A Tribe Called Quest – A Look Behind The Scenes

A new documentary about one of hip-hop’s most innovative act hits
theaters this month. “Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest” will give fans an inside look at what really happened from the bands inception to their demise.

Hip-hop had hit its stride by 1990. Local MC battles and mix tapes had already given way to major record deals for acts like LL Cool J, Salt N Pepa and Digital Underground.

Public Enemy was already working on their second album and other artists would soon follow with a more message driven approach but one band stood out as truly unique and original.

From the New York City borough of Queens came A Tribe Called Quest, a group that to this day stands the test of time when both fans and critics alike get together to talk about the artists that helped define this truly American art form.

From the begining, A Tribe Called Quest was about smart lyrics, incredible beats and songs that somehow just made sense.

When hip hop started to morph into its next phase, Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Saheed Muhammad and Jarobi White managed to keep their own identity and not be influenced by what was happening around them.

They sampled Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” for the main hook in the song “Can I Kick It?” instead of just grabbing another James Brown song like many of their contemporaries.

The Tribe would continue to blend classic rock, jazz and ambient sounds to hold true to the style of hip-hop that they helped create.

Listening to the group’s two main rappers Q-Tip and Phife Dawg exchange verses was like hearing two great soloists trade riffs.

Actor/director Michael Rappaport has been a long time enthusiast of hip-hop and all its subsequent mutations. Luckily for like minded devotees of this now ubiquitous form of urban music, he decided to chronicle the story of the band and give insight into what made them tick. The film contains candid interviews with members of The Roots, Beastie Boys, Pharrell Williams and more singing the praises of ATQC. It’s an intriguing look into the music and the tension that caused Q-Tip and Phife to go from groundbreaking collaborators to estranged former friends.

The movie opens July 8th in New York and Los Angeles with more dates across country to follow.

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