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)
enough!!
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo, I'm savant with the game
Gon' tell Robi your name
Provide words that's heard, setting your body aflame
Ooh, you off the chain, I'm handling your terrain, your valley
Has me standing down to the follicle
'Bout half of this bottle full of reasons for us to ball
Lace your fancy bra, gon' take them vestments off
Skin and my lips involved, I'm licking a place that's soft
Jedi
Is this enough?
Is this enough love that I give to you?
Is this enough?
Is this enough time that I give to you?
Is this enough?
Tell me that you feel the same way I do
Is this enough?
Enough, enough, enough
Is it an issue if I make you nut?
But there's no quality time 'cause I forever grind
This is not an excuse, I just wanna get loose
That's old nigga jargon, girl, you're making me hardened
To the stone or granite statue, I'm prone to get at you
It's hard to break your defense, I guess I have to leap fence
Or scale wall and break fall on a tree right by your window
Reward me for my efforts by rolling this indo
As I nibble your neck naughtily, sex is a big part of me
Agencies want to audit me, searching, snooping for sodomy
My thrust bust artery, I know you're on to me
Just wanna have shenanigan, don't wanna make you mad again
So focus on the flattery you feel when I fling it
Acknowledge that I got it and you love it when I bring it
Dirty talk loud but they saying, "Fuck the shit out of me"
At the Queen's request, if it's gotta be, it's gotta be
Is this enough?
Is this enough love that I give to you?
Is this enough?
Is this enough time that I give to you? Is this enough
Tell me that you feel the same way I do
Is this enough?
Is this enough?
Is this enough love that I give to you?
Is this enough?
Is this enough time that I give to you?
Is this enough?
Tell me that you feel the same way I do
Is this enough?
The lyrics of "Enough!!" by A Tribe Called Quest convey a complex message of sexuality, love, and commitment. The opening lines showcase the rapper's confidence and skill, using his lyrics to both flatter and seduce his lover. He describes the physical chemistry between them, the way he loves to touch and feel her body, and the intensity of their sexual encounters. However, the song also grapples with issues of time and priorities. The rapper discusses his busy schedule and the difficulty of balancing his work with his personal life, acknowledging the way it strains his relationship.
The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "Is this enough?" reflects the rapper's insecurity about whether he is doing enough in his relationship. He questions whether his love, time, and attention are sufficient for his partner, and whether he is truly meeting her needs. The song highlights the complexities of modern relationships, grappling with the challenge of balancing work and love, and the difficulty of knowing whether we are truly giving our partners everything they need.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, I'm savant with the game
I am highly skilled in this area
Gon' tell Robi your name
Introducing myself to Robi
Provide words that's heard, setting your body aflame
I'll say the right things to turn you on
Ooh, you off the chain, I'm handling your terrain, your valley
You're wild and I can handle you
Has me standing down to the follicle
You control me completely
'Bout half of this bottle full of reasons for us to ball
We have plenty of reasons to celebrate and have fun
Palming violations and travel vacation ma
Ignoring rules and traveling with me
Lace your fancy bra, gon' take them vestments off
Take off your clothes, especially your bra
Skin and my lips involved, I'm licking a place that's soft
We are engaging in intimate activities
Jedi
I am skilled and in control, like a Jedi
Is it an issue if I make you nut?
Do you mind if I make you orgasm?
But there's no quality time 'cause I forever grind
I'm always working and don't have much time for us
This is not an excuse, I just wanna get loose
I'm not making excuses, I just want to enjoy myself
That's old nigga jargon, girl, you're making me hardened
That's outdated language, but you're turning me on
To the stone or granite statue, I'm prone to get at you
Even if you seem unresponsive, I will still try to please you
It's hard to break your defense, I guess I have to leap fence
It's difficult to get you in the mood, so I have to try harder
Or scale wall and break fall on a tree right by your window
I'll do whatever it takes to be with you, even if it's dangerous
Reward me for my efforts by rolling this indo
Please show your appreciation by smoking marijuana with me
As I nibble your neck naughtily, sex is a big part of me
I enjoy being intimate with you and it's a big part of who I am
Agencies want to audit me, searching, snooping for sodomy
People are suspicious of my behavior and investigating me
My thrust bust artery, I know you're on to me
My sexual performance is impressive, and you know it
Just wanna have shenanigan, don't wanna make you mad again
I just want to have fun and not cause any problems
So focus on the flattery you feel when I fling it
Focus on how good it feels when I make you feel good
Acknowledge that I got it and you love it when I bring it
Admit that I'm good at what I do and you enjoy it
Dirty talk loud but they saying, "Fuck the shit out of me"
Others are being more explicit and vulgar about their desires
At the Queen's request, if it's gotta be, it's gotta be
You are in charge and I'll do what you want, even if it's difficult
Is this enough?
Am I doing enough to please you?
Is this enough love that I give to you?
Am I showing you enough love?
Is this enough time that I give to you?
Am I spending enough time with you?
Tell me that you feel the same way I do
Do you feel the same way about me?
Enough, enough, enough
I want to make sure I'm giving you enough
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Charles Stepney, Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, Olivier Bloch-Laine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tate Buitrago
on Electric Relaxation
another of my dads