So yeah, I'm back on the old school shit. It kinda felt good reviewing some recent music for a period of time. But it's about time I revert back. The thing with this blog is that the type of hip-hop music I review should be a balance. Not too much old school, and not too much new school either. Anyway, today's album comes from A Tribe Called Quest aka Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and (occasional member) Jarobi White, as I continue their discography (although I still have yet to share my opinion of People's Instinctive Travels) with their second classic Midnight Marauders.
Rewind 5 months back, and I reviewed The Low End Theory, which, with a positive review, finally saw Phife taking the mic other than just Tip throughout the album. With classic songs such as "Scenario" and "Jazz (We've Got)", it can be remembered as an influential album, with its major jazz samples and a little darker content, compared to People's Instinctive Travels. Tribe would do the same thing with their next album, Midnight Marauders, but the only difference was their sound was more mastered and refreshing, being led by "Award Tour", followed by arguably their best song, "Electric Relaxation" and "Oh My God". Released on November 9, also the same date as Wu-Tang Clan's Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), the album's content is much brighter, in comparison to Low End, discussing everyday situations, instead of just society and violence; therefore being Tribe's most accessible album to date. The album features a robotic-voiced woman guiding the listener through the album, and at times, you can cause a big argument over which album was better between Low End and Midnight.
While The Low End Theory got the bigger praise and the most influence, people still see Midnight Marauders as a classic jazz rap album, they just don't give it the amount of praise they do with Low End. The album was a critical and commercial success, with their single, "Award Tour", being their highest charting single to date, peaking at #47 on the Billboard 200 (#1 on the Hip-Hop Singles chart). The album debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200, and in 1995 reached platinum status, being 1/3 of the platinum Tribe albums. The album comes in 3 different color schemes: Black, Red & Green (the trademark colors of the Tribe), with Black being the rarest of them all, and Red is actually the most common. With how frequent it is, I obviously have the Red one (also the European version).
Anyway, that's enough talking. Let's start the journey!
1. Midnight Marauders Tour Guide
An intro that pretty much sets the mood for the album. I actually love the elevator music in the background (just wanted to add that in).
2. Steve Biko (Stir It Up)
In this song, you'll start to realize that this isn't your sequel to Low End. Yes, Tribe still keeps the jazzy production, but it's more upbeat, funky and positive. Anyway, Tip & Phife both come with the heat, killing their verses with echoes in between their verses. The trumpets are in full effect, and the input from both Tip & Phife is just wonderful, with some sick bars here and there. Not to mention, while it weirdly has nothing to do with Steve Biko (who was a South African anti-apartheid activist) at all, this song ROCKS!
3. Award Tour (feat. Trugoy)
Dave aka Trugoy of De La Soul (before he changed it to Dove/Dave) only sings the hook for this one, and even to this day, it's a pretty good one to remember. This song is one that lyrically shows Tip & Phife at their finest, with such a chill and elevator-like instrumental to help them murk their verses like it's nothing. And while I don't wanna be one of those guys (especially when I wasn't even born in the 90s), this is better than some of the shit released today (I said some, considering that 2015 has been a year of great quality, from both lyrical and non-lyrical rappers). This is amazing!
4. 8 Million Stories
On an album which is known to be brighter, more accessible, and not dark, Phife's solo, which is produced by Skeff Anselm, is probably the most mature song on here, following Phife having the ultimate bad day, whether it's not getting his milkshake or trying to help his friends. Like he did with the Low End solo, "Butter," Q-Tip helps by doing the hook with Phife, adding more to the mood of this song. It's nice to see Phife getting more serious, and actually takes advantage of his solo shot by creating an interesting story, which can be very relatable. Also, the beat is smooth, laidback and is very suiting to the concept of the song. A very great song [P.S. Tip's "Help Me" adlibs at the end were so disturbing, especially when you listen to it on your earphones].
5. Sucka Nigga
Q-Tip reflects on the use of the n-word, talking about its origination, and how it's known to be a very used word. While others don't like to use it, generally the older blacks, Q-Tip says the opposite and want to bring the usage back (well, his wish has come true now). While I actually love this song, it could've been better for Tip to actually spit a second verse to actually elaborate on his point, instead of repeat the first verse. I know, I know, I sound like a freakin' English teacher, but it's actually true, to be honest. Then again, I still love it for what it is. And I love the statement at the end from the robotic voice.
6. Midnight
Another solo from Tip, and is darker than the previous, as he talks about all the situations that go on at the nighttime, which kinda tells a little story. Here, Tip's rhymes really ride the beat smoothly, and come with some great lines ["Hits the local bodega to wolf down a gyro; Son is on a midnight run like De Niro"]. Damn, this was a good one, and I freaking loved this song! It's one that shows how great the production on the album is.
7. We Can Get Down
OK, so now we're back to the funky jams. While it's not as good as the 2 previous tracks, it's actually still great in its own way, with its upbeat and groovy production. Phife starts off with a great 24-bar verse, with some highlights such as "Too many candy rappers seem to be at the top / Too much candy is no good, so now I'm closing the shop". Tip later continues with a standout verse, which actually amazes me, especially this line: "This is '93 and the shit is real / Black people unite and put down your steel", which tries to bring peace and positivity. This is overall a good song, and after the 3 previous songs just had one or the other, it's good to see Tip & Phife in full effect together.
8. Electric Relaxation
Is there really anything to say about this song? If you don't have this ANYWHERE on your top 10 all-time favourite songs, then there's probably something wrong with you. This is arguably one of the best rap songs ever. Point Blank, Period!
9. Clap Your Hands
After the classic smoothness which was of "Electric Relaxation", the album moves on to a darker vibe, but still has the positive feelings intact. Being one of a million songs in hip-hop history that samples Bob James' "Nautilus", both Tip & Phife come with more heat, and 1nce again, Phife starts off with a fire verse, having timeless bars like: "Crazier than 2Pac in the flick called Juice / Cock is longer than the hat worn by Dr. Seuss", and even mentioning that his favourite rapper is himself. Tip continues, but unlike Phife, doesn't really have much, but to actually set the mood for the audience to clap their hands and get down. It's a top-notch song with an A1 instrumental, that you can vibe to.
10. Oh My God (feat. Busta Rhymes)
Like Trugoy's appearance on "Award Tour", Busta Rhymes (who, at the time, just came from a break up of Leaders of the New School) does the hook for this song, and it still remains such a great one. Anyway, on this jazzy instrumental, Tip & Phife both spit some fire verses, with Phife having a really great one (which also censored the homophobic Caribbean word,"batty boy"). And "I like my beats hard than 2 day old shits"? What? I don't even wanna know how the hell he knows how 2 day old shits are like! If I were you though, although this song is an absolute classic, I'd rather you skip after they stop rapping, considering the amount of times Busta says "Oh My God".
11. Keep It Rollin' (feat. Large Professor)
Large Professor makes an appearance, and is actually the only feature on this album who doesn't contribute to the hook. That's only because there is none. Tip, Phife & Large both spit fire verses over a chill and smooth instrumental, and actually do a great job. While I normally focus on Phife a little more than Tip, it's weird to say that he didn't have a memorable verse that much. Neither did Tip. Large Pro is the one that comes with the heat, with such a good verse that I mostly bump my head to. However, why are you telling us to "buy the album when [you] drop it", really? That album aka The LP was supposed to drop in '96, but it took yo ass 13 years to get it out to the public! I still love this though.
12. The Chase (Part II)
I'm still not sure whether there's a Part I of this song or not, but the b-side to the "Award Tour" single is an "Original Version" of this song, which has a young Consequence aka Q-Tip's cousin (instead of Tip & Phife themselves) spitting a little verse that lasts 2 minutes. So I'm just gonna assume and call that one "The Chase (Part I)". Anyway, both Tip & Phife both have some wonderful verses, with Tip taking the shine with 2 verses and Phife with only 1 verse. The beat is amazing, and the vocal sample of the classic "Nobody Beats The Biz" is on point during the hook. At the end though, Tip shoutouts everybody ("Rock, Rock on"), and unexpectedly adds a great touch to it. One of my favourites on the album.
13. Lyrics To Go
Apparently, the program ends, but that doesn't mean the album concludes. On this standout, Tribe doesn't fail to impress me, with Tip having timeless bars like "Silly with the microphone, in other words I'm loco / Six foot zero with my height, complexion cocoa", and Phife continuing on with an impressive verse. This song is so GOOOOOOOOODDDD!!!!!! And the beat is freaking awesome. Such a great song.
14. God Lives Through
The album concludes with 1 verse each from Phife & Tip. Phife starts off by coming with some great references ("Walk past MCs like the girls did The Pharcyde"; damn, I love that line), all while repping Queens, but also shouting out many artists such as Main Source, Onyx and a pre-Illmatic Nas (since he was on the classic "Live at the Barbecue"), also the people behind the album cover. Tip continues with his normal style, and he actually does well with it. In fact, this is one of those moments on the album, where he has the best verse out of him & Phife. The "Oh My God" sample from Busta Rhymes appears again from the song of the same name aka track 10. It's a worthy concluding track, and it's such a way to end an album.
The following is a European bonus track:
15. Hot Sex
This was originally on the Boomerang soundtrack in 1992, and was made a single. This is actually known as one of Tribe's best songs, but in my opinion (key word: OPINION. Don't take it like I'm stating facts), it's just decent and something you can listen to like it's nothing. No surprising faces or anything. You can just bump your head to it, with no problems, considering that Tip had a very good verse. See, I was just doing that as I wrote this. But as I said, it's just decent.
Midnight Marauders is what I call Tribe's straightforward hip-hop album in their catalog. It's more positive, bright, more commercial to the point where I freaking love it. Phife & Tip both improve their rhymes, and Phife begins to get involved in the album a lot more. MM see Tribe mastering their sound with a lot of smooth production, great references, and the sampling being amazing on the beats, There is not one single bad track on here, and with not that much features, it's an impressive album. The Jazz samples on here are improved and Tribe focuses on everyday situations, instead of society all the time. On songs like "Midnight" and "Clap Your Hands", we see dark instrumentals, but interesting stories and wonderful lines, while on classic tracks like "Oh My God" and "Electric Relaxation", the smooth production and trumpet samples are in full effect, being the reason we all love Tribe. Phife is one that has impressed me more after Low End on songs like "8 Million Stories" and "Oh My God", and Tip actually has stepped up on songs such as "We Can Get Down" and "God Lives Through". And not to forget, Large Pro comes with the heat on "Keep It Rollin'". Overall, Midnight Marauders shits all over The Low End Theory. It's in my Top 10 albums, and it still remains a classic 22 years later. Just buy the freakin' album. That's all I need to say...
The Furious 5ive
Electric Relaxation
Oh My God
The Chase (Part II)
Award Tour
Midnight
Honourable Mentions
God Lives Through
Keep It Rollin'
8 Million Stories
Pretty much every track is the best on the album!
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