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)
Solid Wall of Sound
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna hear electric music (what you gon' hear?)
Gonna hear electric music, solid walls of sound
Solid walls of sound (solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Solid walls of sound (solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Solid walls of sound
Solid walls of sound (solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Solid walls of sound (Tip and Phife in town, Tip and Phife in town)
Solid walls of sound (solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Solid walls of sound (solid wall of sound, breaking ground)
Solid walls of sound (solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Solid walls of sound (Jabi, Ali, Phifey, Tip)
Solid walls of sound (Jabi, Ali, Phifey, Tip)
Solid walls of sound (Jabi, Ali, Phifey, Tip)
Solid walls of sound (Jabi, Ali, Phifey)
Yo, ATCQ, Massive and crew
Bars to any beat, we beat the beat for true
Massengale MC's, you smell like pussy stew
Don't let it be you, man up my youth
Phife, you should've spoke of, man you're in the mode of
Leave that to me, el-Hajj Malik
The man with a plan who made it real for us all
Like Marauders on a mission when we killin' dancehalls
Mmm, Saga boy, Trini man
Ride out when mic is in mi hand
Loved all of mi fans, one, two, three of dem all of the gang
With a couple pound a weed and a couple dollar van
Hmm, broke pockets, find another plan
Yeah, cyan dun, push up on a man
And big up the sound man
Dibby dibby DJ walk
Ayo most of them ah talk
They don't want no prob, they don't want no etch a outline
Inna bloodclot chalk
Earlier in the night when we bring out the music
With a box and a band killer sound boy movement
Live and direct when it all goes down
You an idiot boy, you don't wanna fuck round
Big tune make the world go round
Make way fi di soundboy crown
Dem fi know we di wickedest sound
One box off in your face make a sound boy frown
Sound
Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound
Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound
Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound
Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound
Sound checking, a million watts are shaking the room
In just a few hours you're gonna feel the burn
All of the goons are checking their guns at the door
A solid wall of sound is here on tour
It's gonna get loud
So no phones allowed
It's gonna get loud
So no phones allowed
In "Solid Wall of Sound," A Tribe Called Quest and guest artist Busta Rhymes deliver on the promise made in the opening lines that "you gonna hear electric music." This up-tempo track features electronic beats and a funky bassline that changes throughout the song. The repeated chorus of "solid walls of sound" emphasizes the power and intensity of the music. The verses are packed with references and wordplay, as the rappers comment on their own skills and experiences in the music industry, as well as the competition and the fans.
Line by Line Meaning
Gonna hear electric music (what you gon' hear?)
We will hear electrifying music that will captivate your senses and move your soul.
Solid walls of sound (solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Our music produces an impenetrable wall of sound that is powerful and unyielding.
Tip and Phife in town, Tip and Phife in town
Rap legends Tip and Phife Dawg are present and ready to put on a show for the fans.
Solid walls of sound (solid wall of sound, breaking ground)
Our sound is so intense it will break new ground, revolutionizing the music scene.
Jabi, Ali, Phifey, Tip
The members of our group, Jabi, Ali, Phife Dawg, and Tip are all present and accounted for.
Yo, ATCQ, Massive and crew
Addressing the fans, A Tribe Called Quest and their large crew of musicians are ready to put on an amazing show.
Bars to any beat, we beat the beat for true
We have the skills to rap to any type of beat, and we're always true to ourselves.
Massengale MC’s, you smell like pussy stew
Other rappers smell like cowardice and fear, and it's obvious.
Phife, you should’ve spoke of, man you’re in the mode of
Phife, you should've spoken up, but I'll take the lead because I'm in the zone.
Leave that to me, el-Hajj Malik
I'll take control and lead the way like Malcom X.
The man with a plan who made it real for us all
Just like Malcom X, I have a plan to inspire and motivate others to achieve their dreams.
Like Marauders on a mission when we killin’ dancehalls
We're like fearless warriors on a mission to conquer and own the dancehall scene.
Mmm, Saga boy, Trini man
We're from different places, like me from St. Lucia, and my bandmates from Trinidad.
Ride out when mic is in mi hand
When I have the mic in hand, we're ready to deliver an electrifying performance.
Loved all of mi fans, one, two, three of dem all of the gang
We appreciate all our fans, whether there's one, two or three of them, or an entire gang.
With a couple pound a weed and a couple dollar van
We'll celebrate with some weed and a ride in our cheap yet reliable van.
Hmm, broke pockets, find another plan
If we're broke, we'll find another way to make it work.
And big up the sound man
We'll take a moment to acknowledge and thank the sound man for his hard work.
Dibby dibby DJ walk
The DJ walks around, playing music and keeping the vibe going.
Ayo most of them ah talk
Most of them just talk, but we deliver on our promises.
They don’t want no prob, they don’t want no etch a outline
Others don't want any trouble, they don't want to have to create an outline in blood.
Inna bloodclot chalk
A graphic image of a chalk outline is a symbol of violence and death.
Earlier in the night when we bring out the music
We'll start our performance earlier in the night, to get the crowd hyped and excited.
With a box and a band killer sound boy movement
We don't need much to create an amazing sound and performance.
Live and direct when it all goes down
When it's showtime, we'll go live and direct to give our fans an unforgettable experience.
You an idiot boy, you don’t wanna fuck round
If you're foolish enough to mess with us, you'll regret it.
Big tune make the world go round
Our music is so amazing, it has the power to move the world.
Make way fi di soundboy crown
We're the best soundboys around, and we're here to claim our crown.
Dem fi know we di wickedest sound
Others should know that we are the most talented and amazing sound group around.
One box off in your face make a sound boy frown
If our sound hits you in the face, you won't be able to resist tapping your feet and frowning in disbelief.
Sound checking, a million watts are shaking the room
During our soundcheck, the energy and power of our music can be felt in every corner of the room.
In just a few hours you’re gonna feel the burn
Once our show starts, the energy and power of our music will hit you like a burning sensation.
All of the goons are checking their guns at the door
Security is tight, and all weapons are checked at the door to ensure everyone's safety.
A solid wall of sound is here on tour
We've brought our unbeatable sound to every city on our tour.
So no phones allowed
We want our fans to be fully present and appreciate the experience without distracting technology.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Jarobi White, Malik Izaak Taylor, Trevor Smith, Reginald Kenneth Dwight
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mango tango
Lyrics-
Gonna hear electric music (What you gon' hear?)
Gonna hear electric music (What you gon' hear?)
Gonna hear electric music, solid walls of sound
Solid walls of sound (Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Solid walls of sound (Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Solid walls of sound
Solid walls of sound (Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Solid walls of sound (Tip and Phife in town, Tip and Phife in town)
Solid walls of sound (Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Solid walls of sound (Solid wall of sound, breaking ground)
Solid walls of sound (Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Solid walls of sound (Jabi, Ali, Phifey, Tip)
Solid walls of sound (Jabi, Ali, Phifey, Tip)
Solid walls of sound (Jabi, Ali, Phifey, Tip)
Solid walls of sound (Jabi, Ali, Phifey)
Yo, ATCQ, Massive and crew
Bars to any beat, we beat the beat for true
Massengale MC’s, you smell like pussy stew
Don’t let it be you, man up my youth
Phife, you should've spoke of, man you'rein the mode of
Leave that to me, el-Hajj Malik
The man with a plan who made it real for us all
Like Marauders on a mission when we killin' dancehalls
Mmm, Saga boy, Trini man
Ride out when mic is in mi hand
Loved all of mi fans, one, two, three of dem all of the gang
With a couple pound a weed and a couple dollar van
Hmm, broke pockets, find another plan
Yeah, cyan dun, push up on a man
And big up the sound man
Dibby dibby DJ walk
Ayo most of them ah talk
They don't want no prob, they don't want no etch a outline
Inna bloodclot chalk
Earlier in the night when we bring out the music
With a box and a band killer sound boy movement
Live and direct when it all goes down
You an idiot boy, you don't wanna fuck round
Big tune make the world go round
Make way fi di soundboy crown
Dem fi know we di wickedest sound
One box off in your face make a sound boy frown
Sound
Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound
Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound
Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound
Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound
Sound checking, a million watts are shaking the room
In just a few hours you're gonna feel the burn
All of the goons are checking their guns at the door
A solid wall of sound is here on tour
It's gonna get loud
So no phones allowed
It's gonna get loud
So no phones allowed
Aditya Putra Andika
Gonna hear electric music (what you gon' hear?)
Gonna hear electric music (what you gon' hear?)
Gonna hear electric music, solid walls of sound
Solid walls of sound (solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Solid walls of sound (solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Solid walls of sound
Solid walls of sound (solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Solid walls of sound (Tip and Phife in town, Tip and Phife in town)
Solid walls of sound (solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Solid walls of sound (solid wall of sound, breaking ground)
Solid walls of sound (solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound)
Solid walls of sound (Jabi, Ali, Phifey, Tip)
Solid walls of sound (Jabi, Ali, Phifey, Tip)
Solid walls of sound (Jabi, Ali, Phifey, Tip)
Solid walls of sound (Jabi, Ali, Phifey)
Yo, ATCQ, Massive and crew
Bars to any beat, we beat the beat for true
Massengale MC's, you smell like pussy stew
Don't let it be you, man up my youth
Phife, you should've spoke of, man you're in the mode of
Leave that to me, el-Hajj Malik
The man with a plan who made it real for us all
Like Marauders on a mission when we killin' dancehalls
Mmm, Saga boy, Trini man
Ride out when mic is in mi hand
Loved all of mi fans, one, two, three of dem all of the gang
With a couple pound a weed and a couple dollar van
Hmm, broke pockets, find another plan
Yeah, cyan dun, push up on a man
And big up the sound man
Dibby dibby DJ walk
Ayo most of them ah talk
They don't want no prob, they don't want no etch a outline
Inna bloodclot chalk
Earlier in the night when we bring out the music
With a box and a band killer sound boy movement
Live and direct when it all goes down
You an idiot boy, you don't wanna fuck round
Big tune make the world go round
Make way fi di soundboy crown
Dem fi know we di wickedest sound
One box off in your face make a sound boy frown
Sound
Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound
Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound
Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound
Solid wall of sound, solid wall of sound
Sound checking, a million watts are shaking the room
In just a few hours you're gonna feel the burn
All of the goons are checking their guns at the door
A solid wall of sound is here on tour
It's gonna get loud
So no phones allowed
It's gonna get loud
So no phones allowed
X P
So glad Tribe finished their career strong with one more classic album, their first 3 records were all legit classics but the Love Movement and Beats Rhymes and Life just didn't compare, this one is fire all the way thru 💯🔥💯
X P
@Alas Yorick Beats Rhymes & Life is definitely better than the Love Movement but neither one of them come close to Tribe's first 3 records or their last one, they've talked at length about how they didn't even want to put them out but were forced to by the terms of the record contract
Alas Yorick
@X P I dunno man I can see that with TLM but BL&R?
X P
@Alas YorickI've listened to all 3 of their first 3 albums literally thousands of times over th past 30 years and I've listened to their last album a bunch of times too in the few years it's been out but I've never enjoyed BR & L or the LM, there's a few songs that I like on both but as full albums they just don't hit me anywhere near as hard at any point as Tribe's first 3 records do all the way thru, most musicians are lucky to even make 1 perfect album so Tribe making 4 puts em in an elite class and I don't hold it against them that 2 of their albums weren't perfect, I'm not dissing them for those records, I'm just saying that all of their other records were streets ahead
Alas Yorick
U high beats rhymes and life ain’t it?
Chanelle Davis
The Elton John sample. The keys. The bass. The guitar. The drums. The flows. What an amazing conglomerate. Definitely bumpin' this from now through the rest of 2016 and beyond.
BerdTh
'16 till infinity
ᄋᄋ
Bennie and the jets, my favorite elton john’s song
Be Vegan And Prosper 🖖🌱
Respect my conglomerate!
jason g
Elton played piano for this song. He is a big fan.