Like all other ATCQ albums, Midnight Marauders is considered a Hip Hop classic and is a benchmark album from one of the most respected and influential groups of all time.
A critical & commercial success, the third album from A Tribe Called Quest shifted its attention to more urban concerns, but still touched on typical Hip Hop subjects such as racial issues and sexual tension.
psychology celebrates the 20th anniversary of Midnight Marauders with The Diamond In The Rough: The A Tribe Called Quest Session
Join Gummy Soul's Amerigo Gazaway as he embarks on a 55 minute "Quest to The Pharcyde". Utilizing the original Jazz, Soul and Funk recordings sampled throughout A Tribe Called Quest’s extensive catalogue, Gazaway recreates classic productions – pairing his reinterpreted instrumentals with select vocals from West Coast “golden era” favorites, The Pharcyde.
Download Bizarre Tribe: A Quest To The PharcydeHERE.
Directed by Michael Rapaport, the film follows A Tribe Called Quest in 2008, when the group reunited to perform sold-out concerts across the country, almost ten years after the release of their last album, The Love Movement. As the director travels with the band members, Rapaport captures the story of how tenuous their relationship has become; and how their personal differences and unresolved conflicts continue to be a threat to their creative cohesion.
In addition to chronicling the past, present and uncertain future of the band, the film includes interviews from the Beastie Boys, Pharrell, Mos Def, Santigold, Monie Love, Pete Rock, Large Professor, De La Soul, The Jungle Brothers and Common, all of whom attribute some combination of love, respect, and inspiration drawn from the legacy of A Tribe Called Quest.
The film will now make its Canadian debut and first screening in Montreal this Sunday at the Club Soda. The documentary film will also be accompanied by several perfomances, including a legendary performance by ATCQ member, Phife Dawg.
Tickets are exclusively available at Off The Hook.
In anticipation for this weekend's screening & show, psychology celebrates by digging in the vaults a blowing the dust off a personal favorite; The Diamond In The Rough: The A Tribe Called Quest Session.
Tune in and/or download DITR: The A Tribe Called Quest Session HERE.
"Industry rule number 4,080: Record company people are shady" or take your pick of any other memorable line from ATCQ's 2nd album, The Low End Theory. One of hip hop's classic celebrates a milestone today (Sept 24)
It was 20 years ago, A Tribe Called Quest dropped their sophmore album, that has since been a staple in not only Hip Hop fans music collection, but anybody's music collection. This jazz infused album has been an inspiration for many of today's hip hop stars and helped shape alternative hip hop in the 1990s.
Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 154 in The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, stating that "people connected the dots between hip-hop and jazz -- both were revolutionary forms of black music based in improvisation and flow -- but A Tribe Called Quest's second album drew the entire picture."
Over the last 20 years, The Low End Theory has received praise from critics, artists & fans, as well as being mentioned in various "lists". But aside from all the accolades, it is truly an album that shaped a generation, including myself. Scenario, is STILL one of my favorite songs.
A Tribe Called Quest has left their mark in hip hop that many of us thought would be filled by groups like Slum Village. But, in the end their is only one ATCQ..
psychology celebrates today's milestone with The Diamond In The Rough: A Tribe Called Quest Session. Download, listen, enjoy...
Download The Diamond In The Rough: A Tribe Called Quest SessionHERE.
People's Instinctive Travels & The Paths Of Rhythm received the coveted 5 mic rating from Source magazine & was praised for its lyrical inventiveness and bizarre sense of humor, mixed with socially aware and literate message tracks.
To celebrate the signifigance of this album & A Tribe Called Quest's contribution to music, psychology pays tribute with The Diamond In The Rough: The A Tribe Called Quest Session.
Download The Diamond In The Rough: The A Tribe Called Quest Session HERE.
25 years ago, 3 New Yorkers founded one of Hip Hop's most loved & respected groups. It wasn't until April 17th, 1990 that the world was introduced to the sounds of A Tribe Called Quest with their debut album, People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm.
People's Instinctive Travels was praised for its lyrical inventiveness and bizarre sense of humor, mixed with socially aware and literate message tracks. The record was given the perfect rating of 5 in The Source in 1990.
Much like last week's Public Enemy Session, this edition of DITR is one of the most anticipated mixes, and has been a topic of discussion between psychology & friends for a LONG time. DITR: The A Tribe Called Quest Session airs tonight at midnight, on K103.
Here is the bio of ATCQ from their website. A Tribe Called Quest is one of Hip Hop’s most legendary, beloved and revered groups of all time, and for good reason. Easily recognized for their unique approach to rap music by employing jazzy soundscapes to Afro centric rhymes, sans the jaded and often nihilistic aggressive posturing. A Tribe Called Quest is largely responsible for the popularity of Jazzy Hip-Hop that seemed to dominate the East Coast sound of the early 1990’s. ATCQ was formed in 1985 by Queens, New York natives, Q-Tip and Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad of Brooklyn, who met Q-Tip in high school and although missing on most albums but always present in heart and friendship, Jarobi. QUEST, the original name of the group was later given the prefix A Tribe Called by their high school buddies, The Jungle Brothers, while recording the song ‘Black Is Black’ for the Straight Out The Jungle Album. Tribe along with the Jungle Brothers and De La Soul formed a unit called The Native Tongues. With a building buzz around The Native Tongues and Tribe’s energetic live performances, ATCQ landed a major recording contract with Jive Records in 1989. Sonically, ATCQ were a decisive and welcomed tangent of jazz, bass-heavy rhythmic vibes and eclectic sampling when compared to the mundane recycling of soul loops, breaks and vocals of their contemporaries. Lyrically, emcees Q-Tip and Phife addressed social issues relevant to young blacks such as use of the ‘n word’ and its relevance, date rape and other interpersonal relationships, industry politics, consumerism, and none the lesser how to have a good time while still promoting positivity. Often wearing their hearts on their sleeves, ATCQ scored a number of successful singles and albums with their creative approach to rap music. In 1990, the group released People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm scoring several memorable songs including ‘Bonita Applebum,’ ‘Can I Kick It,’ and ‘I left my Wallet in El Segundo,’ but it would be their sophomore effort, considered one of the greatest follow-ups in Hip Hop history, The Low End Theory, that would solidify them as legends in the present and for the ages. Released in late 1991, it was the freedom expressed in the creation and feel of this record along with its successor Midnight Marauders that would establish a blueprint for many future artists and producers such as Common, The Roots, Jill Scott, Kanye West, and The Neptunes who would emulate and embrace Tribes style for years to come. With a seemingly endless barrage of classic songs like ‘Award Tour,’ ‘Electric Relaxation,’ ‘Check The Rhyme,’ and ‘Scenario’ Tribe’s influence was unavoidable. By the release of their fourth album, Beats, Rhymes and Life in 1996, Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and new comer – stellar talent Jay Dee (now ‘Jay Dilla’ of Slum Village) had formed a production team dubbed The Ummah who often brought their aural aesthetic to other artists such as Janet Jackson, D’Angelo, and Faith Evans. Q-Tip’s cousin, Consequence, contributed guest vocals on several tracks of the Beats, Rhymes and Life album as ATCQ continued to perfect and advance their sound displaying their unique take on what Hip Hop could be and sound like. This progressive unparalleled effort came to an unexpected end shortly after the release of their fifth studio album, The Love Movement. It was with the completion of this album when ATCQ chose to exit the proverbial stage, where they captivated the ears and imaginations of Hip Hop fans. In recent years, the anticipation for another Tribe album has been building. The Abstract Poetic, The Five Foot Assassin and Mr. Muhammad have yet to grace the studio for another record, however they have hit the road again to perform for their fans who have been waiting so long in adulation for them. To this day, the power of their music is still evident in their dynamic stage performance. A Tribe Called Quest’s anomalous posture has changed the face and sound of Hip Hop music, which paved the way for future groups, artists and producers to be themselves while still being creative. With or without a sixth album we can say for certain that Tribe’s legacy lives on with five solid albums by the way of creative innovation that will be recognized as a pre-eminent contribution in musical history.
