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)
Motivators
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ghetto mentality and the innovators
Some of y'all may really hate us
But we won't be soft, all we wanna do is rock
We be the crew that presents to the wicked instrumental
Damaging your mental from here to Sacramento
This here groove was made for vintage freestyling
Rugged raw material is what we bring forth
A Tribe Called Quest, we representing up North
Quence got you taken in the back, acting all silly
Kicking freestyle raps, rolling up Phillies
It's the four man fiasco in charge like Roscoe
Now you get the picture like Picasso
We make it happen when these niggas start rapping
Who this, captain?
Stick out your hand, you gets no dap and
I got the Razor, got the Phife, I got the Shaheed
Now all you shorties move your ass while you puff weed
Blessing fans with autographs in my paths
While other rappers get gassed, they be defeating the task
Yo, if I ruled the world
It wouldn't be that gassed shit, niggas will mix it like swirl
Cause after you G, ain't nothing but girl scouts
And I'mma show you what it's all about
(Ah yeah!) That's what you say when my love's in your mouth
Without a doubt I cut MCs like the cord
Cause I does more than that MC from The Lords
While you be frogging like Bud-wei-ser
And rapping is what you slacking in
I'm knocking MCs outta action like abstinance
Rockin since kiss my dick was kicking ass
Peachfuzz, cuz, you might be on drugs
We be the number one motivators
Ghetto mentality and the innovators
Some of y'all may really hate us
But we won't be soft, all we wanna do is rock
To all my people across the state who sit back and contemplate
Motivate, I motivate
To all my people across the land who get their feet stuck in sand
Motivate, I motivate y'all
A yo, I speak with something new but not Granddaddy I.U
Stay tuned, live from the L-B-Q
A yo, it's just the same guy, swinging on your block
You know how I get down like Heather B with them Glocks
I came to lead my team to victory like Hayden Fox
Cause heads ain't ready for the willie I got
Ya nah'mean slim, I does my thing like Van Grim
Leaving crews in state of black and blue like Rakim
And if you don't know, you better ask another
It's like 192 when we rolling deep cover
So don't shut down on the Razor
Cuz in the 9-Live we stepping through hotter than the Trail Blazers
And in Queens, I be a legend like Richard Dean
Son I gotta team that Hakeem couldn't dream
While you be standing selling, Queens keep it live
Who the hell you telling (can't front on the Tribe)
Let me tell you why I be the top dog in the industry
Because all these so-called mutts are not seeing me
They too busy eating cycles 1, 2 and 3
They can't MC, I'd rather be down with fucking Droopy D
My style is deadly, word born, act like you fucking know
Been writing rhymes ever since Ray Parker sang with Radio
Your style is played out like a two-tone down goose
You couldn't converse if you had fucking react juice
So hold your corner as I fucking bless this mic in here
I'm eating through your crew like Stephen King's Langoliers
Try bite my steez, word to God, I'm gonna hurt you
(Will y'all fall off?) Will Laura fuck Urkel?
Never, here comes the funk, smell the aroma
Kid, my shit's the bomb, ask my peeps in Oklahoma
To all my people across the state who sit back and contemplate
Motivate, I motivate, I motivate y'all
To all my people across the land who get stuck in great sand
Motivate, I motivate y'all
To all my peoples everywhere throw your mitts in the air
Motivate, motivate, motivate, motivate
Can't do nuthin for your fronting, get involved and do something
Motivate, motivate, I motivate, I motivate, I moti
In “Motivators”, A Tribe Called Quest reflects on the group's position in the music industry, painting themselves as innovators, motivators, and raw material producers. They are well aware that some people may not like their music, but the crew remains determined to make their mark by delivering a sound that showcases their authenticity. ATCQ's song-making ability is highlighted with Q-Tip, Phife Dawg and Ali Shaheed Muhammad's playful rhymes and their incredible visibility in the hip-hop scene of the 90s.
The lyrics are a true reflection of the group's musical stylings. The instrumental is distinct and infused with jazz, funk, and soul. They explain their skillset of free-styling rap and delivering dope lyrics like they are chilling on a Carribean island, and they also highlight their way of making music, which involves setting the mood and making vintage freestyling grooves. They also highlight the fact that they represent Queens and their impact on the rap scene. They deem themselves nothing but real and authentic innovators.
Line by Line Meaning
We be the number one motivators
We are the most influential and inspiring group in the industry.
Ghetto mentality and the innovators
We represent our roots and create groundbreaking music.
Some of y'all may really hate us
Some people may not appreciate us, but we won't change who we are.
But we won't be soft, all we wanna do is rock
We won't compromise our style, we just want to make great music.
This here groove was made for vintage freestyling
The instrumental is perfect for improvisational rapping.
Feeling like I'm chilling on a Caribbean island
The music is so relaxing, it's like being on a tropical vacation.
Rugged raw material is what we bring forth
We bring authentic and unfiltered content.
A Tribe Called Quest, we representing up North
We proudly represent our northern roots.
We make it happen when these niggas start rapping
We are the ones who truly shine when it comes to rapping.
Stick out your hand, you gets no dap and
You won't get any recognition or acknowledgement from us.
Yo, if I ruled the world
If I had the power, the rap industry would be different.
Cause after you G, ain't nothing but girl scouts
After we leave, there are only average rappers left.
While you be frogging like Bud-wei-ser
While you act tough and act like you're the best when you are not.
Rockin since kiss my dick was kicking ass
I have been making music for a very long time.
We be the crew that presents to the wicked instrumental
We make great music that is accompanied by an amazing instrumental.
Damaging your mental from here to Sacramento
Our music is so impactful it reaches people all over the country.
Quence got you taken in the back, acting all silly
Our music is so good it will make you act goofy.
Kicking freestyle raps, rolling up Phillies
We are talented enough to rap off the top of our heads while smoking Phillies cigars.
It's the four man fiasco in charge like Roscoe
The four of us are at the helm, leading the charge.
Now you get the picture like Picasso
Now you understand our vision, just like when you understand a Picasso painting.
Who this, captain?
Who is the leader of the group?
I got the Razor, got the Phife, I got the Shaheed
We have great talent in the form of Razor, Phife, and Shaheed.
Now all you shorties move your ass while you puff weed
Dance and smoke weed while listening to our music.
Blessing fans with autographs in my paths
We appreciate our fans and are happy to give out autographs.
While other rappers get gassed, they be defeating the task
Other rappers get too full of themselves and forget the purpose of their work.
To all my people across the state who sit back and contemplate
This music is for all our fans who are introspective.
Motivate, I motivate
We want to inspire our listeners.
A yo, I speak with something new but not Granddaddy I.U
I have a unique style not borrowed from Granddaddy IU.
Stay tuned, live from the L-B-Q
Stay tuned for our amazing music coming from the L-B-Q.
You know how I get down like Heather B with them Glocks
I am just as unstoppable as Heather B with her gun.
Cause heads ain't ready for the willie I got
People are not prepared for the talent I have.
Ya nah'mean slim, I does my thing like Van Grim
I am confident in my abilities and do things in my own way.
Leaving crews in state of black and blue like Rakim
I leave my competitors bruised and defeated like Rakim.
And if you don't know, you better ask another
If you don't know about me, ask someone else.
It's like 192 when we rolling deep cover
We are deep undercover and hard to find.
So don't shut down on the Razor
Don't dismiss the power of Razor's talent.
Cuz in the 9-Live we stepping through hotter than the Trail Blazers
We are on fire and unstoppable like the Trail Blazers.
And in Queens, I be a legend like Richard Dean
I am a legend in Queens, like Richard Dean.
Kid, my shit's the bomb, ask my peeps in Oklahoma
My music is amazing, just ask anyone in Oklahoma.
To all my peoples everywhere throw your mitts in the air
Our fans should show their support by raising their hands.
Can't do nuthin for your fronting, get involved and do something
We can't help you if you're not sincere, so take action.
Motivate, motivate, I motivate, I motivate, I moti
We want to motivate our fans to take action and achieve their goals.
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL URBANIAK, ALI SHAHEED JONES-MUHAMMAD, KAMAAL IBN JOHN FAREED, MALIK IZAAK TAYLOR, DEXTER RAYMOND JR. MILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tate Buitrago
on Electric Relaxation
another of my dads