Every once in a while, an album can come around that hits at the exact right moment. This is certainly the case with the new A Tribe Called Quest Album. Admittedly, I am not an expert on hip hop music. (This is my first post regarding the genre in any way or form), but something about this band resonates me in a very special way. One of my favorite Tribe songs of all time is “Can I Kick It” from their first album. It makes the best possible use of one of my favorite artists of all time Lou Reed’s classic “Walk on the Wild Side.” From that I was hooked. Even though I always loved that song it wasn’t until the last few years that I explored the rest of their music. I waited too long. The rest of it is great. What sets them apart is their attention to detail, amazing samples (they even sampled the haunting and unforgettable Midnight Cowboy theme) their first three albums set the precedent of what great music should be. Q Tip as the lead man has always let his appreciation for music show first. With the tragic loss of Phife Dog last year we thought we would never hear from them again. Thankfully the new album We got it from here, thank you 4 your Service. Which if it is the end, offers an incredible bookend to a wondrous collaboration. The tribe shows that after 18 years they have only grown stronger.
What is striking about the new album is that it sounds so new and fresh. They could have easily gone with a totally retro sound and we all would have loved it. Instead, they pushed themselves to evolve in a new direction. They brought sometimes member Jarobi White back in the fold, as well as a who’s who list of amazing guests including Busta Rhimes, Jack White, and even Elton John.
From the start, it is apparent that Tribe Called Quest have awoken from the 18-year recording absence with a purpose. This is apparent immediately on the second track “We the People”. It is always amazing when artists can speak for the disenfranchised and belittled in a way that makes a statement while still also making a great song (As a Dallas kid it also gets points for the Romo/Witten Cowboys Reference). Elsewhere, the creativity of calling in Elton John and using his lyrics to come up with “Solid Wall of Sound” is a stroke of genius that creates a weird and beautiful mix of musical genres. This is Tribe at their best using left-field music and making it their own. This is the band that once used a sample from Midnight Cowboy masterfully. While the album is very politically driven, nothing provides more of a gut punch then “Lost Somebody”. This is a beautiful tribute to the late Phife Dawg. The documentary Beats, Rhymes, and Life showed that there as some tension between Phife and Q Tip. It is moving to see that they could resolve these issues and make this album. The song serves as a fitting tribute from Q Tip to his lifelong friend.
The entire album is a concerted effort to put out a listening experience that makes you feel. Feel in a way that makes you want to do what you can to make a positive impact in any way possible. That’s a hard nerve to hit. This feeling is more so in the wake of the untimely death of Phife and the recent presidential election. Part of me thinks that this album should have come out on Monday instead of Friday. Maybe people would have headed their words and voted for the greater good of others, instead of what they perceived as being their own. Regardless, this album offers hope and solace for those who feel like we need to make positive changes, despite adversity, to adequately meet the needs of all the people in our country.
-Nathan K
Tones OF HOME 