Biography

The most intelligent, artistic rap group of the 1990s, A Tribe Called Quest jump-started and perfected the alternative to hardcore and gangsta rap. In essence, they abandoned the macho posturing rap had been constructed upon, and focused instead on abstract philosophy and message tracks. Tribe confronted numerous black issues -- date rape, use of the N word, the trials and tribulations of the rap industry -- all of which overpowered the occasional game of the dozens. Just as powerful musically, Quest built upon De La Soul's jazz-rap revolution, basing tracks around laid-back samples instead of the played-out James Brown-fests that many rappers had made a cottage industry by the late '80s. ~ John Bush

Top Tracks

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• 1nce Again

• Award Tour

• Bonita Applebum

• Can I Kick It?

• Check The Rhime

• Da Booty

• Electric Relaxation

• Excursions

• Find A Way

• Give Me

• I Left My Wallet In El Segundo

• Jam

• Jazz (we've Got)

• Lyrics To Go

• Oh My God

• Phony Rappers

• Push It Along

• Scenario

• Stressed Out

• Sucka Nigga

• Verses From The Abstract

• Vivrant Thing

Discography

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• People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

  Jive

  1990