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)
Lost Somebody
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For your life
Now, in the time when niggas wasn't supposed to be born
Best of us are left for dead in cities that looks war-torn
Vietnam going wrong, heroin going strong
Neighbors would whoop that bad ass just for running through their lawn
Walt met Cheryl, Cheryl met Walt
Trinidadian love sprouting through the asphalt
Love was consummated and the angels registrated
Two were to be born but only one of 'em made it
Inside a cloud of sorrow, a silver lining and joy
It's a bouncing baby boy, a king's name they would employ
And before he even squeaks it's decided it's Malik
Now, give him hope, give him care, raise him while his grandma there
Watch out momma, if you stare light brown eyes will keep you there
Let's progress the story just a little bit
Malik, I would treat you like little brother that would give you fits
Sometimes overbearing, though I thought it was for your benefit
Despite all the spats and shits and cinematically documented
The one thing I appreciate, you and I, we never pretended
Rhymes we would write it out, hard times, fight it out
Made grace face to face, made it right
And now you riding out, out, out, out
Damn
Have you ever
Lost somebody
Way before you
Got to dream
Never thought that I would ever be writing this song (No more crying)
Hold friends tight, never know when those people are gone (He's in sunshine)
Soul so beautiful, opined indisputable
Heart of the largest lion trapped inside the little dude
Took the grip to Granny's house, now we eat the curry food
Talking hopes, dreams, plans, leak ice, never scared
Brand new pair of Nike Airs, avenue of stairs
Mailbox mayors, all our rhymes was written there
A nigga wanna battle, you know Phifey didn't care
Jarobi with the beat, into new ass we tear
I'mma flash forward, well took a trip to ATL
Cooking in the kitchen making sure my nigga eating well
Wedding in Tobago, you know exactly where I'm at
Standing on the side of black, Malik Izaak
Lost somebody
Way before y'all
Got to dream
No more crying
He's in sunshine
He's alright now
See his wings
Have y'all ever
Lost somebody
Way before y'all
Got to dream
No more crying
He's in sunshine
He's alright now
See his wings
Have y'all ever
Lost somebody
Way before y'all
Got to dream
No more crying
He's in sunshine
He's alright now
See his wings
Have y'all ever
Lost somebody
Way before y'all
Got to dream
No more crying
The lyrics to A Tribe Called Quest's song "Lost Somebody" tell a heartfelt story about the loss of someone dear. The verses recount the background of the person who was lost, named Malik. The song reflects on the harsh realities of life, where some people are left abandoned in cities ravaged by war. The line "Best of us are left for dead in cities that looks war-torn" describes the unfortunate circumstances that many individuals face.
Despite the difficulties and hardships, Malik's birth brings joy and hope to his family. The lyrics emphasize the love between his parents, Cheryl and Walt, and the expectations they had for their son. However, tragedy strikes, and only one of the expected twins survives. This loss is a cause of immense sorrow, yet there is a silver lining with the birth of Malik. The lyrics convey the deep love and care his grandmother, and mother, provide.
The song also delves into the relationship between Malik and Phife, who is speaking the lyrics. Phife describes their dynamic as that of a sometimes overbearing older brother, but also someone who deeply cares for Malik's well-being. They go through ups and downs, but their bond is never pretentious. The lyrics mention their dedication to writing rhymes and overcoming hardships together. Despite their differences, they ultimately make things right.
The chorus of the song reflects on the common experience of losing someone before getting the chance to see their dreams come true. It acknowledges the pain and grief that comes with losing someone too soon, but also expresses the belief that they are now in a better place, represented metaphorically by sunshine and wings.
Overall, "Lost Somebody" is a poignant tribute to a lost loved one and a reflection on the complexities of life and human relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Now, in the time when niggas wasn't supposed to be born
During a time when it was difficult for black people to thrive
Best of us are left for dead in cities that looks war-torn
Even the most talented individuals are abandoned in cities plagued by violence
Vietnam going wrong, heroin going strong
The war in Vietnam is a disaster and drug addiction is rampant
Neighbors would whoop that bad ass just for running through their lawn
People in the neighborhood would discipline misbehaving children
Walt met Cheryl, Cheryl met Walt
Two individuals named Walt and Cheryl meet
Trinidadian love sprouting through the asphalt
Their love blossoms despite their challenging environment
Love was consummated and the angels registrated
Their love was celebrated and recognized by a higher power
Two were to be born but only one of 'em made it
They were expecting twins, but only one survived
Inside a cloud of sorrow, a silver lining and joy
Despite the sadness, there was still hope and happiness
It's a bouncing baby boy, a king's name they would employ
They had a healthy baby boy and gave him a regal name
And before he even squeaks it's decided it's Malik
They named the baby Malik immediately
Now, give him hope, give him care, raise him while his grandma there
They vowed to provide love and guidance, with the support of the grandmother
Watch out momma, if you stare light brown eyes will keep you there
The baby's captivating eyes could captivate his mother
Let's progress the story just a little bit
Now, let's move the story forward
Malik, I would treat you like little brother that would give you fits
I would be like an annoying, yet protective older brother to Malik
Sometimes overbearing, though I thought it was for your benefit
I may have been controlling, but I believed it was for Malik's own good
Despite all the spats and shits and cinematically documented
Despite our arguments and disagreements which were captured like a movie
The one thing I appreciate, you and I, we never pretended
I'm grateful that we always remained genuine with each other
Rhymes we would write it out, hard times, fight it out
We expressed ourselves through our rhymes and faced struggles together
Made grace face to face, made it right
We confronted our issues and reconciled
And now you riding out, out, out, out
And now you're gone, gone, gone, gone
Damn
Expressing frustration or sadness
Never thought that I would ever be writing this song (No more crying)
I never imagined I would have to write a song about you
Hold friends tight, never know when those people are gone (He's in sunshine)
Cherish your friends because you never know when they will be taken away
Soul so beautiful, opined indisputable
Your soul is incredibly beautiful and your talent is undeniable
Heart of the largest lion trapped inside the little dude
You have an immense amount of courage and strength despite your small stature
Took the grip to Granny's house, now we eat the curry food
We went to Granny's house and enjoyed her delicious curry
Talking hopes, dreams, plans, leak ice, never scared
We discussed our aspirations, dreams, and strategies, never afraid to take risks
Brand new pair of Nike Airs, avenue of stairs
You received a new pair of sneakers and climbed a stairway to success
Mailbox mayors, all our rhymes was written there
Our rhymes were like important messages, delivered through our lyrics
A nigga wanna battle, you know Phifey didn't care
If someone wanted to challenge us in a rap battle, Phife Dawg was fearless
Jarobi with the beat, into new ass we tear
Jarobi produced the beats and we destroyed them with our fresh style
I'mma flash forward, well took a trip to ATL
I'll fast forward to the future, where I traveled to Atlanta
Cooking in the kitchen making sure my nigga eating well
I was busy preparing meals and making sure you were well-fed
Wedding in Tobago, you know exactly where I'm at
We celebrated a wedding in Tobago, and you know I was there
Standing on the side of black, Malik Izaak
Supporting and representing our black culture, Malik Izaak
No more crying
There's no need to cry anymore
He's in sunshine
He's in a place of happiness and light
He's alright now
He's doing well now
See his wings
Witness his transformation and growth
Have y'all ever
Have any of you ever
Lost somebody
Experienced the loss of someone
Way before y'all
Long before you
Got to dream
Could pursue your dreams
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jarobi White, Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, Holger Czukay, Irmin Schmidt, Jaki Liebezeit, Kenji Damo Suzuki, Michael Karoli
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tate Buitrago
on Electric Relaxation
another of my dads