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De La Soul are remembered as the premier Native Tongues posse, those rappers who got low-key, self-consciously thoughtful, and jazzy in the face of gangsta's hardcore threats. But A Tribe Called Quest may have been even stronger, especially on their excellent second album, the bass-thumping, heavilyN
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Amazon.com essential recording
De La Soul are remembered as the premier Native Tongues posse, those rappers who got low-key, self-consciously thoughtful, and jazzy in the face of gangsta's hardcore threats. But A Tribe Called Quest may have been even stronger, especially on their excellent second album, the bass-thumping, heavily jazz-sampled The Low End Theory. According to the opening "Excursions," rapper Q-Tip's old man says the disc's jazz-rap "reminded him of bebop," and Q calls himself "prominent like Shakespeare." But if Charlie Parker had ever written poetic couplets and backed them with funky-drummer and Ron Carter-on-bass grooves this irresistible, he might have been as big as the Bard and Brother James combined. --David Cantwell
"If you can listen to this album & not be moved at all, you might be dead. Even I can't help but dance around while listening to it.
Favorite song: "What?"
"
Grisly Atoms added this to a list 1 year, 1 month ago
"1991
Favourite song: "Scenario"
Favourite moment: Busta Rhymes tearing EVERYTHING up in his verse. "RRRAOWW RRAOWW LIKE A DUNGEON DRAGON!!"
Also, the snare on "Jazz (We've Got)""
""Other 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' second album drew the entire picture. The sound is dominated by the low end of the title - they even recruited legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter (who'd worked with Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis). As Carter gets dope on the double bass, the Tribe discourse on matters ranging from the music industry ("Show Business") to sexual politi"
"“The link between rap and jazz has always been more wishful thinking on the part of critics than anything actual, with one grand exception: The Low End Theory. Tribe's DJ, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, used lots of jazz bass samples (and one notable live contribution from upright master Ron Carter) but the connection was more atmospheric than specific. "Buggin' Out" and "Check the Rhime" are studies in minimalism that feel like smoky rooms where cool guys, like rappers Phife Dawg and Q-Tip, say cool t"
The Wolf added this to a list 3 years, 11 months ago
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