A Tribe Called Quest
The first CD I ever bought (with my own money no less) was
Midnight Marauders, which I picked up because I loved the song "Award Tour". I've pretty much worn out that CD, can randomly recite at least 5 to 6 different Phife Dog verses at any time (that's a big deal for me, because my memory for song lyrics is
terrible, even on songs I really, really love. Probably because I can't hear all that well.). The impressive beats, smooth melodies and fun lyrics really engaged my 15 year old self. This is the kind of album you can just hit play on track 1 and just let it go the entire time; admittedly, though, "Sucka Niggas" was a bit of an acquired taste.
Later on, I discovered that this was the same group that had put out "Scenario" and "Jazz", and I just HAD to pick up
The Low End Theory. Loved that one too, but surprisingly it took a little while to grow on me. MM is still my all-time favorite, but TLET is number 2.
Freshman year in college I picked up
Beats, Rhymes & Life and man, that and The Roots'
Illadelph Halflife was pretty much ALL I listened to that year. Well, that and
Crash from Dave Matthews Band. (I know.) Later that year I discovered I was in the extreme minority in liking BRL, and I'm still as puzzled now as I was then.
A couple of years later I picked up
The Love Movement and it took me a good long while to warm up to that one. It just seemed flat and uninspired at first, from the similar beats to the stark white and plain CD art. The last non-bonus song is really depressing sounding, even though it's supposed to be an up-tempo track. It almost seems like everyone knew this was their last track as a group, though I doubt that's actually what happened. However, I have come to appreciate this album as well, in spite of its flaws.
I didn't pick up Tribe's debut album,
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, until a few years ago. Mainly because I've always hated "Bonita Applebum". I know that's hip-hop sacrilege, but something about that song really, really annoys me, even to this day. (The remix off
Revised Quest, the first remix and rarities album, is dope, though.) However, I really liked this album once I picked it up. It amuses me just how different Phife Dog became from this album to TLET. He doesn't even really rap on this album, just kind of singing. COMPLETELY different guy on the subsequent albums, and that's for the better. As for the album itself, except for the aforementioned "Bonita Applebum", "Ham & Eggs" and "I Left My Wallet In El-Segundo", it's freaking great. Makes me feel stupid for ignoring it every time I hear it.
My favorite Tribe albums in order:
1.
Midnight Marauders
2.
The Low End Theory
3.
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
4.
Beats, Rhymes & Life
5.
The Love Movement
...Yeah, this is a repost.