Can I Kick It? - A Tribe Called Quest

Perhaps the Tribe's theme song, this is what they are all about.

            The first song I heard from the Tribe, or that I knew was by them anyways. This is what would spark my fascination with these guys, everything about this style was great. The best part? It was new to me, and I that make it that much more exciting. Hearing some smooth old school track just hypnotized me. I had never heard something so fun, uplifting, and just neutral. The rhymes are just so great to sing along to, as each one after another puts a smile on your face, giving you the idea that no matter what, you can most certainly kick it.
            The beat starts off with the nice acoustic piece, and then that little clang in the distance. Then Ali really brings it in with the scratching, simultaneously with the drums. Just a beautiful sound and really relaxes you. Then it breaks down to just Tip and the nice beat. He puts so much into his verse, really gotta break down this verse.

Gettin measures on the tip of the vibers

Rock and roll to the beat of the funk fuzz

Wipe your feet really good on the rhythm rug

If you feel the urge to freak, do the jitterbug

Ha, I'm telling ya, the word choice is just so perfect. Q-Tip just makes everything sound so nice and easy. Really tells me to just relax and cool out. And this is why this song stands as a model to the Tribe.

Come and spread your arms if you really need a hug

Man, when do you hear a rapper say that? Now I don't take this so literally, I look at the line a bit differently. What this says to me is, the Tribe is hear for you with their music. A hug makes you feel good, and that is just what the music does 

A lower plateau is what we're above

If you diss us, we won't even think of

This is what helped me likes these guys even more. Ignoring the negativity and staying modest. Like people for what you do, and stop with the hatin'.

Then comes the break, man did Mr. Muhammad make this sound good. Scratching it up, with some of the sampled vocals in the background. All the elements in the chorus come together to add some real funk to the beat, then breaking back down for Phife to step up. Nice to see Phife, at this point I was longing for him to appear on a track since Push It Along. 

Can I kick it? To my Tribe that flows in layers

Right now, Phife is a poem sayer

At times, I'm a studio conveyor

Mr. Dinkins, would you please be my mayor?

You'll be doing us a really big favor

Boy this track really has a lot of flavor

When it comes to rhythms, Quest is your savior

Phife makes it obvious that he is here to give you some rhythms, and to me he is right. Quest really was a savior when I needed some rhythm in my music library.

Doesn't matter if you're minor or major

Yes, the Tribe of the game, rhythm player

As you inhale like a breath of fresh air

Some lines that give me reassurance, and some that have a lot of truth. When I mentioned modesty up above, this is the line that hit me. Phife tells me that no matter where you stand with skill or popularity you can enjoy the music, words that should be preached far and wide. Everyone is accepted to feel what the Tribe has to offer, which is a breath of fresh air, as he goes on to say. Well man Quest was just the fresh air I needed.

Samples, woo lots of them today:

• "Walk on the Wild Side" by Lou Reed (from the 1972 album "Transformer")
• "Hard Times" by Baby Huey (from the 1971 album "The Living Legend")
• "Sun Shower" by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band (from the 1976 album "Dr. Buzzards' Original Savannah Band") aka Kid Creole
• "You Sexy Thing" by Hot Chocolate (from the 1975 album Hot Chocolate)
• "The Way You Do the Things You Do" by David Porter (from the 1970 album "Gritty, Groovy, & Gettin' It")
• "Soul Con-certo" and "Fried Okra" by Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (from the 1967 album "Hot Heat and Sweat Groove")
• "What A Waste" by Ian Dury and the Blockheads
• "Spinning Wheel" by Lonnie Smith (from the 1970 album "Drives")

           A message that is so utterly important. A lot to get from this track. You really have to like Quest to understand this track. An average listener would just take it for what it is, a smooth track, with positive vibes. Put really explore the meaning, and you might just find something greater. I think that is one thing I will always appreciate with the analyzing of music. The message I find really gives me instructions on a whole scale of life. Which I why I will always enjoy exploring music libraries. Until next time.

Bonita Applebum - A Tribe Called Quest

you gotta put this track on

        Man is this track smooth. Taking it a couple notches down from Pubic Enemy, and letting us relax, taking a breather. The beat is just really funky during the break, and even smoother during the verses. At first I didn't think much of the Tip's verses, yet now I just appreciate how great the track is. Not taking it fast, not spilling out word after word. As I said, just let's us kick it back, easing our mind right along the album. Kind of genius track order now that I think about it.
        I have basically explained Tip on this track, but some of the wordplay is actually quite crazy at times. He knows what he is doing on this track, because he doesn't wanna break the flow off the beat. Instead of tons of words in each rhyme, he replaces those lesser quality words with some of the greatest 1 liner's ever!
So, some genius rhymes:

38-24-37 (uh, uh, uh!)

You and me, hun, we're a match made in heaven

Satisfaction, I have the right tactics

And if you need 'em, I got crazy prophylactics

Not much to work with, but I'll be damned if I have ever heard something so crazy on a song. Probably the first song in a rhyme were I hadn't heard the word before. In fact, all the "ooohss" and "ahhs" actually make the line more effective. Similar to the use of a laugh track on sit-com. When the crowd laughs, we find it funny. Thus the urge to be awestruck by that line even more.

          The production is top notch. Produced specifically by Ali Shaheed Muhammad. With the piece of funk right before each verse. Then we got the light keys that add that soft feel to it. And I love the guitar during the chorus, has just the right tune. Not any scratching or mixing on this track though, but that is just fine. A nice simple beat to go along with. I believe in one of my older posts I explained the importance of the variation between complexity of the music, from track to track, not the rapping/singing mind you. 

• "Daylight" by RAMP (from the 1977 album "Come into My Knowledge")
• "Slave to the Rhythm" by Grace Jones (from the 1985 album "Slave to the Rhythm")
• "Soul Virgo" by Cannonball Adderley (from the 1971 album "The Price You Got to Pay to Be Free")
• "No Deposit, No Return" by Roy Ayers and Wayne Henderson (from the 1978 album "Step in to Our Life")
• "Memory Band" by Rotary Connection (from the 1967 album "Rotary Connection")
• "Fool Yourself" by Little Feat (from the 1973 album "Dixie Chicken")

Woo lots of samples here. Majority of the beat is from RAMP. Which is actually an awesome song all by itself!

Pubic Enemy - A Tribe Called Quest



         Such a jumpy track. One that blends all sorts of good qualities together. From the rapid power of this song, to the funny stories and clever rhymes, and all the humor in between, whether it be from the character of Red Alert or just the overall theme. After all, there has got to be some laughs erupting when talking about STD's in such an interesting way. Q-Tip and Red Alert take us on a nice trip, Q-Tip giving telling us the tales of several victims, if you will. Then Red Alert just adds to the fun, you can just tell they had a great time making this track.
         Q-Tip's verses on this are exceptional. He matches the beat perfectly, and adds his own creativity to the song. Making the song fun and interesting using all sorts of interesting rhymes to get his point across. While the beat is solid throughout, he keeps the first verse slow at the beginning. The really picks up the intensity in the second verse, sorta a perfect progression throughout the song. Taking a slow intro to a faster story, one that becomes more exciting. Laying out a good pacing for the whole song. Really becomes effective. The contrast between the two verses is just beautiful, makes the song more unique. By making the verses so distinguished, I find I love each one more. He tells several story, a girl at the club reporting to the doctor the next day. Then later on the story of a king, and his score with the other maidens, good lord this is just too silly.
         The production is absolutely great. Can't quite separate each sound from eachother. The Tribe did a great job producing on this one, adding that boom bip sound to it. While lacing some other qualities into it. Ali Shaheed Muhammad does a great job throwing in some scratches here in there, . The "doo doo dododo" sound is quite catchy. The drums just create some rumble that I absolutely love, adding that bounce to every other word. Gets the feet tappin' and the happy thoughts clappin'. Then the other element of fun is a Mr. Cool DJ Red Alert. With the "hup"s and all the wild tones in his voice, adds so much fun and innocence in his voice. Certainly a style that I can appreciate, as he is just so funky, fitting in right with the beat. If this song doesn't have rhythm, I don't know what will.

The Glorious Samples:

• "Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll" by Vaughan Mason & Crew (from the 1981 album "Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll")
• "Pity for the Lonely" by Luther Ingram (from the 1972 album "I've Been Here All the Time")
• "Communication Is Where It's At" by Billy Baron and His Smokin Challengers
• "Do the Funky Penguin" by Rufus Thomas
• "D'Ya Like Scratchin'" by Malcolm McLaren & The World Famous Supreme Team

Such a fun jam, with some humor and style I hadn't seen yet, and still appreciate now.
Also the post picture, is a mix for the song, I will provide the video below. As it is somewhat obscure on the internet.

Up next, we take a smooth ride...

I Left My Wallet in El Segundo - A Tribe Called Quest

          Short post for this one. This track is just a fun one to listen too. The story of Q-Tip getting his wallet back, and there road trip to get on the way back. Just listen on this one, that is all you have to do. Sit back and just enjoy it. A delightful little tune, and just entertaining for the story. So listen to here how the Tribe's journey to El Segundo went.

Footprints - A Tribe Called Quest

         Walk home!

         That hasn't been the first time I have heard that. Anyways, the song doesn't actually have much to do with footprints. However, that isn't what matters. Q-Tip takes the show on this one, definitely an impressive rap performance on this track. The beat lures you in with the brass and then changes it up, with the occasional sound of marching, which is so very appropriate.
          Q-Tip has many clever lines on this track, and some that promote different ideas. Some more difficult to analyze than other, and when you wanna just take a break from that you most certainly can. Some things that stuck out at me in the lyrics:

If you're a megastar, worth will buy you a car

I'd rather go barefootin, for prints I will be puttin

all over the earth if we can get there first

Now that we are in it, footprints are bein printed

So fi you recognise em, you can try to size em

They'll probably be the ones with the size not fryin

Boy you can feel the realness in those lines. The comparison made between your "barefootin'" and driving is effort. Is much harder walking, but the point he makes is that the Tribe's footprints: great works, achievements, will be left behind and remembered. Where the megastar will simply not have something to be proud of, and won't have much to look back on. Definitely a message to all fake artists. 

Catch the track, track by track, get a map to track a trail

You will find yourself behind for a map does not prevail

See the levels peakin as the rhythms keep-a screechin

A Quest, oh yes a Quest, inside the jam I will keep preachin

the point, oh yes the point, because it's close but yet so far

The loudiness is ringin as we scoot across the star

We are bulgin, I'm indulgin in a rat-a-tat-tat

Those lines are just awesome! Such a strong flow from one of the best.

A chair is not a chair, a house is not a home

This line was particularly interesting. Now the chair part certainly got me stuck. But to say a house is not a home is a very special line actually. A house, is a physical structure, one you live in. However, while a house can be a home, that isn't always the case. A home contains value, whether certain memories or just somewhere that feels like home. Taking another stab at materialism and realness, Q-Tip tells us being rich isn't everything to life, always hold on to the true stuff that really makes life a wonderful experience.

             As for the beat man it is groovy, man that word just sounds weird to me. Anyways, they put a variety of drums in, and a few synths I think I can separate from the rest of the beat. And that nice brass piece with the marching felt quite real at the start, and between verses. Also that voice during the breaks is also quite interesting. The Tribe did there thing on this track!

• "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder (from the 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life)
• "Think Twice" by Donald Byrd (from the 1975 album "Stepping into Tomorrow")
• "Walk Tall" by Cannonball Adderley (from the 1969 album "Country Preacher")

After Hours - A Tribe Called Quest

  

          After hours it was cool

            And man was it cool. This is a perfect track for "after hours". So lethally chill, it is so very well suited to the end of the work day. Whether the lyrics hit you, taking you on a relatable trip of what you would do after hours, seeing friends, go shopping around town, or whatever you may do. Either way, getting out from school or work sometimes this is just the track to throw on! Q-Tip's lyrics on this one are just perfect, more of that playful word choice and does a great job setting the mood of this track. And oh yeah, the DJing from Mr. Muhammad, absolutely amazing! What an incredible mix.

            Q-Tip takes you on a cool journey. Sounds like he is describing a nice day-off. As the song progresses from morning back to night. With this, he sets up the perfect immersion to really help the listener visualize everything he says. I can see it now, the abstract and his friends discussing the "wars the famines and the crazy crimes". His voice just relaxes you and eases any stress. And carries you all the way to the beat.

            Absolutely masterful production. Had that nice funk feel, and the break between verses is just great. Really just so much going on, but when Ali starts DJing man it is just crazy, it is so smooth, yet so intense. Ha, definitely one of my favorite beats from them. Breaking from the "after hours it was cool" to the "beat beat to beat" or whatever is said, either way the vocals are a nice addition. And of course the samples!

• "Remember Who You Are" by Sly Stone (from the 1979 album "Back on the Right Track")
• "Crap Game" by Richard Pryor (from the 1976 album "Richard Pryor Meets Richard & Willie and the SLA")
• "North Carolina" by Les McCann (from the 1972 album "Talk to the People")

You might like some of those samples as well.