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)
Skypager
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh, uh, uh
Those who don't believe, see you're laid behind
Got our skypagers on all the time
Hurry up and get yours 'cause I got mine
Especially if you do shows, they come in fine
If you're with a G and you're sippin' wine
Eating cacciatore with a twist of lime
Gotta meet your lover at a quarter to 9
Joint by base, then you get your high
If you get your then high, mine is next
The "S" in skypage really stands for sex
Beeper's going off like Don Trump gets checks
Keep my bases loaded like the New York Mets
At times I miss the pager so you don't get vex
Having bad days like a voodoo hex
Conceptually, a pager is so complex
'Cause I be standing by the phone ready to flex
Welcome, wel, wel, welcome to the new skypager
Wel, welcome to the new skypager
Welcome to the new skypager, to the new skypager
Enter telephone number or other numeric message
Uh
So funky
Uh
So funky
Uh
So funky
The batteries I use are called Duracell
They last for three weeks so they do me well
Don't be going through no phases my joint stays on
24-7, from dusk 'til dawn
If you're in Costa Rica on a sunlit beach
You greed for the Phifer, I can be reached
A number of importance, I just put it on lock
You leave code '69", that means you want some (cock)
People tend to think that a pager's foul
Well it kinda is, 'cause it makes me scowl
But it really hurts when you're on the prowl
Brothers know it hurts when you're on the prowl
Grabbing on my joint 'cause I'm an eager owl
Get paged by a G or a business pal
My shit is overflowing, they won't allow
Another page, so I'll just end this now
Message sent
Thank you for calling skypager
In the song Skypager by A Tribe Called Quest, the group references the importance of a pager or skypager in their daily lives. They use it to stay connected to their lovers, business partners, and fans while on the go. The lyrics reflect on the convenience of having a pager but also the frustration of constantly being on call. The song highlights the practical use of a pager in a time where cell phones were not as prevalent, and the group emphasizes the importance of keeping the pager on at all times to be reachable.
The lyrics also touch on the need for discretion and the importance of keeping the pager on lock. When someone leaves the code "69", the meaning is not lost on the listener, further underscoring the themes of sex and relationships in the song. Overall, the song reflects on the way technology and communication have impacted daily life and relationships, both for better and for worse.
Line by Line Meaning
Those who don't believe, see you're laid behind
Those who are not aware of the usefulness of pagers are missing out on the benefits.
Got our skypagers on all the time
The group always has their pagers on, indicating their reliance on this technology.
Hurry up and get yours 'cause I got mine
The urgency to obtain a pager is highlighted here, as the group has already acquired theirs.
Especially if you do shows, they come in fine
Pagers are especially useful for those who perform shows, as it allows them to be accessible for business purposes.
If you're with a G and you're sippin wine
If one is with someone important and enjoying a leisurely activity, they still need to be reachable and pagers help with this.
Eating caccatore with a twist of lime
Even if someone is dining and relaxing, a pager allows them to stay connected to potential business opportunities.
Gotta meet your lover at a quarter to 9
Pagers allow individuals to communicate their romantic plans, which can be useful in the absence of cell phones.
Joint by base, then you get your high
This line describes the idea that a pager is required to achieve success or have good business opportunities.
If you get your then high, mine is next
The use of pagers can lead to business opportunities, and the group is urging for everyone to stay alert and prepared for their chance.
The 'S' in skypage really stands for sex
The group is hinting at the sexual undertones surrounding pagers and their implications for those who might use them for casual relationships.
Beeper's going off like Don Trump gets checks
This line emphasizes how often pagers are used by people that work in business.
Keep my bases loaded like the New York Mets
The group is always prepared and has several options lined up when it comes to business opportunities.
At times I miss the pager so you don't get vex
The group occasionally misses the pager, but this can lead to irritation when they are not reachable.
Having bad days like a voodoo hex
Being unreachable can lead to frustration and a bad day for individuals relying on pagers for communication.
Conceptually, a pager is so complex
The lyrics suggest that pagers might appear simple, but they are actually important for navigating business opportunities.
'Cause I be standing by the phone ready to flex
The group is always prepared and waiting for their opportunities to use the pager effectively.
The batteries I use are called Duracell
The group prefers to use long-lasting batteries that meet their needs for constant communication and reliance on pagers.
They last for three weeks so they do me well
The long-lasting batteries allow for the group to remain constantly connected without interruption.
Don't be going through no phases my joint stays on
The group emphasizes their steadfast commitment to using pagers and staying reachable at all times.
24-7, from dusk til dawn
The group is always on and always reachable, emphasizing how important pagers can be for business opportunities.
If you're in Costa Rica on a sunlit beach
Even if someone is in a leisurely location, they should always have their pager on to take advantage of any important business opportunities.
You greed for the Phifer, I can be reached
Someone looking for the group member Phifer can reach them using the pager, emphasizing how important the technology is.
A number of importance, I just put it on lock
The number on the pager is essential for communication, and the group is careful to keep it working at all times.
You leave code '69', that means you want some (cock)
The group acknowledges the sexual overtones associated with pagers and hints that some people may use codes or slang related to that idea.
People tend to think that a pager's foul
There is a social stigma surrounding pagers or a judgment that they are outdated, but the group argues that they are still useful.
Well it kinda is, 'cause it makes me scoul
The group recognizes that the technology can be frustrating or lead to irritation when things don't work effectively.
But it really hurts when you're on the prowl
The group emphasizes how difficult it is to navigate business opportunities without a pager or when the pager is not functioning well.
Brothers know it hurts when you're on the prowl
The group acknowledges the frustration that can arise when the pager is not working or communication is not possible, particularly for men trying to make business connections.
Grabbing on my joint 'cause I'm an eager owl
The group is committed to business and working hard to make connections, emphasizing their always-on mentality.
Get paged by a G or a business pal
The group receives messages from business connections and acquaintances, highlighting the importance of pagers for social and business purposes.
My shit is overflowing, they won't allow
The group receives so many messages that they struggle to keep up, showing the importance of the technology.
Another page, so I'll just end this now
The group must end the song quickly because they received another message that they need to respond to, showing how important and demanding the pager can be for business opportunities.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ali Shaheed Jones-Muhammad, Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, Malik Izaak Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tate Buitrago
on Electric Relaxation
another of my dads