Tag Archives: A Tribe Called Quest

hip-hop, video

A Tribe Called Quest’s “Low End Theory” turns 21

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lowendtheory

One of the finest albums in my collection – and if you own it, I guarantee it’s one of the finest in your collection, too – is old enough to have a drink. So break out the shot glasses and raise a toast: We’re getting The Low End Theory shit-faced tonight.

I probably thought this last year, when Low End Theory turned 20, or in May, when Adam Yauch died, or even last week, when the formerly flannel-wearing masses celebrated the 20th anniversary of the movie Singles, but holy crap, I’m getting old.

If you’re asking me to pick a favorite album by my favorite group, I’m going to tell you Midnight Marauders. But that’s not fair: I’d never ask my parents if they like my brother or me more (it’s probably me, though).

I won’t go on and on here because 21 is sort of an arbitrary number, and the occasion never would have crossed my mind if not for this Q-Tip tweet. I’m glad I saw it, though. You really don’t need a reason to listen to Low End Theory, but I’ve got a good one today.

Happy birthday. First round’s on me.

hip-hop

Mick Boogie: Rarities and Remixes of A Tribe Called Quest

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excursions

So it looks like Michael Rapaport’s documentary, Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, is making its Valley premiere at Tempe Marketplace this Friday (thanks to Drew for the heads up).

I can’t wait to see it, though it could be admittedly difficult to watch the movie peel back the layers to uncover the demise of my favorite group. Part of the idealist fanboy in me does not want to witness the bitter infighting.

If nothing else, the documentary appears to have revived interest in Tribe – hopefully even introducing the group to a younger generation (check out a post today on five songs sampled by Tribe at Phoenx New Times’ Up on the Sun blog). As a tribute, Mick Boogie created Excursions, a mixtape of “all the rare songs, demos, limited-edition remixes, and collaborations you may have missed over the years.” I’ve been lucky and persistent enough to collect a lot of these – whether on cassette, vinyl and/or CD. Sharing them was going to part of the goal for the Sundays with A Tribe Called Quest feature that I simply stopped doing. Perhaps it’s time to pick it back up.

In the meantime, follow the link below to stream/download Mick Boogie’s mixtape:

[ZIP]: Mick Boogie | Rarities and Remixes of A Tribe Called Quest

A tracklist isn’t provided, but it’s pretty easy to hunt one down. As I mine my Tribe collection, here’s one of the tracks Mick Boogie used: