a tribe called quest Archives

Finding The GOAT Producer: No ID vs. A Tribe Called Quest. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Producer” begins. The third installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest producers vying for the #1 spot. Thirty producers were pre-selected by a panel of experts, and two slots will be reserved for wild-card entries, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to ensure no deserving... Read more

January 23, 2017 Finding the GOAT

Q-Tip Recalls Playing The “One Love” Beat For Nas The First Time They Met

Q-Tip, Jarobi White, Busta Rhymes, and Consequence appear on this week's episode of Drink Champs. N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN interview A Tribe Called Quest members and affiliates about a litany of subjects. Q-Tip, who speaks at length about producing "Bonita Applebum," as well as A.T.C.Q's 2016 material, spoke about his... Read more

January 13, 2017 Throwback

This Throwback Playlist Celebrates The Hip-Hop That Is Never Played-Out. (Audio)

What is classic never goes out of style. In its 44th year, Hip-Hop music has plenty of that. There are records in five different decades that Rap music fans keep in rotation, no matter the medium (vinyl, CD, cassette, or digital). For those who are about the flows, beats, and... Read more

January 13, 2017 Audio, Throwback

A Producer Reimagines The Music Of A.T.C.Q.’s Midnight Marauders (Audio)

A Tribe Called Quest's third album, Midnight Marauders is one of their most beloved. The late 1993 Jive/RCA Records release picked up where '91's Low End Theory left off, featuring easy-to-relate-to rhymes and incredible sample-based musical compositions. Large Professor and Skeff Anslem each contributed a single track, while guests included... Read more

January 12, 2017 Audio

Tony Touch Shows Where The New Boom Bap Lives In His Latest Mix (Audio)

Twenty years ago, Brooklyn, New York's Tony Touch was one of the most prominent mixtape DJs. One of the original promoters of the MC freestyle, Tony Touch played records he liked, featured great signed and underground talent, and kept the culture organic. In 2016, Tony is one of the only... Read more

January 6, 2017 Audio, Mixes

Skillz’s 2016 Rap Up Reminds Us Of The Year’s Highs, Lows & Reasons To Stay Woke (Audio)

2016 is coming to a close. Years from now, how will we, the people, remember such an expansive year in Hip-Hop music, news, and culture? This year, some of the biggest MCs in the genre released new albums. Several of these efforts came in short notice, challenging new distribution platforms... Read more

December 30, 2016 Food for Thought

2016’s Boldest & Most Important Political Statements In Hip-Hop & Beyond

2016 has been a rough year. From seemingly endless celebrity deaths to a political campaign unlike any other to racial tensions dominating headlines, these last 12 months have been riddled with great sorrow. But as history continues to remind us, out of great pain comes great resilience, and actors, athletes,... Read more

December 14, 2016 Food for Thought

Here Are The Best Hip-Hop Performances & Videos Of 2016

2016 has been a unique year. With it, Hip-Hop had a lot to say, visually. Poets new and old, independent and well-heeled, used their art to promote awareness, suggest change, and when appropriate, provide distraction. At a time when the music video largely lives online, artists made statements—about themselves, their... Read more

December 13, 2016 Food for Thought

The Symphony 2016 Was Just 1 Of The Truly Amazing Performances & Videos Of The Year

2016 has been a unique year. With it, Hip-Hop had a lot to say, visually. Poets new and old, independent and well-heeled, used their art to promote awareness, suggest change, and when appropriate, provide distraction. At a time when the music video largely lives online, artists made statements—about themselves, their... Read more

December 12, 2016 Video

A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes & Consequence Perform “Dis Generation” & “Mobius” (Video)

Last month, A Tribe Called Quest gave the world its first taste of Tribe's new album, We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service, live. The crew joined Dave Chappelle on Saturday Night Live, accompanied by Busta Rhymes and Consequence. During their performances of both "The Space Program" and... Read more

December 10, 2016 Video

A Tribe Called Quest & Many More Gave Hip-Hop Much To Be Thankful For In November (Audio)

November 2016 was one of the most tumultuous months in a generation. Regardless of one's political affiliation the world seemingly changed over one long night on November 8 for hundreds of millions of Americans. When not fixated on the news, many turned to music for relief from the onslaught or,... Read more

December 7, 2016 Audio, Throwback

Masta Ace Reveals Why The Crooklyn Dodgers Lineup Changed (Video)

In conjunction with the Spike Lee Joint Crooklyn, A Tribe Called Quest and Q-Tip began assembling a Hip-Hop collaboration for the Geffen Records soundtrack. While the film was set in the 1970s, director Spike Lee has historically attached Hip-Hop to his films. According to Q-Tip, considerations were reportedly made for... Read more

December 5, 2016 Video

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth Have An “Awesome” Third Album Coming In 2017

Last month, A Tribe Called Quest released its first album in 18 years. We got it from Here...Thank You 4 Your service featured the founding three MCs of the Queens, New York collective. The Epic Records LP debuted at #1, setting a new feat for the genre. Pete Rock &... Read more

December 1, 2016 News, Video

This Documentary On Sampling Highlights Some Rap Classics (Video)

A documentary on the evolution of music production has been airing this fall. Soundbreaking on PBS examines what music producers do, how the craft and technology has advanced, and the impact some men and women have had on superstars in Pop, Rock & Roll, Soul, and Hip-Hop. Episode 6 of... Read more

November 26, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Q-Tip Describes The Shift In Music That Caused The End Of A Tribe Called Quest (Video)

This month has returned A Tribe Called Quest to album-making for the first time in 18 years. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service is the current #1 album, and A.T.C.Q's first in 20 years—achieving a new chart feat within the Hip-Hop genre. The LP reunited Q-Tip... Read more

November 23, 2016 Video

A Tribe Called Quest Make History With Their First Number 1 Album In 20 Years

Last week (November 11), A Tribe Called Quest released We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service, their first album in 18 years, and the final in their storied catalog. Fittingly, they are closing out their groundbreaking career on a historic note, as the album has reached the... Read more

November 20, 2016 Fresh

Phife Dawg Got His Own Street Today. Watch It Being Unveiled (Video)

"Back in the days on the boulevard of Linden, we used to kick routines and presence was fittin'." 25 years ago, those words opened A Tribe Called Quest's "Check The Rhime," from their album, The Low End Theory. Now, the same Linden Boulevard upon which Tribe kicked those rhymes has... Read more

November 19, 2016 Throwback, Video

The Next 2 Hours & You Will Decide Whether This Native Tongues Documentary Gets Made (Video)

UPDATE: There are 2 hours left in the campaign to fund the Native Tongues documentary, Speaking In Tongues, and they are only $6,000 short. If you or anyone you know is so inclined, click here to support and help the filmmakers achieve their goal and bring this film to life.... Read more

November 18, 2016 Video

Q-Tip Explains How the Economics of Racism Inspired ATCQ’s Latest LP (Video)

With "We the People," A Tribe Called Quest shared their most political single to date, but it's just one facet of an entire album whose content deals head-on with serious issues. We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service tackles racism, poverty, and struggle but "We the People"... Read more

November 18, 2016 TV, TV/Film, Video

A Tribe Called Quest Make A Stand For The People & Phife’s Spirit Is With Them (Video)

After an 18-year hiatus from making albums, A Tribe Called Quest have once again taken the Hip-Hop world by storm. In August, record industry veteran L.A. Reid very casually revealed that the members of ATCQ had been recording an album, and it would be released before the end of the... Read more

November 18, 2016 Video

A Newly Released ’96 Cypher Shows A Tribe Called Quest Schooling Phony Rappers (Audio)

This month, A Tribe Called Quest released their sixth and said to be final album. We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service appeared to shock to the music world, when it was revealed to exist, less than six months after Phife Dawg's March death. It had been... Read more

November 17, 2016 Throwback

A Tribe Called Quest Perform On SNL & Phife Dawg Looms Large (Video)

On one of the most highly-anticipated episodes of SNL in recent memory, A Tribe Called Quest joined host Dave Chappelle, as the show's musical guests. It was the group's first major television appearance since their performance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon on November 13, 2015, in celebration of... Read more

November 13, 2016 Video

Q-Tip & Phife Release Their Most Political Song Ever & It Ain’t Nothin’ Nice (Video)

It's been a heavy week for America. Donald Trump is President-Elect, a stark reality for the millions who have found themselves in the crosshairs of his vitriolic campaigning. Just three days into his new position, Trump has already inspired protests across the country waged by people who are literally fearing... Read more

November 11, 2016 Video

A Tribe Called Quest Release Their Final Album. Listen Here (Audio)

After a flurry of excitement that kicked off in August and exponentially intensified a couple of weeks ago, A Tribe Called Quest have released their final album. We Got It From Here...Thank You For Your Service is ATCQ's first new album in 18 years, and their first featuring each of... Read more

November 11, 2016 Audio

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)... Read more

November 10, 2016 Fresh, Video

Dave Chappelle & A Tribe Called Quest Will Kick It On SNL

One week from today (November 11), A Tribe Called Quest will release its sixth and final album We Got It From Here, Thank You for Your Service. While Phife Dawg died more than six months prior to its release, the surviving founding three members of the group aim to make... Read more

November 4, 2016 Fresh, TV/Film

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

Update: Since A Tribe Called Quest member Jarobi White posted the album artwork discussed below at approximately 11am EST, Q-Tip has since posted a variation that he is calling the official album artwork. While the background is similar, the naked woman taking a selfie and the ATCQ tribal woman looking... Read more

November 3, 2016 Fresh

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

A Tribe Called Quest album titles are embedded in the consciousness of popular music and culture. Beats, Rhymes & Life, The Low End Theory, and even The Love Movement are expressions, themes, and reminders of specific times in art. Having announced that the Queens, New York collective completed an album... Read more

November 2, 2016 News

Q-Tip Says The Final A Tribe Called Quest Album Will Be Released Next Month

In August, during an interview, Epic Records Chairman and CEO, L.A. Reid, casually made a massive revelation: before Phife Dawg's death, A Tribe Called Quest secretly recorded an album and it would be released in the near future. Of the project, Reid said, during an appearance on the Rap Radar... Read more

October 27, 2016 Fresh

A New Documentary Promises To Tell The Whole Truth About Native Tongues (Video)

The Native Tongues posse is one of the most influential yet enigmatic groupings in Hip-Hop, and some would argue their influence extends far beyond. Indeed, the crew embodies ideas that exist outside of music, stretching into philosophy, politics, fashion, and more. Generally considered to be comprised of core members A... Read more

October 18, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Hear J Dilla’s Unreleased Demos & His Story Told By The Man Who Helped Launch His Career (Audio)

J Dilla's sprawling discography can be a challenge to process. The Detroit, Michigan visionary was a producer, an MC, a member of many groups, a musician, and somebody who loved a laissez-faire approach to his music. In his 32 years of life, he made lots of it. In his career,... Read more

October 14, 2016 Audio

Native Tongues Were Buddies But Were They Really Family? De La Soul Speaks (Video)

Out of all the collectives in Hip-Hop, few are more revered or complicated than Native Tongues. The group of artists was loosely composed of Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, Black Sheep, Chi-Ali and others, with several offspring stemming from that core. Over... Read more

October 6, 2016 Video

Method Man’s First Song Of The Year Is Bulletproof (Audio)

It's been an exceptionally quiet year for Method Man, on the music front. After releasing his album The Meth Lab in 2015, he has not dropped a single record this year. In fact, save for a guest appearance on Havoc's “Buck 50’s & Bullet Wounds,” Meth has not even been... Read more

September 30, 2016 Audio

Watch The Making Of The Mural That Immortalizes A Tribe Called Quest In Queens, NY (Video)

Today marks the 25th anniversary of A Tribe Called Quest releasing their album, The Low End Theory. The group's second LP, often considered their master work, was released on September 24, 1991—changing the musical landscape around it ever since In a 2016 that has tragically lost group co-founder Phife Dawg to... Read more

September 24, 2016 Video

The Making Of ATCQ’s The Low End Theory, Told By People Who Were There

Twenty five years ago today, A Tribe Called Quest released The Low End Theory. The Queens, New York collective had seemingly achieved what so many of their peers aspired to: a record contract, devoted fans, and hits in rotation through a certifiably respected debut. Still, with Q-Tip at the helm,... Read more

September 23, 2016 Exclusive, Food for Thought

What’s The Greatest Opening Line In Hip-Hop History? Here Are 50 (Video)

Hip-Hop is built on debates. Who is the greatest MC of all-time? What's the best album? What's the best song? The arguments are endless and often simultaneously the source of great entertainment and great agita. There have been several lists that aim to settle these matters, and The Peak has released... Read more

September 2, 2016 Video

Method Man & Ali Shaheed Muhammad Talk Luke Cage’s Full Clip Of Hip-Hop Music (Video)

Less than one month from today (September 30), the "Luke Cage" series will reach fans. Perhaps more than any other comic superhero in history, the character of "Luke Cage" is a product of the Hip-Hop Generation. The Marvel Studios series episodes all take their name from Gang Starr songs, and... Read more

August 31, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Celebrate the Beats, Rhymes, and Life of A Tribe Called Quest With This Mix (Audio)

Last month, A Tribe Called Quest's Beats, Rhymes, Life celebrated its 20th anniversary. The group's platinum-selling fourth LP was released July 30, 1996, and it signaled a sonic departure from its predecessor, Midnight Marauders. Featuring production from the Ummah (Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Jay Dee), it served as many... Read more

August 26, 2016 Audio

With A New Album Coming, Revisit A Tribe Called Quest’s Rare Erykah Badu Collabo (Audio)

Last week, Epic Records CEO Antonio "L.A." Reid made a bold revelation. The seasoned executive and TV personality confirmed that a sixth album from A Tribe Called Quest is coming soon, and is both "great" and "something special." The news broke care of a Rap Radar Podcast episode, with limited... Read more

August 23, 2016 Throwback

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

At the close of the '90s, A Tribe Called Quest would go on an extensive recording hiatus. Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad would all pursue solo and side interests. For Phife, that was Ventilation: Da LP. Released on Groove Attack Records in 2000, "the 5 Foot Assassin" would... Read more

August 10, 2016 Audio

Phife Dawg Will Be Immortalized As A King With A Street In Queens

The same day (July 30) that A Tribe Called Quest's Beats, Rhymes & Life celebrates its 20th birthday, there is some important news surrounding the late Phife Dawg. The MC/producer born Malik Taylor will reportedly be immortalized by an official New York City-sanctioned street re-naming in Queens, New York. Okayplayer... Read more

July 30, 2016 News

Saigon & Termanology Put Prejudice Policing In Its Place Over Q-Tip Production (Audio)

A decade ago, Termanology and Saigon were two of the rising stars in the New York Hip-Hop scene. While Term' would begin a relentless cycle of independent releases that has lasted well into today, Saigon would ink a major label deal with Atlantic Records and get to work on a... Read more

July 7, 2016 Audio

Nia Long Reveals How Phife & “Oochie Wally” Affected Her Career & Taste In Lingerie (Video)

In the canon of Hip-Hop lyrics, many MCs have professed their attraction to celebrities. Whether Royce 5'9" breaking his focus to woo Rihanna during a 2011 BET Cypher or Nas recounting Halle Berry's air-kiss at a Barbara Streisand concert, these moments have colored the folklore of Rap music. Whether the... Read more

June 28, 2016 Video

A Queens Councilman Is Seeking To Memorialize The Legacy Of A Tribe Called Quest With A Mural

In history, A Tribe Called Quest has joined legends like Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, and Nas in making Queens, New York an iconic Hip-Hop landmark. Following the death of founding member Phife Dawg, one business on the Linden Boulevard that A.T.C.Q. rapped about (and another politician) want the world to... Read more

June 7, 2016 Fresh

The Beatnuts Confirm Onetime “Secret Group” Including Q-Tip, Posdnuos & Juju (Audio)

For 25-plus years, The Beatnuts have been Hip-Hop multi-threats. The Queens, New York duo of Juju and Psycho Les (that also at times included Fashion and V.I.C.) have stories to go with their hits. Beyond their own prominent recording career, the pair has made beloved songs for Ghostface Killah, Fat... Read more

April 22, 2016 Audio, Throwback

Tribe’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge To Score Marvel Series

Hip-Hop artists are having a strong year already in 2016, in terms of scoring and music supervision. In January, Gang Starr's DJ Premier handled the music to VH1 film-turned-series The Breaks. The Roots' Questlove has been named musical director of this year's forthcoming TV remake of Roots. The ever-illusive Dr.... Read more

April 14, 2016 News

Native Tongues Father, Brothers & Affiliates Come Together For Phife (Audio)

Following the March 22 death of Phife Dawg, Black Sheep Dres has been deeply instrumental in raising awareness of the life of Malik Taylor. Both members of the Native Tongues movement, these MCs rolled together in the '90s and 2000s. After being a key organizer in last week's memorial event... Read more

April 12, 2016 Audio

KRS-One Makes A Soulful Phife Dawg Tribute & Invites All To Join (Audio)

KRS-One was among the litany of artists on hand last week (April 5) for the Phife Dawg memorial at Harlem's Apollo Theater. Now, the MC who was featured on the cover of A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders album makes a song dedication to Malik Taylor, with a call to... Read more

April 10, 2016 Audio

Phife Dawg’s Spirit Stirs Touching Words from André 3000, Kanye West, KRS-One & More (Video)

Last night (April 5), the iconic Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York City had much of the music world's attention, but for a somber reason. In his hometown, Phife Dawg was honored by family, friends, and fellow Hip-Hop icons in what is perhaps the most memorable event of its kind... Read more

April 6, 2016 Video

Phife Dawg’s New Song “Nutshell” Features A J Dilla Beat & Shows His Music Lives On (Video)

As friends, family and fans mourn Phife Dawg during the live stream of his Celebration of Phife memorial service at the Apollo Theater, his family fulfills its promise to begin releasing the music Phife was recording, before his passing, to the world. The first track released from the project is... Read more

April 5, 2016 Video