Music Monday: The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory

This album is proof that hip hop should be considered just as musically artistic as any other style. After their dense, sample laden first album, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, A Tribe Called Quest stripped down their sound to the bare essentials of hip hop: bass, drums, and poetry. Despite its barren, simplistic sound, it is a melodic, catchy album. Standard jazz samples are mixed with 70's funk and hard rock, all used sparingly to add slight melodic touches that give power to the few hooks of the album. From the opening upright bass line of "Excursions" through to the end, there is not a weak or boring track on the album.

Tribe's primary MC's, Q-tip and Phife dog drop some of their best and catchiest lyrics addressing such issues as date rape, the music industry, street crime, and the artifice of African American style in the early 90's. Q-tip proves that he is the master of riding the beats, choosing to use clever turns of phrase that fit with the groove of the music over speed and verbal dexterity. For those that enjoy such styles, this album also features one of the earliest appearances by a young Busta Rhymes on the hit, "Scenario".

The album seamlessly mixes hip hop and jazz, even enlisting jazz great, Ron Carter, to bass on "Verses from the Abstract". It shows that rap is not a string of profanity over dry boring beats. This is the type of album that can convert hip hop haters to lovers. This may be the greatest hip hop album ever recorded, which is quite a feat considering it is only the second best album a Tribe Called Quest made in their ten year career.