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Track: Check the Rhime
Artist: A Tribe Called Quest
Album: The Low End Theory

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A Tribe Called Quest Image

Name: A Tribe Called Quest
Spotify Genres: jazz rap, east coast hip hop, hip hop, old school hip hop
Followers: 2,338,018
Popularity:

68/100

Biography

A Tribe Called Quest was a critically acclaimed rap group comprised initially of [a=Q-Tip] (b. Jonathan Davis ― later changed to Kamaal Ibn John Fareed in the mid-1990s upon conversion to Islam ― 10 April 1970, New York, USA), DJ [a=Ali Shaheed Muhammad] (b. 11 August 1970, Brooklyn, New York City, USA), [a=Jarobi] and [a=Phife Dawg] (b. Malik Taylor, 20 November 1970, Brooklyn, New York City, USA; d. 22 March 2016, USA). The group formed in high school in 1988 in Queens, New York City, NY, where they started as part of the Native Tongues Posse, with [a=Queen Latifah], [a=De La Soul], [a=Black Sheep], [a=Monie Love], and the [a=Jungle Brothers], and were given their name by [a=Afrika Baby Bambaataa] of the Jungle Brothers. Following their August 1989 debut, "Description Of A Fool," they had a hit with "Bonita Applebum" a year later, based on a classmate from their school. Their most significant success came the following year with the laid-back "Can I Kick It?" demonstrative of their refined jazz/hip-hop blend. This release earned the first ever "5-star" award from Source Magazine. Q-Tip also appeared on Deee-Lite's August 1990 hit, "Groove Is In The Heart." While their debut, "People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm," was more eclectic and even self-consciously jokey, "The Low-End Theory" (recorded as a trio following the departure of Jarobi) blended boom bap beats with carefully selected jazz, funk, and soul melodies. ATCQ was helped considerably by jazz bass player [a=Ron Carter] (who had worked with [a=Miles Davis] and [a=John Coltrane]). Tracks such as "The Infamous Date Rape" stoked controversy, while samples from [a=Lou Reed], [a=Stevie Wonder], and [a=Earth, Wind & Fire] were used frugally and intelligently. Q-Tip appeared in the 1993 movie "Poetic Justice" opposite [a=Janet Jackson]. ATCQ was awarded the "Group Of The Year" after the release of 1993's "Midnight Marauders" at the inaugural Source Magazine Hip Hop Award Show in 1994 before being moved off stage by the arrival of [a=2Pac] and his Thug Life crew, who were attempting to steal some publicity. It was later determined this was an accident on 2Pac's behalf. In 1996 "Beats, Rhymes And Life" debuted at number 1 on the Billboard album chart with highly evolved lyrics addressing issues with greater clarity than their past recordings. "The Love Movement," which debuted at US number 3 in October 1998, was another mature, stylish collection of material. However, it lacked the spark of their earlier works. ATCQ released "We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service" on November 4, 2016, nearly 18 years after "The Love Movement" album. While recording verses for the album and his solo album, Phife Dawg passed away on March 22, 2016. During its first month of release, "We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service" was greeted with critical acclaim and fan support. The group has been awarded the Founders Award at the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards and was honored at the 4th VH1 Hip-Hop Honors. In 2017, the group was awarded the Brit Award for International Group. In 2024, the group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Source: Discogs

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Release Cover

Release: A Tribe Called Quest - Check The Rhime
Year: 1991
Genres: Hip Hop
Styles: Conscious

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Source: MusicBrainz

LYRICS

Q: Back in the days on the boulevard of Linden,
we used to kick routines and presence was fittin'.
It was I the abstract
P: And me the five footer.
I kicks the mad style so step off the frankfurter.
Q: Yo, Phife, you remember that routine
that we used to make spiffy like mister clean?
P: Um um, a tidbit, um, a smidgen.
I don~t get the message so you gots to run the pigeon.
Q: You on point Phife?
P: All the time, tip.
Q: You on point Phife?
P: All the time, tip.
Q: You on point Phife?
P: All the time, tip.
Q: Well, then grab the microphone and let your words rip.
P: Now here's a funky introduction of how nice I am.
Tell your mother, tell your father, send a telegram.
I'm like an energizer 'cause, you see, I last long.
My crew is never ever wack because we stand strong.
Now if you say my style is wack that's where you're dead wrong.
I slayed that body in El Segundo then push it along.
You'd be a fool to reply that Phife is not the man
'cause you know and I know that you know who I am.
A special shot of peace goes out to all my pals, you see.
And a middle finger goes for all you punk MC's.
'Cause I love it when you wack MC's despise me.
They get vexed, I roll next, can~t none contest me.
I'm just a fly MC who's five foot three and very brave.
On job remaining, no I'm chaining cause I misbehave.
I come correct in full effect have all my hoes in check.
And before I get the butt the jim must be erect.
You see, my aura~s positive I don't promote no junk.
See, I'm far from a bully and I ain't a punk.
Extremity in rhythm, yeah that's what you heard.
So just clean out your ears and just check the word.

Q: Check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check it out.
Check it out.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Play tapes y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check it out.
Check it out.

P: Back in days on the boulevard of Linden,
we used to kick routines and the presence was fittin'
It was I the Phifer,
Q: And me, the abstract.
The rhymes were so rumpin' that the brothers rode the 'zack.
P: Yo, tip you recall when we used to rock
Those fly routines on your cousin~s block.
Q: Um, let me see, damn I can't remember.
I receive the message and you will play the sender.
P: You on point Tip?
Q: All the time Phife.
P: You on point Tip?
Q: Yeah, all the time Phife.
P: You on point Tip?
Q: Yo, all the time Phife.
P: So play the resurrector and give the dead some life.
Q: Okay, if knowledge is the key then just show me the lock.
Got the scrawny legs but I move just like Luke Brock,
With speed. I'm agile plus I'm worth your while.
One hundred percent intelligent black child.
My optic presentation sizzles the retina.
How far must I go to gain respect? Um.
Well, it's kind of simple, just remain your own
Or you'll be crazy sad and alone.
Industry rule number four thousand and eighty,
record company people are shady.
So kids watch your back 'cause I think they smoke crack,
I don't doubt it. Look at how they act.
Off to better things like a hip-hop forum.
Pass me the rock and I'll storm with the crew and ...
Proper. What you say Hammer? Proper.
Rap is not pop, if you call it that then stop.

NC, y'all check the rhyme y'all.
SC, y'all check it out y'all.
Virginia, check the rhyme y'all.
Check it out. Out.
In London, check the rhyme, y'all.