Even after this summer's unprecedented, yet very successful Smokin' Grooves Tour and an amazing new album, "Rhymes, Beats, and Life," A Tribe Called Quest hasn't begun to slow down.
Once again, Q-tip the Abstract, Phife-Dawg, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad have packed up their bags, turntables and microphones to start on a college tour. It may disappoint you to hear that they are not gracing our University with their presence, but fear not, because they are basically performing in our backyard. This Saturday night, A Tribe Called Quest will take the stage with their cohorts, the Fugees, at Bowen Field House on Eastern Michigan's campus.
A Tribe Called Quest can be considered the hip-hop group with the Midas touch, for every album they've put out has become an instant classic. This is astonishing because the style on their first album, "Peoples Instinctive Travels and the Pathways of Rhythm" (1990) is not even noticeable on their newest release just six years later.
A Tribe Called Quest's key to success lies in the brotherhood of the group. Although the two emcees, Q-tip and Phife, often seem to occupy opposite poles, somehow they balance out their styles to come through with rhyming of an unworldly nature. "Tip and Ali do their things, Phife does his thing. But, as Tribe Called Quest, we do it together," Phife said in an interview with The Michigan Daily.
Not surprising, Q-tip and Phife have been together since they were 2 years old. They attended the same schools, church, and even played little league together. "I started rhyming around fourth grade," Phife noted. He ended up going away during high school, while Q-tip attended school in Manhattan with Ali Shaheed Muhammad and the likes of Brother J from X-Clan and the Jungle Brothers. After four years, Phife was reunited with Q-tip and Ali, and A Tribe Called Quest was born.
It was at this time that a new style of hip-hop was emerging from the Big Apple. A Tribe Called Quest, the Beatnuts, Black Sheep, De La Soul and the Jungle Brothers were all complimenting each other's styles. This spawned the creation of the Native Tongue Family.
"The Native Tongues was just a group of friends who liked hanging around each other, and occasionally working together. The record labels blew it out of proportion back then," Phife said.
Whether it was blown out of proportion or not, this set A Tribe Called Quest into motion with "Peoples Instinctive Travels ...", which combined house party music with insightful lyrics. "A lot of people say we were ahead of our time," Phife said.
One year later, they amazed the record industry again with what was coined "jazz-rap fusion" on "Low End Theory." "It's a hip-hop classic in a lot of people's eyes, which I am thankful for," Phife said. This may be true, but their 1993 release, "Midnight Marauders," sold millions of copies too. "A lot of people say that's their favorite album. It's a toss up between the two."
A Tribe Called Quest always lets the past be the past and continues to evolve and progress. "('Rhymes, Beats, and Life') is way, way, way over a lot of people's heads. There's a lot of teachings going on," Phife said. This is partly due to Q-tips acceptance of the Islamic faith. Although Phife doesn't necessarily accept all the ideas. He remarked, "I can't condone the Muslim religion because I've never really read into it." One thing that he does respect about the belief is its followers soundness of body and mind. "Most Muslims I know are very healthy people."
This change on "Rhymes, Beats, and Life" might not be so accepted, as in the past. The way Phife sees it, "People are still checking for A Tribe Called Quest, but some people aren't. ... This album is ahead of their time. They need time to catch up." Though Phife noted, "Tip and Ali might see it differently."
Another big change on the new album was the production crew. The Ummah ("brotherhood" or "community" in the Islamic religion) consisting of Q-tip, Ali and J.D. from Detroit produced "Rhymes, Beats, and Life." J.D., of the local hip-hop group Slum Village, was first noticed by his demo tape that he gave Q-tip at the 1994 Lollapalooza show in Michigan. Since then, J.D.'s beats have gained much attention, and he produced the latest Pharcyde and De La Soul albums.
Phife has fond memories of that tour. "It was definitely a different experience, but at the end it was a success," he said. "I just couldn't get with some of the things they were doing, like throwing mud on stage and stuff like that. I couldn't understand that one. But, that's the way they do it."
As for the future of A Tribe Called Quest and hip-hop, Phife wasn't sure. "I don't hate hip-hop, but I don't love it right now. ... Hip-hop is 50 percent positive and 50 percent negative." Although, Phife said he's sure he doesn't want to still be doing hip-hop when he's 30.
Phife's sights are set on the sports industry, especially in becoming a broadcaster, and opening a sporting goods store. "I'm a big Michigan fan," he said.
So go check out A Tribe Called Quest with the Fugees this Saturday night, and see what progressions are being made in the hip-hop scene. "We'll be there this weekend. Just enjoy the show. Keep it real. Don't drink and drive." And leave the mud at home.
A Tribe Called Quest's Phife (left), Q-Tip (top) and Ali Shaheed Muhammed.