q-tip Archives

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

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

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

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

Prodigy Details Mobb Deep’s Journey From “Embarrassed” Juveniles To Infamous Stars (Video)

Mobb Deep experienced one of Hip-Hop's largest growths between their first and second albums. 1993's Juvenile Hell debut boasted production from DJ Premier, Large Professor, and a fledgling Havoc. However, the 4th & B'Way Records release did not chart, and was not the album response the teenage duo from Queens,... Read more

October 12, 2016 Video

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

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

A Tribe Called Quest Secretly Recorded An Album That Is About To Be Released

Almost 16 years ago, A Tribe Called Quest released its fifth album, The Love Movement. A Top 3 debut, the album arrived to the public following word from the group that it would be their last. In addition to frustrations with the act's lifelong label, Jive Records, Q-Tip publicly spoke... Read more

August 19, 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

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

New Details Emerge About Tupac Ambushing A Tribe Called Quest’s Source Awards Speech (Video)

In the canon of Hip-Hop, the most famous Source Awards is the 1995 year. There, tensions between Death Row Records and Bad Boy Records came to a head, after Suge Knight aimed a thinly-veiled criticism at onetime associate Puff Daddy from the microphone podium. Snoop Dogg, Danny Boy, Dr. Dre, and... Read more

June 2, 2016 Video

Ever See The Time Prince Surprised Q-Tip On Stage & Started Jamming? (Video)

In addition to his mind-blowing talent and off the charts charisma, part of what made Prince so legendary was his mysteriousness. Even in a world where every millisecond is documented by a share, a photo or a video, he fiercely guarded his privacy, rarely granting interviews and simply letting his... Read more

April 23, 2016 Video

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

It Ain’t Hard To Tell… Nas’ Illmatic Is Decidedly Your Greatest Of All-Time Hip-Hop Album

Last September, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: what is the greatest Rap Album Of All-Time? “Finding The GOAT Album” has considered more than 120 albums from the 80s, 90s and 2000s (40 in each), with options for... Read more

April 6, 2016 Finding the GOAT

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

Q-Tip Remembers Phife Dawg As His “Hero” In A Heartfelt Statement

Besides a formal statement from A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip remained publicly silent for more than a week after the March 22 death of friend and band-mate Phife Dawg. On social media yesterday (April 3), the accomplished MC, producer and Kennedy Center director spoke about Malik Taylor. The message about... Read more

April 4, 2016 Fresh

Nas’ Illmatic vs. A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders. Which Is Better?

Last September, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: what is the greatest Rap Album Of All-Time? “Finding The GOAT Album” has considered more than 120 albums from the 80s, 90s and 2000s (40 in each), with options for... Read more

April 1, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Here Are The Final 4 Greatest Of All-Time Hip-Hop Albums, As Decided By You

In September of 2015, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: what is the greatest Rap Album Of All-Time? “Finding The GOAT Album” has considered more than 120 albums from the 80s, 90s and 2000s (40 in each), with... Read more

March 29, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions vs. A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders. Which Is Better?

Last September, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: what is the greatest Rap Album Of All-Time? “Finding The GOAT Album” has considered more than 120 albums from the 80s, 90s and 2000s (40 in each), with options for... Read more

March 28, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Q-Tip Opens Up His Archive Of Live A Tribe Called Quest Recordings To Celebrate Phife Dawg (Audio)

While Q-Tip did not appear on last night's edition of his Abstract Radio show on Beats 1, he dedicated the entire episode to his fallen A Tribe Called Quest brother, Phife Dawg, and celebrated him with a 2-hour mix of live and rare Tribe recordings, from Tip's personal archives. During... Read more

March 26, 2016 Audio

In A Past Recording, Q-Tip Shares The Story Of How Phife Convinced Him To Try Rapping (Audio)

Yesterday, after the confirmation of Phife Dawg's passing, the remaining members of A Tribe Called Quest released a statement about his life and what he meant to them. While none of them has spoken individually, yet, J. Period has unearthed a touching recording of Q-Tip sharing some of his earliest... Read more

March 24, 2016 Audio

A Tribe Called Quest Hit ’90s TV With An Amazing “Rhime” Routine (Audio)

This week, Hip-Hop and music-lovers are deeply mourning the loss of Phife Dawg. At 45 years old, the man born Malik Taylor died from complications due to diabetes on March 22. For more than 25 years, the Queens, New York MC and co-founder of A Tribe Called Quest impressed lyric... Read more

March 24, 2016 Do Remember

A Tribe Called Quest Release A Statement On the Loss of Phife Dawg

Following the death of Phife Dawg yesterday (March 22), A Tribe Called Quest has come forward to release a statement. Between 1990 and 1998, Phife released five albums with the team of Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Additionally, Jarobi was involved with the group upon its inception. As published by... Read more

March 24, 2016 News

Wu-Tang Clan’s 36 Chambers vs. A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory. Which Is Better?

Last September, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: what is the greatest Rap Album Of All-Time? “Finding The GOAT Album” has considered more than 120 albums from the 80s, 90s and 2000s (40 in each), with options for... Read more

March 21, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Q-Tip Explains Why the World NEEDS Hip-Hop Now More Than Ever (Video)

On March 8, it was announced that Q-Tip was appointed the first Artistic Director of Hip-Hop Culture at the Kennedy Center in New York City, possibly the world's most famous center for arts. A massively huge step towards Hip-Hop culture earning the much-deserved recognition of being a serious cultural art... Read more

March 15, 2016 Video

Madvillain’s Madvillainy vs. A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

March 10, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Q-Tip Named the First Artistic Director of Hip-Hop Culture of the Kennedy Center

It's been a couple of big years for Hip-Hop and iconic American institutions. With the Smithsonian now housing some rare Hip-Hop photography, Kendrick Lamar and Nas both having performed with the National Symphony Orchestra (in 2015 and 2014, respectively), and today's news coming out of the Kennedy Center, it seems the movement... Read more

March 8, 2016 News

A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory vs. Eric B. & Rakim’s Follow The Leader. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

March 8, 2016 Finding the GOAT

A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders vs. Outkast’s ATLiens. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

March 4, 2016 Finding the GOAT

This Mobb Deep “Infamous”-Themed Mix Celebrates Havoc’s Visionary Sampling

Mobb Deep just announced a series of tour dates celebrating the 20th anniversary of their third album, Hell On Earth. As they do, the Beat Junkies' J. Rocc (whose logo plays off of the M-O-B-B) examines some of the key ingredients of the duo's sophomore LP, 1995's The Infamous. This... Read more

February 11, 2016 Mixes

Black Thought Reveals What Artists Used To Do To Get J Dilla’s Best Beats (Video)

Between 1999 and 2006, The Roots would work with J Dilla (f/k/a Jay Dee) a number of times. Then label-mates at MCA Records, Dilla produced elements of the Grammy-nominated platinum Things Fall Apart album. While "Dynamite!" would make the LP, "New Year's @ Jay Dee's" would be a hidden jewel... Read more

February 10, 2016 Exclusive, Food for Thought, Video

9th Wonder Explains How J Dilla Changed The Sound of Hip-Hop and Fathered “Neo Soul” In The Process (Interview)

After the ascendance of greats like DJ Premier, Pete Rock and Q-Tip in the 90s. There was a new wave of producers that would come to prominence in the 2000s who would carry the torch for Hip-Hop and take it in new directions. This new generation of beatmakers included the... Read more

February 4, 2016 Exclusive, Food for Thought

Q-Tip Gives His Cuz Consequence One Of His Best Sample Beat Creations (Audio)

It has been more than six years since video surfaced (posted below) of Q-Tip, Kanye West, and Consequence kicking it together in the studio. In those days, It's-The-Cons' was a G.O.O.D. Music artist, carefully crafting his Don't Quit Your Day Job follow-up. Cons' cousin and musical mentor Q-Tip was in... Read more

January 29, 2016 Audio

A Tribe Called Quest & Leaders Of The New School Perform Scenario Remix in 1992 (Video)

Footage of A Tribe Called Quest and Leaders of the New School performing "Scenario" is rare. Video of them performing the remix of that classic? Priceless. However, earlier this month, that's exactly what happened. A clip from a 1992 performance featuring both ATCQ and LONS at Harlem's famed Apollo Theater... Read more

January 23, 2016 Throwback

DJ Premier Tells The Story Of This Photo With D’Angelo, Alchemist & J. Dilla, In His Words

DJ Premier tells Ambrosia For Heads the story about the night he, D'Angelo, Alchemist and J. Dilla gathered in the studio and took what would become an iconic photo. These are his words about the photo, that night, and the other supremely talented men with whom he posed: "Gang Starr... Read more

January 20, 2016 Food for Thought

Busta Rhymes’ New Mixtape Features DOOM, Raekwon, The LOX & Leaders Of The New School

Busta Rhymes has released his new mixtape, The Return Of The Dragon (The Abstract Went On Vacation), and while Q-Tip may have taken this one off, Busta brought in an all-star lineup to fill the void. In fact, to call this a mixtape seems a disservice, as it's really an... Read more

December 25, 2015 Mixes

Da Beatminerz Rock A 90 Minute Radio Party Covering Rock, Funk, Jazz & Hip-Hop (Mix)

Da Beatminerz and Q-Tip go back. Although not collaborators in the traditional sense, DJ Evil Dee and Mr. Walt joined the Abstract at those storied Roosevelt Hotel Record Conventions in the early 1990s New York City. Black Moon and A Tribe Called Quest were running in the same circles, advancing... Read more

December 22, 2015 Mixes

Timbaland & Busta Rhymes Each Announce Christmas Day Mixtapes

While the record labels are traditionally closed over the December holidays, many Hip-Hop artists are hard at work. Christmas Day (December 25) has become a popular release date, especially for digital mixtapes. Two industry vets have eyed up next week's holiday, with major plans. Busta Rhymes and Timbaland worked together... Read more

December 17, 2015 News

Here Are The Top 10 Rap Albums of the 90s That You Determined. Get Ready For The 2000s…

Today (December 13) closes Round 2 of the 1990s bracket of Finding The GOAT Albums. With two battles coming down to a photo finish, this was the most dramatic march to the end thus far. You—the voter—definitively decided which 10 albums go forth to the final 32 albums across all... Read more

December 13, 2015 Finding the GOAT

Oh Boy! Just Blaze Brings Out Unreleased Roc-A-Fella Goodies In A Radio Set (Mix)

This week, producer/DJ Just Blaze was a guest host on Q-Tip's Abstract Radio show on Beats 1. Just filled in for the man who provided guest vocals to his "Girls, Girls, Girls" hit for Jay Z nearly 15 years ago. Rather than just playing what he feels, the veteran New... Read more

December 12, 2015 Audio, Mixes