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.