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)
We Can Get Down
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We can get down, we can we can get down
We can get down, we can we can get down
We can get down, we can we can get down
We can get down, we can we can get down
We can get down, we can we can get down
We can get down, we can we can get down
We can get down, we can we can get down
It's like that man, it's like that (yes)
It's like that man, it's like that (yes)
It's like that man, it's like that (yes)
It's like that man, it's like that (yes)
Check it
I'm not your average MC with the Joe Schmoe flow
If you don't know me by now, you'll never know
Stepping on my critics, beating on my foes
The plan is to stay focused, only then I can grow
Straight from the heart, I represent hip hop
I be three albums deep, but I don't wanna go pop
Too many candy rappers seem to be at the top
Too much candy is no good, so now I'm closing the shop
Crushing competition like Italians on grapes
My rhymes styles be blending like a Ron G tape
My man where ya going? You can't escape
When the Tribe is in the house that means nobody is safe
How can a reverend preach, when a rev can't define
The music of our youth from 1979
We rap by what we see, meaning reality
From people busting caps and like Mandela being free
Not every MC be with the negativity
We have a slew of rappers pushing positivity
Hip hop will never die yo, it's all about the rap
So Mayor Barry smoking crack, let's preach about that
The trash you talk won't matter, that old bogus chatter
The more that you condemn us, it only makes us phatter
When I talk, I know I'm talking for Hip Hoppers all around
You know you love the sound, we gets down
We can get down, we can we can get down
We can get down, we can we can get down
We can get down, we can we can get down
We can get down, we can we can get down
It's like that man, it's like that (yes)
It's like that man, it's like that (yes)
It's like that man, it's like that (yes)
It's like that man, it's like that (yes)
Check it
I'm the cherry on the top of yo ice cream
I'm the mystic thought inside your dream
Listen to the way we pulsate the jam
I'm the nigga here with the mic in hand
Styles that we present are just a few
To do away with you and your hum-drum crew
This is '93 and the shit is real
Black people unite and put down your steel
Ladies make a forum on your sexual drive
Devote it to your lover and make it thrive
The rhythm's in F, I'm a hip hop body
Release my energy with the force of a shotty
Standing on the wall with my Polo on
Talking to the girl with the Liz Claiborne
Keep the poetry in my black knapsack
Got my Timbo hooves and my Doublemint pack
Hit the city streets to enhance my soul
I can kick a rhyme over ill drum rolls
With a kick, snare, kicks and high hat
Skilled in the trade of that old boom bap
I can do a trick with the opposite breed
I used to down 40s and smoke grade weed
Now, I'm doing shows with half loot down
Now it's time for me to take ya uptown
It's like that man, it's like that (yes)
It's like that man, it's like that (yes)
It's like that man, it's like that (yes)
It's like that man, it's like that (yes)
It's like that man, it's like that (yes)
It's like that man, it's like that (yes)
It's like that man, it's like that (yes)
It's like that man, It's like this, Shaheed
"Why waste time on the microphone?"
"Why waste time on the microphone?"
"Why waste time on the microphone?"
"Why waste time on the microphone?"
Why waste time on the mic?
A Tribe Called Quest consists of four members
Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad
Q-Tip, and Jarobi
A E I O U and sometimes Y
"We Can Get Down" by A Tribe Called Quest is a rap song that explores issues of identity, cultural heritage, and the role of hip hop in society. The song opens with Q-Tip declaring that he is not an "average MC with a Joe Schmoe flow," signalling his ambition to be innovative and push the boundaries of rap music. He talks about stepping on his critics and beating on his foes, but his goal is not to tear people down; it's to stay focused and grow as an artist. He represents hip hop culture and takes pride in his three albums, but he rejects the idea of going pop - a reference to the commercialization of rap music in the 1990s.
The second verse is delivered by Phife Dawg, who describes himself as the "cherry on top of your ice cream" and the "mystic thought inside your dream." He advocates for black unity and encourages women to express their sexuality freely. He also talks about personal growth and maturation, citing his past experiences with alcohol and drug use. Despite the challenges he's faced, he's proud of where he is now, performing shows and sharing his message with listeners.
Overall, "We Can Get Down" is a powerful song that demonstrates A Tribe Called Quest's unique style and lyrical depth. The group's commitment to pushing boundaries and staying true to their roots is evident in every verse.
Line by Line Meaning
We can get down, we can we can get down
Let's party and have a good time together.
It's like that man, it's like that (yes!)
That's just how it is, and we're going to embrace it.
I'm not your average MC with the Joe Schmoe flow
I don't rap like everyone else, I'm unique in my style.
If you don't know me by now, you'll never know
If you haven't heard of me already, you're missing out and probably never will.
Stepping on my critics, beating on my foes
I'm overcoming my detractors and opponents through my music.
The plan is to stay focused, only then I can grow
By staying true to myself and my goals, I can continue to improve and develop as an artist.
Straight from the heart, I represent hip hop
I'm rapping from a place of passion and love for the genre.
I be three albums deep, but I don't wanna go pop
I've put out multiple successful albums, but I don't want to compromise my artistry to become more mainstream.
Too many candy rappers seem to be at the top
There are too many superficial and inauthentic rappers dominating the music industry.
Too much candy is no good, so now I'm closing the shop
I'm putting a stop to the excess of commercialized, shallow hip hop.
Crushing competition like Italians on grapes
I'm defeating my rivals with ease and strength.
My rhymes styles be blending like a Ron G tape
My rap styles and techniques are expertly mixed together like a Ron G tape.
My man where ya going, you can't escape
You can't get away from the Tribe and our sounds.
When the Tribe is in the house that means nobody is safe
Our music is powerful and everyone is affected by it when we perform.
How can a reverend preach, when a rev can't define
How can a religious leader talk about our music when they don't understand it?
The music of our youth from 1979
Our art form has deep roots and has been around for decades.
We rap by what we see, meaning reality
We rap about our experiences and real life situations.
From people busting caps and like Mandela being free
Our lyrics address issues like violence and liberation.
Not every MC be with the negativity
Not all rappers promote negative attitudes or behavior.
We have a slew of rappers pushing positivity
There are many rappers promoting positive messages and values.
Hip hop will never die yo, it's all about the rap
Hip hop will always be alive because at its core, it's all about the music.
So Mayor Barry smoking crack, let's preach about that
Let's focus on real issues like political scandals and corruption.
The trash you talk won't matter, that old bogus chatter
Your negative comments are irrelevant and meaningless.
The more that you condemn us, it only makes us phatter
The more you criticize us, the stronger and more dedicated we become.
When I talk, I know I'm talking for Hip Hoppers all around
I speak on behalf of the hip hop community and represent our values and culture.
You know you love the sound, we gets down
Our music is irresistible and we know how to make everyone have a good time.
I'm the cherry on the top of yo ice cream
I'm the final touch that makes everything perfect.
I'm the mystic thought inside your dream
I'm the inexplicable thought or feeling that comes to you in your sleep and stays with you.
Listen to the way we pulsate the jam
Pay attention to the way our music moves and energizes the crowd.
I'm the nigga here with the mic in hand
I'm the rapper holding the mic and performing for the audience.
Styles that we present are just a few
We have many different styles of music and we can only showcase a small selection at each performance.
To do away with you and your hum drum crew
We're here to eliminate the mediocrity and boringness of other performers.
This is '93 and the shit is real
This is the year 1993 and our music is authentic and truthful.
Black people unite and put down your steel
A call to action for the black community to come together and make positive changes.
Ladies make a forum on your sexual drive
A suggestion for women to discuss and explore their sexuality.
Devote it to your lover and make it thrive
Use these discussions and experiences to strengthen your relationship.
The rhythm's in F, I'm a hip hop body
The beat is in the key of F and my body is in tune with the music.
Release my energy with the force of a shotty
I'm letting out all of my energy and passion with the force and intensity of a shotgun blast.
Standing on the wall with my Polo on
I'm stylishly dressed and confidently standing against the wall.
Talking to the girl with the Liz Claiborne
I'm chatting up a girl who is fashionably dressed in Liz Claiborne clothing.
Keep the poetry in my black knapsack
I always carry my artistic skills and talents with me.
Got my Timbo hooves and my Doublemint pack
I'm wearing Timberland boots and carrying a pack of Doublemint Gum.
Hit the city streets to enhance my soul
I'm out and about in the city to improve my inner being and spirit.
I can kick a rhyme over ill drum rolls
I can rap adeptly over complex and impressive drum beats.
With a kick, snare, kicks and high hat
These are the components of a classic hip hop drum pattern.
Skilled in the trade of that old boom bap
I'm a proficient master of the classic hip hop sound.
I can do a trick with the opposite breed
I can collaborate and work creatively with artists of different backgrounds and styles.
I used to down 40s and smoke grade weed
I used to drink 40 ounce bottles of beer and smoke low-quality marijuana.
Now, I'm doing shows with half loot down
Now I'm performing at venues and concerts for less money up front.
Now it's time for me to take ya uptown
Now I'm going to take you to a higher level of excitement and energy with my performance.
It's like this, Shaheed!
This is how we do it, my fellow rapper Shaheed!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, Ali Shaheed Jones-Muhammad, Malik Izaak Taylor, William H. Cosby
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tate Buitrago
on Electric Relaxation
another of my dads