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)
Jazz (Re-Recording
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tough like a nugget
Listen to the Abstract Poetic, dont snub it
The Midnight Marauder is the hype beat arranger
Dont front on the lyrics or the two cuz its danger
Hook you like a junkie, youll flip like a monkey
To the openness of the rhythm, so proceed because Im funky
I get down, down like a fly hookers panties
I be the fly poet, rappers, they get jelly
Upset when I rock, cuz yo, they beats is smelly
See, I got it goin on like a Forbes tax return
Listenin to these lyrics when its hot will make it burn
Baby burn, baby burn, up into the heavens
The skies up above, the one you think of
Is the highly regarded, hell of the people
Your mic and my mic? Come on, yo, no equal
So if ya wanna do it to yourself
That is to mess around with the jazz, then just blame yourself
Cuz you made your bed, so now you lay in it
Thats your (shit) on the floor, then go and play in it
I refuse to catch a L in a battle
Cuz yo, I got the jazz and Ill whup a rappers (ass)
Into little next to nuthin
Test me if Im frontin
Im passin flyin colors cuz yo
Who got the jazz? (We've got the jazz)
We've got the jazz
Come on
Come on, Phife
No need for introductions cuz you know who I be (the Phife Dawg)
Yep, the one who loves to slaugher MCs
I got style, grace and razamatazz
Im like my girl Patrice Rushen, yo
I add pizazz, now
Most people remember Phife from the Phife like smoothness
But now its time to hit you with roughneck rudeness
Im still vexed, fuming, gots to come raw
The first punk that tries to flex, Ill be cracking your jaw
Ill mold you, fold you, roll you up like a spliff
Dont ever try to test or else that (ass) will get whipped
Im forever poppin junk, its like a fat invite
To any MC who wants to flex, yo, we can do this tonight
Gel up my posse up on Linden and 1-9-2
Pull up my brothas from Sayers Ave., the Brooklyn Zoo
All my crew up in Strong Island, so yo, dont sleep
Cuz it only takes a peek to watch that (ass) get beat
Brothas wanna play rough, but they can all get some
Wanna be hero, but youre a zero, that means you gets none
Dont ever try to step to a kid you cant get with
Why mess with a brotha that your girl once slept with?
Im a negro, hes a negro, wanna be a negro too?
But beatin on a woman, is somethin that a puss would do
I love jazz, but that doesnt mean that Im timid
Not really a gangsta rapper but I can swing it for a minute
Who got the jazz? (We've got the jazz)
Come on
Who got the jazz? (We've got the jazz)
Come on
In "Jazz" by A Tribe Called Quest, the Abstract Poetic and the Midnight Marauder bring their signature fusion of funky rhythms and colorful poetry. The song opens with Q-Tip's confident and boastful verses, where he establishes his lyrical prowess and warns other rappers not to mess with his flow. He compares his rhymes to a drug that can hook and flip the listeners, and his beat to a dangerous force that they cannot front on. He also uses a lot of wordplay and metaphors to create vivid images, such as "down like a fly hookers panties" or "Forbes tax return." Throughout the song, he repeats the phrase "who got the jazz?" as if posing a challenge to other musicians who claim to have the same level of creativity, skill, and authenticity.
Phife Dawg, the other half of the duo, takes over in the second verse and adds his distinctive style and voice. He acknowledges his previous smooth and mellow performances, but also emphasizes his rough and rugged side, which can lash out against any MC who dares to disrespect him or his crew. He mentions several places where his posse comes from, including Linden, Sayers Ave., Brooklyn Zoo, and Strong Island, to suggest their reach and influence. He also makes a bold statement about his identity and his values, critiquing macho attitudes and domestic violence, while affirming his love for jazz and his ability to adapt to different genres.
Overall, "Jazz" is a tribute to the genre that inspires A Tribe Called Quest and shapes their sound. The song celebrates jazz as a form of improvisation, experimentation, and self-expression, as well as a symbol of African American culture and history. Through their lyrics and beats, Q-Tip and Phife Dawg demonstrate their affinity with jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Duke Ellington, who pushed the boundaries of traditional music and inspired generations of artists.
Line by Line Meaning
Rough, rough, rugged
The music that we create is harsh and gritty
Tough like a nugget
Our music is strong and resilient
Listen to the Abstract Poetic, dont snub it
Pay attention to the unique and creative lyrics of our music
The Midnight Marauder is the hype beat arranger
Our music's beats and rhythms are expertly crafted by a skilled producer
Dont front on the lyrics or the two cuz its danger
Don't underestimate the impact of our lyrics and music, because they are powerful
Hook you like a junkie, youll flip like a monkey
Our music will captivate you and make you feel elated
To the openness of the rhythm, so proceed because Im funky
Our music creates a sense of freedom and playfulness, so embrace it
I get down, down like a fly hookers panties
My rhymes are dirty and provocative
Make you catch a spirit and motivate a fanny
Our music can uplift and energize you
I be the fly poet, rappers, they get jelly
Other rappers envy my talent and success
Upset when I rock, cuz yo, they beats is smelly
Other rappers are frustrated when they hear how good our beats are
See, I got it goin on like a Forbes tax return
I am extremely successful and talented
Listenin to these lyrics when its hot will make it burn
The intensity and passion in our music is undeniable
Baby burn, baby burn, up into the heavens
Our music will elevate you to a higher state of consciousness
The skies up above, the one you think of
Our music is timeless and transcendent
Is the highly regarded, hell of the people
Our music is respected and admired by many
Your mic and my mic? Come on, yo, no equal
Our talent and skill is unmatched by others
So if ya wanna do it to yourself
If you want to experience our music for yourself
That is to mess around with the jazz, then just blame yourself
You will regret not taking the opportunity to appreciate our unique style of music
Cuz you made your bed, so now you lay in it
You have to live with the consequences of missing out on our music
Thats your (shit) on the floor, then go and play in it
You missed your chance, so don't complain about it
I refuse to catch a L in a battle
I will never lose in a rap battle
Cuz yo, I got the jazz and Ill whup a rappers (ass)
I am confident in my skills and ability to dominate other rappers
Into little next to nuthin
I will completely defeat other rappers
Test me if Im frontin
Don't underestimate me or think I'm bluffing
Im passin flyin colors cuz yo
I excel and succeed with ease
Who got the jazz? (We've got the jazz)
We are the creators of the unique and innovative music known as jazz
Come on
No need for introductions cuz you know who I be (the Phife Dawg)
I am already well-known and respected in the rap community
Yep, the one who loves to slaugher MCs
I enjoy winning rap battles and defeating other rappers
I got style, grace and razamatazz
I am a skilled and talented rapper
Im like my girl Patrice Rushen, yo
I am like the talented jazz musician Patrice Rushen
I add pizazz, now
I bring style, energy and excitement to my performances
Most people remember Phife from the Phife like smoothness
My rapping style is usually smooth and effortless
But now its time to hit you with roughneck rudeness
I am showing a tougher and more aggressive side to my rapping
Im still vexed, fuming, gots to come raw
I am angry and ready to rap with intensity and emotion
The first punk that tries to flex, Ill be cracking your jaw
I am not afraid to physically fight anyone who challenges me
Ill mold you, fold you, roll you up like a spliff
I will completely dominate and overpower other rappers
Dont ever try to test or else that (ass) will get whipped
Don't even try to compete with me or you'll be defeated
Im forever poppin junk, its like a fat invite
I am always ready and willing to rap at any time
To any MC who wants to flex, yo, we can do this tonight
I challenge any rapper to compete with me in a rap battle
Gel up my posse up on Linden and 1-9-2
I will gather my friends and supporters on a specific street corner to rap
Pull up my brothas from Sayers Ave., the Brooklyn Zoo
I will also gather my friends from the Brooklyn neighborhood of Sayers Ave.
All my crew up in Strong Island, so yo, dont sleep
I have many supporters and allies in the Long Island area
Cuz it only takes a peek to watch that (ass) get beat
I am so skilled that I can quickly defeat any challenger
Brothas wanna play rough, but they can all get some
Other rappers are trying to appear tough, but I will defeat them easily
Wanna be hero, but youre a zero, that means you gets none
Other rappers may try to act tough, but they are not successful
Dont ever try to step to a kid you cant get with
Don't try to compete with me if you know you can't win
Why mess with a brotha that your girl once slept with?
Don't compete with me if you know that your girlfriend is attracted to me
Im a negro, hes a negro, wanna be a negro too?
I am proud of my black identity and don't want anyone to try to steal it
But beatin on a woman, is somethin that a puss would do
Real men don't beat women or engage in abusive behavior
I love jazz, but that doesnt mean that Im timid
I appreciate and respect jazz music, but that doesn't mean I am weak
Not really a gangsta rapper but I can swing it for a minute
I don't typically rap about gangsta activities, but I can if I need to
Come on
Who got the jazz? (We've got the jazz)
Our music is unique and innovative, and we are the creators of it
Come on
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KAMAAL IBN JOHN FAREED, MALIK IZAAK TAYLOR, ALI SHAHEED JONES-MUHAMMAD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Finessed Analyzer
One of the best remixes ever.
Zen Gxd
Finessed Analyzer true words my guy
Givemeanhour
Finessed Analyzer very true, phife just ripped it
Chris Smith
Wooooo! Grand goove, grand groove. It's the beat. - Tip on a classic throwback, T Ski Valley. One of the best Tribe tracks. The beat, Ali's scratches and the verses are CLASSIC! Even a Dr Pepper shout out haha. RIP Phife!!!
Givemeanhour
Chris Smith I couldn't have said it better. Wicked post
MC Zappa
Only ATCQ could swing jazz melodies over a rock break and make it work. RIP Phife...
MC Zappa
I gotta say, this is the best use of the "Long Red" break ever. Damn, this track is just too soulful and funky.
ZZEB
Has Sly in it too! "Sing a simple song"
NOLEM
This and Return of the Mecca by Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth
Dareal_sherlocK
Classic! Not only the re-recording version but the cover to the cassette single from Sam Goody💯