Ranking A Tribe Called Quest’s Albums: A Tribe Called Quest is one of the most influential and celebrated acts in Hip Hop history. Following the success of the Jungle Brothers in 1988 and De La Soul in 1989, A Tribe Called Quest emerged as the next breakout act from the Native Tongues collective, leaving an indelible mark on music in general and Hip Hop in particular. Known for their alternative jazz-rap style, ATCQ and the Native Tongues quickly carved out a unique niche, consistently providing a breath of fresh air and a bastion of creativity in a genre increasingly dominated by mindless clichés and gun-toting gangsta poseurs.
From their debut People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm in 1990 to their surprise sixth and final album We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service in 2016, released after Phife Dawg’s untimely death, ATCQ’s legacy is iconic. They are forever considered part of Hip Hop’s elite. In this list, we rank Tribe’s albums. Agree? Disagree? Let’s discuss!
6. The Love Movement (1998)
Much like their fourth effort Beats, Rhymes & Life, A Tribe Called Quest’s fifth album, The Love Movement, is often underappreciated. While it may not reach the iconic heights of The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders, and some tracks fall short, and the chemistry between Tip and Phife feels a bit off at times, it still delivers a smooth and enjoyable experience. Despite its flaws, The Love Movement is a solid offering from one of Hip Hop’s greatest groups. 7/10
5. Beats Rhymes & Life (1996)
After their groundbreaking debut and the iconic second and third albums, A Tribe Called Quest returned with Beats, Rhymes & Life. While it has a darker tone compared to their earlier work, it remains a strong album. Though it might feel less like a ‘true’ Tribe album due to the increased guest appearances (we could have done with less of guest rapper Consequence) and J Dilla handling part of the production, bringing his unique flavor to the mix, Beats, Rhymes & Life is still a dope album and a worthy addition to Tribe’s classic body of work. 7.5/10
4. We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service (2016)
Energized by a one-off performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on November 13, 2015, the members of A Tribe Called Quest were inspired to record a new album. The project was shrouded in secrecy, with the album being their first release since 1998’s The Love Movement. Despite the untimely passing of Phife Dawg, the group was able to integrate his recorded bars into the final product flawlessly.
We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service features all four group members, including a surprise return from Jarobi White, who even contributes some bars. The album also boasts an impressive array of guests, including André 3000, Kendrick Lamar, Elton John, Jack White, Anderson .Paak, Talib Kweli, and Tribe’s longtime collaborators Consequence and Busta Rhymes. The result is a phenomenal album that perfectly captures the classic Tribe vibe while firmly placing it in the modern era.
The album’s tracks are a testament to the group’s musical prowess and social commentary, with standout tracks such as “We The People,” “Dis Generation,” and “Black Spasmodic” tackling themes of racism, inequality, and police brutality. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service is a worthy addition to A Tribe Called Quest’s monumental catalog, showcasing their creative power and cementing their status as Hip Hop legends. 8.5/10
3. People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm (1990)
The third installment of the Native Tongues triple classic album introduction to the world (preceded by the Jungle Brothers‘ Straight Out The Jungle and De La Soul‘s 3 Feet High And Rising) was A Tribe Called Quest’s People’s Instinctive Travels On The Paths Of Rhythm. The album is a musical masterpiece blending hard beats and jazzy samples, creating an innovative sound complemented by the fun, clever, and positive lyrics delivered mainly by Q-Tip. Although Phife was still finding his voice on this album, his lyrical skills would improve significantly on Tribe’s follow-up The Low End Theory.
“I Left My Wallet In El Segundo”, “Can I Kick It”, the cheeky ode to female beauty “Bonita Applebum”, “Push It Along”, and “Luck Of Lucien” – the album is filled with timeless ATCQ joints. People’s… is a timeless classic that introduced the world to one of the greatest Hip Hop groups of all time. 9/10
2. Midnight Marauders (1993)
Following up on their flawless masterpiece, The Low End Theory, Tribe faced a daunting task, but they delivered an album that is just as remarkable as its predecessor – there can be no greater compliment.
Midnight Marauders sounds as fresh as it did when it was first released – a true sign of a classic. While the three singles, “Award Tour,” “Electric Relaxation,” and “Oh My God,” may be the most recognizable tracks on the album, the remaining tracks are just as impressive – there’s not a single weak one. It’s an incredible accomplishment, especially considering they did the same thing on their preceding album, resulting in two perfect albums in a row.
In the words of Ali Shaheed Muhammad of Tribe: “We decided to call the album Midnight Marauders because A Tribe Called Quest are like sound thieves looting your ears.” That sounds about right. 10/10
1. The Low End Theory (1991)
The Low End Theory is a flawless masterpiece that showcases creativity, innovation, artistry, fun, and raw talent at its best. A Tribe Called Quest continued to build on the quality work of their debut and perfected the fusion of jazzy influences and bass-heavy Hip Hop beats. The album is so cohesive and consistent that it almost feels like one long song – and that’s a good thing in this case.
Phife, who only played a minor role on the first album, showcases his improved skills as an emcee and establishes a perfect interplay with Q-Tip, who is exceptional as always. From the mesmerizing opening track “Excursions” to the epic posse cut “Scenario” that serves as the perfect album closer, every single track on this album is nothing short of perfect. 10/10