In 1990, A Tribe Called Quest released their debut album, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. It was preceded by a few guest appearances from frontman Q-Tip, and while it's known for having a few classics on there, it's actually their most underrated album. 1991 saw the release of their critically-acclaimed classic The Low End Theory, being praised for its positive jazz rap sound and improved production, and then 1993 with Midnight Marauders, which also can be seen as the group's best work.
After the release of Midnight Marauders, ATCQ took a little intermission. Q-Tip contributed to not one, but TWO classics: Nas's Illmatic in 1994 ("One Love") and Mobb Deep's The Infamous in 1995 ("Give Up the Goods (Just Step)", "Temperature's Rising" and "Drink Away the Pain (Situations)"). Phife Dawg managed to get a sweet 16 on the intro for TLC's CrazySexyCool in 1994, and at the same time, married his fiance and relocated to Atlanta, Georgia. Ali Shaheed Muhammad got to work with various artists such as D'Angelo, Shaq & Gil Scott-Heron. The group also contributed to The Show movie soundtrack in 1995 with a song called "Glamour and Glitz". While on tour, Q-Tip met a young J Dilla (who, at the time, was known as Jay Dee) through Joseph "Amp" Fiddler, a friend of Tip. He suggested that they should work together and form a production unit with Ali under the name: The Ummah (Arabic for "the Muslim community", since both Tip & Ali are Muslim).
Summer 1996 saw the release of Tribe's long awaited album, Beats, Rhymes and Life, after a three-year intermission. Led by "1nce Again" with Tammy Lucas, the album was known to be the group's departure from the positive, joyful vibes, and was their darkest album in content. The Ummah were credited as producers throughout the whole album (although most of the beats on here were produced individually and not together). Not only was it another kickstart to J Dilla's career (following his work on The Pharcyde's Labcabincalifornia), but Consequence, who is featured on half of the album. The album is also known for the lack of Phife Dawg, seeing that he moved to Atlanta back in '94, leading Tip to take over a lot of the album. Phife even spoke on this saying that there was a lot of studio sessions that he never got to participate in, due to timing and his distance from the group, since moving to Atlanta.
The album was met with generally positive reviews, with many praising the darker sound, content and production on the album, along with Consequence's appearances on the album. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, and by 1998, was certified platinum. It was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Album, along with its single "1nce Again" for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
Anyway, let's see how this album actually turned out to be...
1. Phony Rappers (feat. Consequence)
The opening track on the album, which sees Q-Tip, Phife & Consequence criticize MCs who lack ability and skill. Both Tip & Phife share some stories about their encounters with wack rappers. Tip raps about how a young kid challenged him to a rap battle. The kid was spitting something pointless and wack, before Tip showed him his skill and lyricism. Phife replies, saying that he was in a similar situation, where some guy said to him he doesn't deserve to be a rapper, and that he'll eventually fall off. Phife saw this as a challenge to battle him. The guy rapped about weed and guns, before Phife hit him with a "verbal assault". After another killer verse from Tip, Consequence manages to come through, going back and forth with Phife, rapping about how many "dickriders" they have, their blvd and how ill they are, warning other MCs not to test them. The instrumental is a lot darker and scary, unlike their earlier beats, and gives such a serious and negative feel. A dark, but dope opener.
2. Get a Hold
Tip gets a solo, as J Dilla provides such a dope beat for him to spit his hot bars on. Dilla's beat is pretty dark, using a jolly and light sample and distorting the pitch, making it sound a lot disturbing and dark. Tip comes with some crazy lyricism, especially on the third verse, which was a Hip-Hop Quotable on The Source, having bars such as "A-yo, we just getting started, got to redirect this vision/Got the beauty of a flower plus dimensions like a prism/Your minds are locked down like prison". The beat is just amazing, and is one of Dilla's gems. And Tip didn't fail to impress me. One of my favourite tracks on the album.
3. Motivators (feat. Consequence)
Tip, Phife & Cons are back as they go back and forth over a funky retro-like instrumental, and they don't disappoint. Phife started off pretty nice and smoothly, and I really liked his verse. Q-Tip was pretty good with his one too, and Consequence really surprised me with his verse. Everyone really came through with their verses, and their flows were sick. The beat is way too dope, and the hook is catchy AF. If I was to choose who killed it, it has to be Cons. That nigga freakin' spazzed on this shit! Phife & Tip did their thing, and I really loved Phife on this. Another great song.
4. The Jam (feat. Consequence)
A funky "jam" (no pun intended), where Tip, Phife & Cons tells the story of a boy smoking his first joint and going to a party. The 3 all managed to deliver, and the beat, along with its sample is freakin' wavey! The lyricism is great, and I liked how the 3 told the story, and make it funny and interesting.
5. Crew
A quickie one-verse wonder from Tip, which sees him getting angry when he finds out his best friend was with his wife. They used to be real close until his friend ended up turning on him. A skit is then heard where Q-Tip is arguing with his friend, until a few shots are fired. The beat is pretty smooth but lowkey dark. And this is one of the tracks on the album, where we can hear a little more darker and serious content.
6. The Pressure
A standout, where Tip & Phife deliver one verse each over a funky beat. Tip really starts it off pretty nice and smooth, and he killed it, and Phife managed to really deliver with his verse. The scratches at the beginning were live AF! I wish it was longer tho. Although 3 minutes, it kinda felt short. Could've added one more verse each from Tip & Phife. I still love this song though!
7. 1nce Again (feat. Tammy Lucas)
Tammy Lucas sings the hook as Tip & Phife rap on this spacey beat, courtesy of The Ummah and co-produced by the one and only J Dilla. This is more of a sequel to the classic Low End Theory cut "Check the Rhime", interpolating the "You on Point" bridge, and even filming the video at the same place they filmed the original in 1991. This one gets me vibing a lot more, with a much funkier instrumental provided. Tip & Phife both deliver two verses each. and they really did well with it, it's pretty hard to decide whose verse was better. Tammy's hook was alright, I guess, and I lowkey expected a better one, to be honest. I just love the beat, it's too funky and spacey, and it gets me vibing. Love this song!
8. Mind Power (feat. Consequence)
Consequence gets back on the mic with Tip & Phife, as they provide some sick verses over a dope instrumental. Q-Tip started off great, and manages to shout out Mobb Deep and fellow Native Tongues members, Busta Rhymes, De La Soul and Jungle Brothers. Consequence continues off great, and he really killed his verse, like DAAMMN! Even managed to slide in a Mobb Deep reference ("The verdict's in, I be the look of blendin/Give up your goods cuz it's the start of your ending"). But, Phife's verse is freakin' amazing. He snapped on this. "I keeps it realer than the logo on milk/Denouncin tough guy wannabes that look smoother than silk", OOOOOO!!!! I loved his verse. The beat is pretty jazzy and smooth AF, and everyone did their thing. Another dope ass track.
9. The Hop
Arguably the best track on the album. The beat is so damn good and I thought J Dilla was behind it. I was surprised that he didn't even produce it (it was Rashad Smith). Tip & Phife each deliver 1 verse. Tip started off the song nicely, and it was more of a verse that encourages the listener to vibe to the song. But Phife comes through with some lyrical heat. I would recite his part everytime the song came on. It's that dope, prolly one of his best verses. "You see you, your career is done like Johnny Carson's/Get me vexed, I do like Left Eye, start an arson", you can't tell me those bars weren't fire! A great song, which, without Phife's presence, I wouldn't have loved as much as I do now.
10. Keeping It Moving
Q-Tip gets another Dilla-produced solo, in which he uses as an advantage to address his neutrality in the whole East Coast/West Coast rivalry, which was going on during the recording and release of the album. He says that there's no need of them beefing, and also replies to Westside Connection's diss at him. By the second verse, he tells people that hip-hop is never meant to be taken seriously, while also having a few bars which show off his lyrical skill. The beat is funky, as usual, coming from Dilla. Another one of my favourites!
11. Baby Phife's Return (feat. Consequence)
We finally get a solo from Phife, with Consequence on hook duties. Phife's lyricism is on point, coming with bars like "I'll have your brain goin in circles as my style tends to ovulate/I'm makin moves, never movies, that's why y'all MCs lose me" and "Ain't nuthin sweet, the bakery's across the fuckin street/Phife Dawg, swingin it back and forth just like Aaliyah". Cons is on the hook, reassuring the listener that Phife is nice on the mic, and give us hot fire! The beat is funky, got a slight rock sound. And the bars on here are sweet AF!
12. Separate/Together
No, this ain't a double track or anything, it's another solo interlude from Tip which is pretty motivational. He raps about fake people, society and how men and women should respect each other. I like the content and the bars on here, but damn, the beat is just wavey! Wish the song was longer, to be honest!
13. What Really Goes On
The previous track really transitions greatly into another Tip solo, in which he drops some knowledge on various topics, such as the East Coast/West Coast rivalry, which was "really going on" back in '96. He also raps about society and the Westernized world, along with wanting a woman. The beat is great, and the hook is freakin' catchy. Tip's rhymes are on point too. Overall, a great track!
14. Word Play (feat. Consequence)
A Dilla-produced gem, where Tip, Phife & Cons come through with some hot fire and give us their definition of certain words, in such a mesmerizing flow; with bars such as "Power. People really get caught with this on different levels/Power controls your life" and "Miserable (miserable) is what your whole crew will be/If you're not original and you show no strategy". Tip was pretty good on this, and he was dropping some knowledge. I was really digging Phife on this, he was spitting that heat. Cons also did his thing on here. And Dilla freakin' killed that beat. Damn, just too wavey!!! Love this song, one of my favourites.
15. Stressed Out (feat. Faith Evans & Consequence)
A great song, was the album's second single. Tip & Cons get a lot more serious and introspective, having a conversation about being stressed out and having problems to deal with. Faith Evans is on hook duties, and she kills it. While the song is pretty good, I was pissed that Phife's verse wasn't on this, and it was just Tip & Cons. While they both did their thing, especially Cons, but I always loved the version with Phife. If only they merged the two versions together, so I could hear Tip, Phife & Cons together. Still a dope song though!
Beats, Rhymes and Life is such a freakin' dope album. It's such a very enjoyable album, with dope ass production from J Dilla & The Ummah. The album sees Tribe and Consequence over dope beats, and dope rhymes. Unlike the previous 3 albums, the content and sound gets a little darker, and we hear Tip talk more about society and how the world is like. It's a lot different from their previous material, and most of the album doesn't sound like it's from the same group that gave us classics like "Scenario" and "Electric Relaxation". It's a lot more explicit that Tip has a few more solos than before, and some of the tracks on here are known not to have Phife on them. Speaking of Phife, his lyricism really improved on this album. He came through in a more aggressive and hardcore way than before. Most of the times, he was outshining his rhyming partners. He really took over a lot of the tracks he was on, especially "The Hop", "Word Play" and "Mind Power". Consequence really impressed me with his bars. At first, I wasn't feeling him as much, but I gotta be honest, he was hot on the mic. "Motivators" and "Mind Power" are prime examples of that. Tip was dope too, especially when he had a lot of solos. He was a lot more conscious and was sending an highly explicit message than before, having dark and serious songs like "Crew" and tracks like "Separate/Together" and "Keeping It Moving", which touched on society and the East/West Coast rivalry. The production on here is dope AF. Dilla was a monster on the boards. He killed every beat he took part in, especially "Word Play" and "Get a Hold". Overall, Beats, Rhymes and Life is great. No, it's not another Midnight Marauders, but they sure did their thing. The production is tight, the lyricism is great and ain't nothing changed but the vibe. Don't let the critics get you into believing the album is bad. It's pretty dope. Go and hear it for yourselves! IMO, a great album, which is pretty underrated by Tribe fans. Rank it 3rd place with Midnight Marauders and The Low End Theory being respectively 1st and 2nd place. An album, that never gets the respect it really deserves.
Recommended Tracks
The Hop
Word Play
1nce Again
Get a Hold
Separate/Together
The Pressure
Keeping It Moving
1nce Again
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