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)
Steve Biko
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tribe Called Quest represent, represent
When the mic is in my hand, I'm never hesitant
My favourite jam back in the day was "Eric B. for President"
Rude boy composer, step to me you're over
Brothers wanna flex, you're not Mad Cobra
MC short and black, there ain't no other
Trini-born black like Nia Long's grandmother
Honey tell your man to chill, or else you'll be a widow
Did not you know that my styles are top-dollar?
The Five-Foot Assassin knocking fleas off his collar
Hip-hop scholar since being knee-high to a duck
The height of Muggsy Bogues, complexion of a hockey puck
You better ask somebody on how we flip the script
Come to a Tribe show and watch the three kids rip
Queens is in the house represent, represent
A Tribe Called Quest represent, represent
No taming of the style 'cause it gets irreverent
A Tribe Called Quest represent, represent
Huh-huh, here we go, you know that I'm the rebel
Throwing out the wicked like God did the Devil
Funky like your grandpa's drawers, don't test me
We in like that, you're dead like Presley
When we coming through get tickets to see me
We work for the paper, so there'll never be a freebie
Lyrics are abundant cause we got it by the mass
Egos are all idle 'cause the music is the task
Valenzuela on the pitch, curveball, catch it
I think I got it locked, just smooth while I latch it
Right, now I must move with the quickness
Here comes Shaheed so we must bear the witness
Stir it up! Stir it up! Stir it up!
Steve Biko
Stir it up! Stir it up! Stir it up!
Steve Biko
New York City represent, represent
A Tribe Called Quest represent, represent
The Dawg is scientific with the styles I invent
A Tribe Called Quest represent, represent
MCs like to meddle, but here's my proposition
I let my lyrics flow, and juxt your whole position
I'm radical with this like the man this song is after
Yo Tip, settle down, what's the reason for the laughter?
I really can't say, I guess I laugh to keep from crying
So much going on, people killing, people dying
But I won't dwell on that, I think I'll elevate my mental
Thanks for these bars on the Biko instrumental
Yo, I'll take it back, I'm the Indian giver
MCs take notes as I stand and deliver
Percussion isn't less, D's wear the vest
Why they dodging bullets, you should be dodging Quest
Don't get me wrong, violence is not our forte
I just like to rhyme, kick the lyric skills like Pele
Tip educate 'em, my rhymes are strictly taboo
Fill 'em with some fantasies and I'll look out like Tattoo
Okay, I am recognizing that the voice inside my head
Is urging me to be myself but never follow someone else
Because opinions are like voices, we all have a different kind
So just clean out all of your ears, these are my views and you will find
That we revolutionize over the kick and the snare
The ghetto vocalist is on a state-wide tear
Soon to be the continent and then the freaking globe
There's room for it all as we mingle at the ball
We welcome competition cos it doesn't make one lazy or worn
We gotta work hard, you know the damn card
Try to be the phattest is the level that we strive
Try to be the phattest also to stay alive
The lyrics of "Steve Biko (Stir It Up)" by A Tribe Called Quest, represent the group's emblematic style of rap, which blends jazz, funk and soul music with politically charged lyrics. The song is named after Stephen Biko, a South African anti-apartheid activist who was arrested and died in police custody in 1977. The song is featured on the group's second album 'The Low End Theory' in 1991.
The opening verse of the song is delivered by Phife Dawg, which boasts about his love for early hip-hop, and describes his prowess as an MC. He declares that he never hesitates to express himself when he has the microphone in hand, and recalls one of his favorite songs from back in the day, “Eric B. for President.” He later references Jamaican dancehall artist Mad Cobra, and female actress Nia Long's grandmother. The song also features Q-Tip, who delivers the second verse with a more politically charged tone, similar to the activism of Steve Biko. He decries the violence and inequality in society, and urges people to strive to become the "phattest," or the best version of themselves while acknowledging that each person has a unique perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
Linden Boulevard represent, represent
We represent our hometown, Linden Boulevard
Tribe Called Quest represent, represent
A Tribe Called Quest represents their music
When the mic is in my hand, I'm never hesitant
I am confident when performing with a microphone
My favourite jam back in the day was "Eric B. for President"
My favorite song used to be "Eric B. for President"
Rude boy composer, step to me you're over
I am a skilled composer, and if anyone tries to challenge me, they will lose
Brothers wanna flex, you're not Mad Cobra
Just because someone is trying to intimidate me, it does not mean they should be feared
MC short and black, there ain't no other
I am a unique artist, no one can replace me
Trini-born black like Nia Long's grandmother
I am black and was born in Trinidad, similar to Nia Long's grandmother's background
Tip and Sha they all that, Phife-Dawg ditto
Tip and Sha are great, Phife-Dawg is just as good
Honey tell your man to chill, or else you'll be a widow
Ladies, please control your men, or they'll regret it
Did not you know that my styles are top-dollar?
I'm top-notch, and my music is worth every penny
The Five-Foot Assassin knocking fleas off his collar
Phife-Dawg (Five-Foot Assassin) is so cool and laid back he can knock fleas off his collar
Hip-hop scholar since being knee-high to a duck
I have been studying hip-hop since I was very young
The height of Muggsy Bogues, complexion of a hockey puck
I am short like Muggsy Bogues, and my skin is dark like a hockey puck
You better ask somebody on how we flip the script
You should learn how we change up our music by asking someone who knows
Come to a Tribe show and watch the three kids rip
Come to one of our shows and see us perform amazingly
Queens is in the house represent, represent
We represent our hometown, Queens
No taming of the style 'cause it gets irreverent
We won't restrict or calm down our style, as it is rebellious
Huh-huh, here we go, you know that I'm the rebel
I'm the rebel of the group and ready to perform
Throwing out the wicked like God did the Devil
I am getting rid of bad things in life, just like God disposed of the Devil
Funky like your grandpa's drawers, don't test me
I am funky, no need to question that
We in like that, you're dead like Presley
We are ready to perform, and if you try to challenge us, you will lose like Elvis Presley
When we coming through get tickets to see me
When we come to perform, make sure you have tickets to see us
We work for the paper, so there'll never be a freebie
We need to make money, so there won't be any free performances
Lyrics are abundant cause we got it by the mass
We have a lot of lyrics because we created them in large amounts
Egos are all idle 'cause the music is the task
Our egos are not important because the music is our main focus
Valenzuela on the pitch, curveball, catch it
Like Valenzuela's curveball, our music is unique, so you should pay attention
I think I got it locked, just smooth while I latch it
I am confident in my ability to perform, I just need to execute it well
Right, now I must move with the quickness
I must hurry to get things done quickly at the moment
Here comes Shaheed, so we must bear the witness
Shaheed is ready to perform, and we should all observe and appreciate his skills
Steve Biko
The song repeats this phrase as a tribute to the anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko
New York City represent, represent
We represent our city, New York
The Dawg is scientific with the styles I invent
Phife-Dawg is a genius when it comes to creating music
MCs like to meddle, but here's my proposition
Other artists like to interfere, but I have an idea
I let my lyrics flow, and juxt your whole position
My lyrics are impactful and have the power to change your perspective
I'm radical with this like the man this song is after
I'm radical with my message, like Steve Biko for whom this song is named after
Yo Tip, settle down, what's the reason for the laughter?
Hey, Tip, calm down, what are you laughing about?
I really can't say, I guess I laugh to keep from crying
I can't really explain it, but I think I'm laughing to keep myself from crying
So much going on, people killing, people dying
There is so much negativity going on in the world, with people killing each other
But I won't dwell on that, I think I'll elevate my mental
I won't focus on those negative things, instead I'll try to improve myself mentally
Thanks for these bars on the Biko instrumental
Thanks for these lines on the instrumental tribute to Steve Biko
Yo, I'll take it back, I'm the Indian giver
I'll take it back, like someone who gives and then takes back
MCs take notes as I stand and deliver
Other artists should listen carefully to my performance
Percussion isn't less, D's wear the vest
The percussion is important, and D (the DJ) always wears a bulletproof vest
Why they dodging bullets, you should be dodging Quest
You should avoid getting involved in violence, and instead focus on our group, A Tribe Called Quest
Don't get me wrong, violence is not our forte
We aren't focused on violence, it's not what we're about
I just like to rhyme, kick the lyric skills like Pele
I love to rap and have great lyric skills, similar to Pele's soccer skills
Tip educate 'em, my rhymes are strictly taboo
Tip can educate others, and my rhymes are sometimes inappropriate
Fill 'em with some fantasies and I'll look out like Tattoo
If you give me creative ideas, I'll make them a reality in my music
Okay, I am recognizing that the voice inside my head
I realize that the voice in my mind is telling me to be myself and not follow others
Is urging me to be myself but never follow someone else
The voice is encouraging me to be original and not copy anyone else
Because opinions are like voices, we all have a different kind
Opinions are like voices, everyone has their own unique one
So just clean out all of your ears, these are my views and you will find
Listen carefully to my views, and you may agree with me
That we revolutionize over the kick and the snare
Our music is revolutionary due to our unique drums and beat
The ghetto vocalist is on a state-wide tear
Our group is bringing a new sound to the music industry
Soon to be the continent and then the freaking globe
We hope to become a global phenomenon with our music
There's room for it all as we mingle at the ball
There's space for every kind of genre, and we fit in and collaborate with others
We welcome competition cos it doesn't make one lazy or worn
We are open to competition because it motivates us to work harder and improve
We gotta work hard, you know the damn card
We have to work hard in order to succeed in the music industry
Try to be the phattest is the level that we strive
We are trying to be the best and most successful artists
Try to be the phattest also to stay alive
We need to be successful to keep our group alive and continue to make music
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ali Shaheed Jones-Muhammad, Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, Malik Izaak Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheCoog97
Love this track because my parents named me after Steve Biko! After watching Sir Richard Attenborough's film "Cry Freedom" (1987) and reading Steve Biko's "I write what I like" book, I am truly blessed. Steve Biko was a historical champion of civil rights in apartheid South Africa, and should be required knowledge for youngsters growing up; much in the same vein as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, Patrice Lumumba, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Geronimo, Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and Russell Means. Respect to the Tribe for educating the masses with this song. The knowledge of self is the greatest gift to us as individuals to discover our true roots.
@MrPatides
Everyone says illmatic is the all-time best hip hop album but I'm starting to think more and more everyday Midnight Marauders is
@tyronecobb4807
U thinking right
@abdoonyt9049
Midnight marauder is the closest thing or actually just as good as illmatic. Its fucking beautiful.
@lilstewks
Both of them are great, I wouldn't argue on that point, I love both of those albums, The Low End Theory was beautiful as well. I always say Tribe is the best rap group ever.
@saumitjin5526
Comes real close to illmatic but Nas had immense talent for his age. Love both of these records :))
@thugspoet
Its neck and neck imo
@polaske93
A tribe was way ahead of their time.. q tips production is crazy! him and Phife were like yin and yang
@CrashJC123
preach
@yannicksimok1216
True ....this song is the clear demonstration of the chemistry of the group before the recording of this album....this is why MM is over LET IMO....