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.