In the year 1989, A Tribe Called Quest emerged as a rap group with a very unique style. They combined hip-hop lyrics with smooth jazz melodies. The group is made up of three members: Q-Tip, Phifedog, and Ali Shaheed Mohammed. A fourth member, Jarobi, rapped with Tribe on the first album, then left the group until their latest album, when he rejoined.Their first album came out in 1990, "Peoples Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm." It went gold in a short amount of time. Tribe provided "the words that lent backbone to your game." Their second and third albums both went platinum, "The Low End Theory" (1991) and "Midnight Marauders" (1993). Both of these albums have changed the way hip-hop feels and matters. Tribe took a break from the rap scene for a couple years. In 1996, A Tribe Called Quest came out with an album that elevated hip-hop, "Beats, Rhymes, and Life." On this album, the group discussed such topics as self-exploration, community, and society as a whole.
This was quoted from Phife after "Beats, Rhymes, and Life" came out:
"There may not have been vast differences but we've always brought something new to the table. And one of the things we're bringing this time is that we're 26, trying to be 26. We're not acting like we're 17. That's fooling yourself and lying to the public. We're trying to grow and be more responsible and make music that represents that."
A Tribe Called Quest has been busy off the rap scene as well. Phife, who now lives in Atlanta, is a sports fanatic. He has done several print interviews with major sports figures. Ali Shaheed Mohammed serves as the director of East Coast A&R of Quest Records. In addition, Tip and Ali have done music for Busta Rhymes and Tony Tone Toni under their newly found production company, "The Ummah." A Tribe Called Quest is not a rap group just trying to make money, they're trying to make their impact felt. Tribe has been revered by the New York Times and The Source Magazine for injecting rap with jazz and R&B beats which have significantly redefined hip-hop, but they've stayed true to their roots.
