of you and trying to understand your personality and style
It's the Quest that keeping you company
It is A Tribe Called Quest that is keeping you company
Forever, or however you want it
Whatever happens between us, it will last forever or as long as you want it to
Word word, now wait a minute now before you jet it to the curb (yeah, yeah)
Hold on, don't end things abruptly
Try to make impressions, which is good not the hurt
I am trying to impress you in a positive way without causing harm
But it, it ain't me, and I, I ain't blurred (uh)
But that's not really who I am and I am not confused about my feelings
I'ma still just chill with you
I am still going to hang out with you and see where this goes
Maybe things could change if you change your view (come on)
Perhaps things will improve if you see me in a different light
If not then I guess it is cool (yeah)
If not, then that's okay
Just, to keep to yourself and abide by the rules, right
Just keep to yourself and follow the social norms and expectations
Check it out now
Listen to this
Like that now
That's how it is now
Sing it out
Sing it loud
Talk it out
Speak it clearly
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ali Jones-Muhammad, Isabel Gilberto De Oliveira, James Yancey, Kamaal Fareed, Malik Taylor, Tei Towa
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Guerrette
the second you hear those drums... u know who it is....
π© π© π© π© π© π© π© π© π© π© π© π© π©
LeGM
The one and only J Dilla
Skotch Korean
Love this track, loved the video even more. β€οΈ
Vinyl Athletes
Those snares got that Will Smith to the face Smack!
Zavinci23
Easily best song onna album
john bryan
changed my life this album
Iceway
R.I.P. Phife Dawg.
JOYCONBOYZ
Heart π when " The Dog " passed : RIP broham: Izuβ€Otter
Iceway
R.I.P. Dilla
Chris Hendrix
Classicπ