So I'm going to make my debut blog entry reviewing the group behind the name to this particular blog, A Tribe Called Quest. I'm going to start my review of Tribe by talking about their 3rd album, Midnight Marauders. There is always a lot of debate when it comes to Tribe's albums on which is the best, usually the debates are between The Low End Theory or Midnight Marauders. I have to go with Marauders, I feel this is their best work and one of the best albums in hip hop history. From the lyrics to the beats, this album is a step above everything else. So let's go step by step as I review each track.
We start with the Intro: Midnight Marauders Tour guide. We get interesting facts and information from this female robotic monotonic voice through the whole album. I'm not big into skits or Intros, but this seems to flow well through the album, on to the actual tracks.
Steve Biko (Stir it up)
Phife starts off the album and first verse of this track strong and with raw energy. "Linden Blvd...represent...represent-sent....Tribe Called Quest...represent represent-sent" Gotta love this track here, I give it a 9/10*.
Award Tour
"Coming with more hits then the Braves and the Yankees" This is a classic hit indeed. Seeing this video on various sites like youtube for the first time in years brings back so many memories of watching Rap City after school back in 1993-1994 and so on, great stuff. 10/10*
8 Million Stories
Who thought going to carvel to get a milkshake could start your day so badly. In this story of Phife's day we here all his problems from him burning a shirt he was ironing to John Stark's getting ejected from the Knicks game. 10/10*
Sucka Nigga
Great description from Q-Tip on the use and origin in his neighborhood of the "N" word. This would get 10 stars but the same verse is repeated twice, not a terrible thing but just a little repetitive. 9/10*
Midnight
"Coming down the block man loud as F***, you would swear Redman was inside the truck" That's what I'm talking about there. This song just has a dark street edge to it, not something you are used to from the Tribe. Q-Tip does a beautiful job of painting a picture of the street scene at night and telling those kids it might seem amazing, but beware. 10/10*
We Can Get Down
"We rap about what we see, meaning reality
From people busting caps and like Mandela being free
Not every MC be with the negativity
We have a slew of rappers pushing positivity"
Well said Phife, well said... 9/10*
Electric Relaxation
It's only my opinion, and who am I really, but this in my mind is the greatest song in Hip Hop HISTORY. Yes, the best ever. The laid back beat, to that hook we've been trying to figure out what was being said for years. "Relax yourself please settle down" I think.... The word play and story being told by Q Tip about this girl he is mesmerized with. Yeah, I don't have BBD on my bedroom wall but this song is above the rim, top notch baby. 10/10*
Electric Relaxation
"Brothers know the flav when the Quest get loose, slamming sucker brothas like that wrestler zeus. Crazier than 2pac in that flick called Juice, cock is longer than the hat worn by Dr. Seuss."
Wow, nuff said Phife, we get it. Outstanding. 9/10*
Oh my God
All I can think about is Busta Rhymes standing on top of that Deli or whatever in Queens during this video. High Energy, but that's what Busta brings. Tip and Phife bring it as usual. 9/10*
Keep it Rollin'
Large Pro on the beat here, he even lays down a verse. He was apart of Main Source who put one album out in the early 90's but it was one of the better albums in Hip Hop as well. Very laid back mellow beat here, lyrics on point and as I said even Extra P lays down a solid verse. Great stuff. 10/10*
The Chase Part II
Another outstanding track. Tip is the front man of the crew but Phife just gives me so many great quotable lines throughout this CD, when I hear a particular beat to a track on here there verses I'm quoting just jump in my head and out of my mouth.
"Sit back and learn, come now watch the birdie
Your styles are incomplete, same as Vinny Testaverde"
Love it. 10/10*
Lyrics To Go
Okay, earlier I said Electric Relaxation was my favorite jam of all time, well if that's the case than this is clearly number 2. The beat is absolutely amazing, just captures me every time. And once again, we have a Phife line that has to be quoted.
"The MC's they get jeally when the girly's on my belly
Kick a slow dance like my brother R. Kelly
Today's a hip-hop draft will I be top-seeded?
Worked too friggin' hard while all the rest were getting weeded"
You were working your ass off Phife, absolutely amazing. 10/10*
God Lives Through
Absolutely outstanding job re-hashing the Oh My God hook into this song as well. A great song to the end of a great album. 9/10*
Break all of this down and you have an SPS "Skip Proof Special" on your hands here. That is you can pop it in and not feel like you need to get up or reach over and hit the skip button, every song is worth a listen. Overall it's around a 9.5 when you break down the score of each song. I would say on my scale it would be impossible to ever get a 10, but as you can see this is pretty damn close. If you are a Tribe fan I'm sure you obviously have this album. If you are a fan of the new Q Tip album or only have the last couple of Tribe album's, this is a must! GET IT!!!
Vinnie
