A Tribe Called Quest Drove Each Other To Greatness On Their Final Album (Video)

In less than 12 hours, A Tribe Called Quest will release We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service. The group’s first album in 18 years (and first with all four founding members in more than 25 years) carries a great deal of anticipation.

Last night (November 9) at New York City’s PS1, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Questlove, and Prince Paul were among those on hand to promote the Epic/Sony Records release—and the definitive final album from some of Hip-Hop’s most celebrated artists. Rolling Stone was among those on hand, and captured some of the statements made by Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes surrounding the album’s creation and place in history.

Tip acknowledged that his partners in rhyme challenged him. “There was one point where we were in the studio, and my manager was there, and she walked in and heard Phife [Dawg] and Jarobi bouncing on a joint, and she pulled me [aside], and she was like, ‘I don’t know what you doing, but these niggas is out for your head,'” the MC/producer said. “‘You better get in your shit.” Jarobi, who has appeared with and toured with A.T.C.Q. in the 2000s, previously exited the group between the making of their 1990 debut People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm and 1991’s The Low End Theory. Although Jarobi (now a professional chef) maintained his rapping alongside Black Sheep’s Dres in EvitaN, We Got It From Here… may define his personal legacy as an MC within a legendary outfit. Phife, who critics and producers believe stepped into form on T.L.E.T., would become a pivotal voice and driving force within the group’s run. The MC who died this March, also embarked on a successful solo career.

The Making Of A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory, Told By People Who Were There

As far as A.T.C.Q. feeling the pressure of tampering with a legacy once perceived as cemented, that was not the case. “[Phife Dawg and I] spoke about it at length about the importance of maintaining the essence [of A Tribe Called Quest] but not getting trapped in that and trying to see it beyond,” said Q-Tip, as quoted by Rolling StoneThe Abstract is said to have “quarterbacked” this album, and recorded 100% of it in his him home studio in New Jersey. “We would just listen to shit we liked—‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen, and then we would listen to ‘Money Trees’ by Kendrick [Lamar], then we’d go to Rakim. It was a sonic exercise to hear all those different records and see the common thread.” Kendrick Lamar joins Andre 3000, Elton John, Busta Rhymes, Anderson .Paak, Talib Kweli, and others as confirmed album guests.

A Tribe Called Quest’s Album Artwork Shows The Naked Truth About Hip-Hop’s Generation Gap

This morning (November 10), Q-Tip gave CBS This Morning a brief tour of his studio, and confirmed the track titles of the album. He shows that in addition to confirmed guests, Large Professor (who worked on past Tribe albums), Alicia Keys, and Kanye West were in the studio at times since the LP began recording.

Q-Tip Details The Back Story, Title & Guests On A Tribe Called Quest’s Final Album

The tracklisting is as follows, split into two sides as a throwback to vinyl and cassettes:

1. The Space Program
2. We The People…
3. Whateva Will Be ft Consequence
4. Solid Wall Of Sound ft Busta Rhymes & Elton John
5. Dis Generation ft Busta Rhymes
6. Kids… ft André 3000
7. Melatonin ft Jack White
8. Enough

1. Mobius ft Consequence & Busta Rhymes
2. Black Spasmodic ft Consequence
3. The Killing Season ft Talib Kweli & Consequence
4. Lost Somebody
5. Movin’ Backwards ft Anderson .Paak
6. Conrad Tokyo ft Kendrick Lamar
7. Ego ft Jack White
8. The Donald ft Busta Rhymes

One Of Phife Dawg’s Final Recordings Releases & It’s Trademark Malik (Audio)

The guests have not been attached to their respective songs.

#BonusBeat: Close affiliate Questlove’s (who has played with numerals on The Roots’ songs since inception) statement surrounding We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service :

All imma say is Yes. Yes. Yes. I didn’t wanna do the privilege stuntin brag move. w/o spoiler alerting I’ll just say 3 things: 1) I miss the group esthetic in hip hop especially in mc’n—like this ain’t a “ok this my 16, then hook then your 16, then let’s do his 16”—-nah this some Run DMC/Beastie Boys/Furious 5 collaborative tug-of-war-rhyming (just putting it out there: if #Andre3000 joined @ATCQ this would be the best most welcome move in music prolly since JG joined NE or maybe Edwards came to the Temptations) 2) the last time I was so pleasantly surprised at someone’s hidden skill performance was when @djmaseo came out of nowhere kickin ass and takin names on #DeLaSoulIsDead—but man all I’m left wonderin was what if @jarobiwhite had barz on the OTHER tribe records! Which leads to my last point: 3) this is an excellent high note to end on but this is only telling me that the gas in #ATCQ’S tank is NOWHERE near empty. Like this album is it’s own lane: it fulfills and itches so many scratches I’ve been jonzin for: tempos I love (95-100 bpms) the random scattered bomb squad production tactics of classic albums like #AmerikkkasMostWanted & #FearOfABlackPlanet (16 songs running through you like bullets at the speed of sound, a bowl of stew made by @chefludo and his zany chefs at @troismecla all in tune with each other knowing the RIGHT amount of spices to throw in)–I mean it’s feels vintage in its musicality but is such a 2016 record. And it’s timing could really really truly couldn’t be like—better because it’s topical. This is so needed right now. Come midnight tonight you will be HAPPY AS HELL. Matter of fact? (Forgot it’s Thursday) tonight at #BowlTrain I’m spinning ALL TRIBE! why? I wanna hear #ThankYouForYourService on loud ass speakers! See y’all tonight after @talibkweli’s @brooklynbowl concert. It’s gonna be an amazing night of hip hop I’ll tell you that much.

A photo posted by Questlove Gomez (@questlove) on

The question now becomes if Heads will hear any of the album early, or if this will be a work that oversteps the notion of early singles. What do you think?