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)
Same Ol' Thing
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Charge
One, two, what a life, yeah, yeah, yeah
Goodness to the right of me (that's that hip-hop shit)
Even to the left of me (one two, uh)
Yo-yo, yo-yo, yo-yo-yo-yo-yo, yo-yo-yo
Check my style out (out)
It seems cats nowadays be gettin' introduced to courage
Don't get discouraged 'cause my words will threw her like flourish
We got the bounty (bounty)
We from the Queens county (county)
Overlookin' things like a Rushmore Mounty
And got no other choice except to get a little love (true)
We rise above
The beat be fittin' like a glove
The pain in my heart is getting dosed by joy (what?)
We have no other boy but to bring the B-boy (uh, uh, uh)
There's nothin' on this earth that can instill fear
The locomotive, puttin' my thing in gear (what?)
I only have the fear of God and that's aqua
You need binocu'
Your trap is blazing like blanca
I got the lethal, you couldn't put a match to it (to it)
Let me know, yo, or we could do it like Stuart
Mind over matter (uh), action is needed (true)
When the big one not to be superseded
Responsibility is somethin' I can't deny (uh)
The illegal means is the nonsense reply
Most cats who scramble do so because they want to (to)
Been known to kick rhymes in the past on impromptu
My willy's hot like two links in the skillet (uh)
A room filled with speakers one stage, watch me kill it (uh, uh)
Knowledge should be taught from the cradle to the grave (uh)
Rhymin' opposition get it twist like Super Dave (word)
You be looking bugged out like Uncle Jesse
Don't make the scene messy
'Cause it'll jump, that's word to Aunt Betsy
Profound sentences of pure lyric gems (gems)
Some of my friends be likin' people with stems
Folks be on the chase for this cheddar
Thinkin' it makes your life better
But it can make you ass out (huh)
And when I'm at a show, chicks never pass out (uh, uh, what?)
We got the joint to make the whole mass shout out
A Tribe Called Quest make the party go down (uh)
Plus we bring positive vibes to fill up all your crowns
Lyrics comes to cats like a hot and cold flash (mm)
So could come with ease, therefore, it's in a smash (smash)
Held the fort down like the Justice League hall of super friends (what?)
But in the world turn of turmoil, spins
Brothers walk the street with the ill pace face
City life breeds contempt for each race (race)
All praises due to Allah and I should say it
It' the Abstract motivator making things clear (making things clear)
Puttin' things in perspective to rock (rock)
And roll, 'cause you know this kid has got wild soul (got wild soul)
Americana, Ms. Drama like starved out piranha
Cold like ice, jet-hot like a sauna
It's the haves versus the the haves not
And guess who's arrived in the hood
Exposing all wrongs, it's all good
Ayo, word up, hip-hop is live like the wire (what?)
Let's get a little bit before the whole joint expire
I got to stress it again, this here is for my kin
And all my babies children of the worlds, no maybes (maybes)
So, yo, we gotta to move through and push through (organize, son)
Because we got to make it happen, keep it true blue (gotta organize ish like that)
So much confusion goin' on (so much confusion goin' on)
(Gotta organize ish, organize ish)
Inside all mine (inside all mine)
So much confusion goin' on (same old egg, same old egg, same old egg)
Uh, uh, uh, uh
But everything will be fine
So much confusion goin' on (so much confusion goin' on)
(Same old egg, same old egg)
Gotta make it alright (gotta make it alright)
(Gotta organize ish, organize ish)
Gotta elevate your mind
(Organize, organize)
Elevate your mind
(Same old egg, same old egg)
Elevate your mind
(Gotta organize this)
Elevate your mind
(Same old egg, same old egg)
The song "Same Ol' Thing" by A Tribe Called Quest speaks of the daily struggles and challenges people face in their lives but encourages them to rise above it all. The lyrics seem to be a reflection of the group's own experiences as they try to make sense of the world around them. The first verse of the song is about the difficulties of life that people encounter every day, but the artist implores his listeners not to be discouraged. He says that his words can "threw her like flourish," meaning that his words can be powerful and uplifting.
The artist also talks about how he and his fellow band members come from Queens County, and they are accustomed to overlooking things like a Rushmore Mounty. This line refers to the ability of people from Queens to adapt to their surroundings and keep pressing on despite the challenges that come their way. The artist emphasizes that they have no other choice but to get some love and rise above their struggles. The lyrics show that the pain in his heart is getting lessened by joy, which many listeners can relate to in their daily lives.
Furthermore, the song speaks of the importance of responsibility and the need to elevate one's mind. The artists encourage their listeners to push through and make things happen, no matter how difficult it may seem. The repeated phrase "Elevate your mind" is a call to action for the audience to look beyond their current situations and work towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Check my style out
Listen to my unique approach to rap music
Life situations are the one I speak about
My lyrics are based on experiences and real-life events
It seems cats now-a-days we gettin' introduced to courage
People these days are becoming more fearless
Don't get discouraged 'cause my words will threw her like flourish
Don't be disheartened, my lyrics will elevate you
we got the bounty
We have plenty
we from the queen's county
We represent Queens
overlookin' things like a Rushmore Mounty
We are observing and noticing everything like a Mount Rushmore ranger
And got no other choice except to get a little love
We have no option but to spread love
We rise above
We exceed expectations
We be fittin' like a glove
We fit perfectly
The pain in my heart is getting dosed by joy
I am alleviating my emotional pain with happiness
We have no other boy but to bring the be boy
Our only option is to introduce the be boy culture
There's nothin' on this erb that can end still fear
No substance can fully erase fear
The locomive, puttin' my thing in gear
I am revving up to start my journey
I only have the fear of guard and that's aqua
My only fear is the police and that scare is bigger than water
You need binaca
You need a breath freshener
Your trap is blazing like blanca
Your plan is moving rapidly like a hare
I got the lethal you couldn't put a match to it
My lyrics are so powerful that no one can compete with them
Let me know yo we could do it like Stu it
Give me a chance, we can do it the right way
Mind over matter action is needed
We need to use our thoughts to take action
When the big one not to be super seeded
The top spot cannot be easily overtaken
Responsibility is somethin' I can't deny
I cannot avoid responsibility
The illegallies is Narcist reply
Breaking the law is not the answer
Most cats scrambled to do 'cause they want to
Many people rush to do things because they are eager
But on the kick rising in the past on in prompt to
But I am slowly rising with time and not rushing like others
My lily's hot like two links in the skillet
My flow is fresh and impressive like hot sausages in a pan
A room filled with speakers one stage, watch me kill it
I will confidently perform on a stage filled with speakers
Now we should resort from the cradle to the grave
We should have a good life from birth to death
Round and opposition twisted like Super Dave
Obstacles and conflicts are complicated and difficult like Super Dave's tricks
You be looking, Bub, just like Uncle Jesse
You look like Uncle Jesse from the Dukes of Hazzard, Bub
Don't make the scene messy
Don't cause a scene
'Cause it'll jump that's word Aunt Betsy
Because it will turn into a chaotic situation
Profound sentences to pure lyric dems
My lyrics are meaningful with insightful messages
Some of my friends be like a people with stems
Some of my friends are like foolish people
Folks be on the chase for this cheddar
People are chasing money
Thinkin' it makes your life better
Thinking that money brings happiness and success
But it can make you ass out
But it can leave you broke and penniless
And when I'm at a show chicks never pass out
When I perform, women never faint
We got the noise to make the whole mash out
Our music will create a wild and fun party environment
A Tribe Called Quest make the party go down
Our music can make a party super fun
Plus we make posite divots to fill up all your crowns
We offer inspiring messages to uplift your mood
Lyrics come to cats like a hot and cold flash
Lyrics come to us easily
So can come with ease if four and a smash
Our lyrics will flow smoothly and naturally
Held the fort down like the Justice League all the super friends
We have kept our music strong like Justice League's superheroes
But in the world turn more spins
But things keep changing in life
Brothers walk the street with the ill pace face
People walk the streets with sad faces
City life breeze contempt for each race
People in the city have negative attitudes towards different races
All pages due to a law and I should say it
All the rules are due to a certain law
It' the abstract, motor, vader, making things, making things better
I am like a rebel leader, trying to improve the world
Puttin' things in perspective to rock and roll
Providing a new perspective on rock and roll
Cause you know this kid is got wild soul
Because you know I have a wild and free spirit
Of every kind of drama
Of every dramatic event
Like stars out pirhanna
Like stars shining in the dark
Cold like ice jazzed hot like a sauna
My lyrics have a mix of cold and hot emotions
It's the has verse the the half guess who's arrived in the hood
It's me against half of the other people in the neighborhood
Exposing all wrongs it's all good
Uncovering all the mistakes and making things right
Yo word up, hip-hop is live like a wire
Hip-hop is alive and filled with energy
Let's get a little bit before the whole joint expire
Let's make the most of the time before it's too late
I got to stress it again
I have to emphasize once again
You see it's for my Ken
It's for my family and lineage
And all my babies
And all of my loved ones
Children of the world, no maybe's
All the children of the world, no exceptions
To you we got to move through
We have to move forward for you
And push through
And overcome all obstacles
Because we got to make it happen keep the true blue
Because we must succeed and stay true to ourselves
It's like that
It's like that, simple and straightforward
So much confusion goin' on
There's a lot of chaos happening
Inside all mine
Inside my head
Uh, uh, uh, uh
Sound effects
But everything will be fine
Despite the chaos, everything will work out
Gotta make it alright
We have to fix things
Gotta elevate your mind
We have to improve our way of thinking to find solutions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, Ali Shaheed Jones-Muhammad, Malik Izaak Taylor, John Philippe Mclaughlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tate Buitrago
on Electric Relaxation
another of my dads