Image via atribecalledquest.com
The early 1990’s is regard by many music historians as one of the most brilliant era in the history of rap music. You have the west coast G-funk scene headlined by Dr. Dre, Tupac and Snoop Dogg and are also juxtaposed with the likes of New York mainstays, Wu-Tang Clan, Beastie Boys and Public Enemy. However, one of the most seminal albums of this time period emerged from a Queens Hip-Hop group by the name of A Tribe Called Quest. Released in September of 1991, The Low End Theory was a smash hit and helped propel ATCQ to lasting success as a hip-hop group for the majority of 1990’s. While there a ton of great tracks off of this album, I wanted to talk more about the impactful ways it changed hip-hop during their decade from a business and cultural standpoint.
Bridging the gap between Jazz and Hip-Hop: Thanks to magnificent production work from Q-Tip, The Low End Theory was a sonic masterpiece in terms of sampling songs and creating new sounds. Tunes like “Check the Rhime” and “Award Tour” are certified classic party tracks along with more slower songs like “Jazz (We’ve Got)” and “Buggin’ Out” give the album a balanced feel. Thanks to his excellent production work, Q-Tip and ATACQ have inspired a slew of musicians over time including the likes of Kanye West and Pharrell and were one of the forefathers of alternative hip-hop. Indeed, a marvelous fusion of of sounds is what makes The Low End Theory a standout and must-listen album.
The Emergence of Busta Rhymes: Featured prominently on one of the album’s stand out hits, “Scenario,” a young Busta Rhymes made his mark on the landmark track that featured a slew of other artists. Rhymes would go onto to have a successful solo career and is listed as one of the greatest 50 MC’s of the last 20 years. As an original member of Leaders of The New School, Rhymes is a huge influence on hip-hop to this day and one of the genre’s greatest visual artists. Indeed his cameo on Scenario is one of the most iconic in hip-hop history.
Historical Impact on Hip-Hop: With ATCQ coming off of one of hip-hop’s greatest debut albums ( People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm), The Low End Theory had a huge bar to cross over to make its own impact on hip-hop culture. The album is regarded as Phife Dawg’s lyrical breakout, as he established himself as a formidable MC. The group is credited with showcasing how hip hop was made before commercial success influenced many rappers’ creativity, and for challenging the “macho posturing” of hardcore and gangsta rap. Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 153 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, stating that people “connected the dots between hip-hop and jazz”, as both were revolutionary forms of black music based on improvisation and flow, however, “this LP drew the entire picture.”
So tell me your favorite song from The Low End Theory either in the comments below or on Twitter and make sure to have a safe and peaceful weekend!
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