A Tribe Called Quest's second album, The Low End Theory, just celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of its release. I don't know where the time goes etc. Back in 1989- 90 the new wave of hip hop groups and rappers that came through were a burst of fresh air and closely aligned to the times. The Jungle Brothers married hip hop and house (hip house), De La Soul's day- glo imagery, sense of humour and lightness of touch appealed across the tribes and A Tribe Called Quest's sampling of Lou Reed, laid back sound and mellow rapping saw them cross over to both indie kids and ravers. Long sleeved t- shirts, purple Wallabies, Reni hats, baggy jeans and love beads, house music, indie dance and socially conscious Native Tongues rap records were all part of the same thing.
In 1991 for their second album A Tribe Called Quest pared things back, stripped their sound down and brought in a cellar full of jazz samples. The rappers, Q Tip and Phife Dawg kept their lyrical humour and interplay but the production and samples pushed the album on from the busier, unconventional, multi- layered debut People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm. The Low End Theory is denser and live sounding, samples chosen for the live bass or live drum sound, be- bop samples to link the music of the past with the music of the present. It's exciting and pioneering stuff and still sounds fresh today.
Scenario, a single and featuring members of Leaders Of The New School including a then unknown Busta Rhymes with samples courtesy of Jimi Hendrix and Brother Jack McDuff is a blast, streets ahead and a defining song from the golden age of hip hop. Jazzy organ, looped bass and then, boom! all hands on deck as the rhyming gets dizzying- 'Can I get a hit? Hit! Boom bit with a brother named Tip and we're ready to flip/ East coast stompin'/ Rippin' and rompin'/ New York North Cakalacky and Compton/ The loops for the troops more bounce to the ounce/ And wow now now wow how now brown cow...'
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