A Tribe Called Quest: The Low End Theory (2LP) [JIVE]

Why you'll love it

The Low End Theory is one of the most influential hip hop albums ever made, a jazz-rap landmark featuring Ron Carter on bass. "Check the Rhime" and "Scenario" are all-time classics.

This edition

• 2LP set
• Features jazz bassist Ron Carter
• Jive pressing

About the album

Often imitated, never duplicated: A Tribe Called Quest epitomizes that statement. And 1991's classic The Low End Theory, the Queens-bred hip-hop outfit's second album, is where Tribe really struck out on its own sonically for the first time. Their 1990 debut, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, was plenty special in its own right, but on The Low End Theory the beats got tougher, the obscure jazz samples and sinewy double-bass loops were integrated into the mix much more integrally than just classy window dressing, and the late Phife Dawg came into his own as an MC to rival his longtime pal and production partner Q-Tip.

In short, A Tribe Called Quest started to sound like the A Tribe Called Quest everyone knows, loves and cherishes to this day right here. After this, they were a reference point for future hip-hop artists, although no one's ever quite managed to replicate the curious magic these cats got up to on The Low End Theory and the rest of their six-album catalogue. This one's essential.

Also at Kops: more A Tribe Called Quest on vinyl · browse Hip Hop / R&B

Tracklist

Listen

On Jive, a reissue of the 1991 album.