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)
Once Again
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You on point Phife?
1nce Again Tip
You on point Phife?
1nce Again Tip
You on point Phife?
1nce Again Tip
Watch me bust they shit
OK
Chorus:
[Tammy Lucas]
Ohhhh, you did it to me 1nce Again my friend
I swear you do it to me everytime
Cause you stay crazy on my mind
Yo you got it goin on (say word), on and on and on
On and on and on
Verse One: Phife Dawg, Q-Tip
This is the year that I come in and just devestate
My style is great ask your peoples can I dominate?
My rhymes are harder than last night's erection
Don't play me close, I'll have this mic up in your rear section
My shit is lovely simply meaning that my joint is tight
Amping up the mic making sure production's tight
Sometimes I might catch a severe case of writer's block
But by the end of the day you'll be on my jock
My name's Malik my hobby's putting MC's to the test
And if you front I'll put my foot up in your friggin chest
Freestyle fanatic, and never will it ever stop
You crew is loose, you might just want to call the cops
Aiyyo I gotta put some action on paper
Make sure my verse jump up and spread out like the raper
The only tip I got for a waiter
Is watch the doorknob hit me where the dirty dog shoulda bit me
That was my train of thought, but for so long I fought
Now I'm at a level supreme to the devil
So turn up the bass and lay low on the treble
We be the real MC's and you dead, bring a shovel
Revitalize, the vital Tribe nigga, WHAT?
The ladies sweat the style like the squirrel sweat the nuts
You know a fellas good for the moola
Don't smoke no woolas, read the name call me Slick Tip the Ruler
Chorus
Verse Two: Q-Tip, Phife
Yo I've been treading on this globe man for twenty-five joints
Sometimes Shaitan got me by the pressure points
But I can break a fella down like sex
You eat Wheat Chex but still light in the ass and can't flex
If one nigga front I'ma make more pay
Cause toniiiiight, we gettin off like O.J.
And yo I got a Dawg that bites, fuck the barking
Yo I got a crew with the beats and the smarts and
I fought my shit up on Linden in the one-nine-two
Forever writing never biting ain't shit else to do
Hoping to battle, but most MC's ain't ready yet
But if they huddle, and word, then this is good as set
You have MC's dropping bombs that's incredible
Some of the brothers, their styles are just despicable
As for me see I just do how I love to do
Try to deny me of my props then I'll be seeing you
Most of you suckers wanna be down for the tag along
The friggin fame, someone tell em that this shit ain't games
You gots to do this from your heart meaning your inner soul
And if it's real only then will you be on a roll
I try to stay on top my game there ain't no time to lose
Four albums deep as a Quester but still we payin dues
So hear me out one time, you gots ta be yourself
Cuz if you ain't yourself you end up by your friggin self
I'm coming rugged with the Linden Boule type of slang
And yo we'll see who can hang yo
You on point Tip?
Yo 1nce Again Phife
You on point Tip?
Yo 1nce Again Phife
You on point Tip?
Yo 1nce again Phife
Aiyyo that kid is hard!
Chorus
The song "Once Again" by A Tribe Called Quest is an upbeat and confident rap song that features alternating verses by Phife Dawg and Q-Tip. The song's lyrics center around the idea that the artists are back to reclaim their position in the rap game after being away for some time. The chorus, sung by Tammy Lucas, expresses a sense of admiration for the artists and their talent.
Phife Dawg's verse utilizes clever wordplay and similes to convey the strength and tightness of his rhymes. He also asserts his position as a talented MC who takes pleasure in putting other MCs to the test. Q-Tip's verse touches on the struggle and hard work that comes with staying relevant in the rap game for so long. He stresses the importance of being true to oneself and maintaining authenticity in one's craft.
The song's upbeat tempo and catchy chorus make it a fan favorite and a classic in the hip-hop genre. It is a testament to A Tribe Called Quest's longevity in the rap game and their ability to consistently produce great music.
Line by Line Meaning
You on point Phife?
Asking Phife Dawg if he's prepared to perform well
1nce Again Tip
Reassuring Q-Tip that he will be performing together with Phife Dawg once again
Word
Agreeing with whatever has just been said
Watch me bust they shit
Confidently promising to deliver an impressive performance
Ohhhh, you did it to me 1nce Again my friend
Admiring Q-Tip's skill and talent as a rapper
I swear you do it to me everytime
Being impressed by Q-Tip's consistent ability to deliver great performances
Cause you stay crazy on my mind
Being unable to stop thinking about Q-Tip's great performances
Yo you got it goin on (say word), on and on and on
Complimenting Q-Tip's impressive rapping skills
This is the year that I come in and just devestate
Promising to dominate in this year with their rap performances
My style is great ask your peoples can I dominate?
Asking people to inquire with others about his great rapping ability
My rhymes are harder than last night's erection
Boasting about the quality of his lyrics
Don't play me close, I'll have this mic up in your rear section
Warning others to not try to stand too close and compete with his rapping
Sometimes I might catch a severe case of writer's block
Acknowledging the challenge of writer's block that he may face at times
But by the end of the day you'll be on my jock
Confidently promising to overcome writer's block and still receive admiration for his lyrics
My name's Malik my hobby's putting MC's to the test
Introducing himself and his passion for challenging other rappers
And if you front I'll put my foot up in your friggin chest
Warning others to not try to fake or front during a rap battle
Freestyle fanatic, and never will it ever stop
Being a fan of freestyle rap and having no intention of stopping
You crew is loose, you might just want to call the cops
Threatening to beat others so badly in a rap battle that they may need to call the police
Aiyyo I gotta put some action on paper
Expressing the desire to write and perform great lyrics
Make sure my verse jump up and spread out like the raper
Wanting his verse to have a great impact and reach a wide audience
The only tip I got for a waiter
Acknowledging that he doesn't have much advice to give to waiters
Is watch the doorknob hit me where the dirty dog shoulda bit me
Making a humorous remark about being bitten by a dirty dog
That was my train of thought, but for so long I fought
Explaining that he had been struggling to organize his thoughts
Now I'm at a level supreme to the devil
Feeling confident and unstoppable in his rapping abilities
So turn up the bass and lay low on the treble
Instructing the sound technician to adjust the sound during a performance
We be the real MC's and you dead, bring a shovel
Boasting about being the best MCs and suggesting that others cannot match their abilities
You know a fellas good for the moola
Being knowledgeable about who can be relied on for money
Don't smoke no woolas, read the name call me Slick Tip the Ruler
Advising others to not waste their money on drugs and introducing himself as Slick Tip the Ruler
Yo I've been treading on this globe man for twenty-five joints
Reflecting on his 25 years of experience in music
Sometimes Shaitan got me by the pressure points
Acknowledging that he sometimes feels overwhelmed and under pressure
But I can break a fella down like sex
Feeling confident in his ability to beat others in a rap battle
You eat Wheat Chex but still light in the ass and can't flex
Insulting others who cannot compete with him and his rapping abilities
If one nigga front I'ma make more pay
Promising to earn more money from his success if others try to compete with him
Cause toniiiiight, we gettin off like O.J.
Expressing excitement and anticipation for a great performance
And yo I got a Dawg that bites, fuck the barking
Introducing his skillful crew and implying that their abilities are not just for show
Yo I got a crew with the beats and the smarts and
Boasting about his talented crew and their skills
I fought my shit up on Linden in the one-nine-two
Reflecting on his past struggles before achieving success
Forever writing never biting ain't shit else to do
Explaining his dedication to writing his own lyrics and original content
Hoping to battle, but most MC's ain't ready yet
Desiring to compete in a rap battle but not finding many worthy opponents
But if they huddle, and word, then this is good as set
Suggesting that others may improve if they come together and learn from each other
You have MC's dropping bombs that's incredible
Acknowledging the impressive skills of some other MCs
Some of the brothers, their styles are just despicable
Disliking the styles of some other MCs
As for me see I just do how I love to do
Expressing his love for rapping and doing what he enjoys
Try to deny me of my props then I'll be seeing you
Threatening to confront anyone who denies his talent and success
Most of you suckers wanna be down for the tag along
Showing contempt for those who want to associate with success but do not have the skill or talent to achieve it themselves
The friggin fame, someone tell em that this shit ain't games
Warning others that success and fame in the music industry is not an easy and frivolous game
You gots to do this from your heart meaning your inner soul
Encouraging others to follow their passion and create music that reflects their true selves
And if it's real only then will you be on a roll
Suggesting that success only comes to those who are authentic and dedicated to their craft
I try to stay on top my game there ain't no time to lose
Stressing the importance of staying at the top of his game and always improving
Four albums deep as a Quester but still we payin dues
Reflecting on the journey and struggles of his group, A Tribe Called Quest, to achieve success even after releasing multiple albums
So hear me out one time, you gots ta be yourself
Encouraging listeners to stay true to themselves and not try to imitate others
Cuz if you ain't yourself you end up by your friggin self
Warning that those who do not stay true to themselves will not find success or happiness in life
I'm coming rugged with the Linden Boule type of slang
Boasting about his unique and powerful style of rapping
And yo we'll see who can hang yo
Challenging other rappers to compete with him and his skills
Aiyyo that kid is hard!
Complimenting the impressive skills of another rapper
Writer(s): James Dewitt Yancey, Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, Stephen W. Swallow, Ali Shaheed Jones-Muhammad, Malik Izaak Taylor
Contributed by Emily W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lookitsapanther
Rhyme In Peace Phife Dawg.
@alexpaulradio7345
yes
@edgarallanbroo
"All the time Tip"
@mattskidios
Dope
@BokamosoBaipaakanyiDes
Wish I had an option of more than one like for this tribute!
@peteradamson5160
Rhyme in Peace?! Lmao, he's gonna shook the heaven
@5stard52
Hip hop used to be so beautiful. And that smooth voice by tammy lucas 💪💪💪. R.I.P phife Dawg. S/O from Germany.
@kojoarthur3309
👊
@lateshiachilds3640
I know especially New York hip hop I love the jazzy beats
@stealfb5229
Different music and groups could be heard back then now the