A Tribe Called Quest Albums Ranked

A Tribe Called Quest was an American hip hop group formed in St. Albans, Queens, New York in 1985, originally composed of rapper and main producer Q-Tip, rapper Phife Dawg, DJ and co-producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and rapper Jarobi White. The group is regarded as a pioneer of alternative hip hop music. John Bush of AllMusic called them “the most intelligent, artistic rap group during the 1990s.” The Source gave the group’s debut album, People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990), a perfect rating of five ‘mics,’ marking the first time that the magazine awarded the rating. In 2005, A Tribe Called Quest received the Founders Award at the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, and two years later, the group was honored at the 4th VH1 Hip Hop Honors. In 2017, the group was awarded the Brit Award for International Group. Here are all of A Tribe Called Quest albums ranked.

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7. The Anthology (1999)

“The Anthology is a selection of all of their hits from A to Z; and they have an embarrassing amount of hits. From “I left my wallet in El Segundo, “Award Tour” to “Electric Relaxation” this album put the average fan in mind. They also managed to put some of Q-Tips finest solo work on the album. The Anthology is alternative hip-hop, void of heavy bass and menacing lyrics. Tribes flow and beats are easy on the ears and mind.”

6. The Love Movement (1998)

“Tribe will always be one of the best rap groups around. Though they split apart people will always remember their unique sound that made them what they are today. The Love Movement is an exceptional album and it’s really good to hear Phife and ‘Tip flowin’ and though I am a recent fan I will always remember how they made me so happy with their great beats and excellent lyrics.”

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5. Beats, Rhymes And Life (1996)

“This is a really great album and probably one of the best by A Tribe Called Quest. It has their trademark smooth style and flow with a much darker theme and subject matter than their previous album. It’s probably their darkest album lyrically and thematically. “

4. People’s Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm (1990)

“”People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm” is actually the last Tribe album I’ve bought to complete the set and it’s just as perfect as their two follow ups. While “Low End Theory” is heavy with the jazz elements and “Midnight Marauders” is edgy and at times dark, “…Rhythm” relies on creative sampling and laid back grooves. This album is definitely one of the more chill CD’s from start to finish I have of any genre. The smooth production on “After Hours” & “Push it Along” makes you wanna kick back and relax. The incredible horn sample on “Luck of Lucien” is sure to play-over and over again in your head. Still, the album features some classic beats & production thanks to some now familiar samples (“El Segundo”, “Bonita Applebum”, & “Can I Kick It”).”

3. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service (2016)

“There’s something to be said about the guest list on this album. The realization that you’re listening to hip hop while organically having Jack White play guitar in the background of a couple tracks, Elton John singing, and André 3000, Kendrick Lamar and Talib Kweli laying down verses is like genre barricades of music being lowered in the greater good of fulfilling the need for authentic, timeless music, not rushed-to-release albums. It’s an appropriate time to say “this album came out of no where” when it’s been 18 years since ATCQ has released studio work, but what a phenomenal, grin-inducing surprise.”

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2. Midnight Marauders (1993)

“The album cover was an incredible work of art with all the hip-hoppers in there. It was dope and amazing! That album was more incredible more than their The Low End Theory album. Q-Tip makes the beats terrific and hype because I want to give mad props to Q-Tip, Phife, Ali, and Jarobi (who is MIA since People’s Instinctive Travels days) did their thing on this 3rd album! 93 was the year with the Wu-Tang, De La Soul, Onyx, Naughty by Nature, Boot Camp Clik,Redman, Snoop Dogg, you name it. My favorite is 8 Million Stories in which Phife was so stressed out badly in life for what he’s been through.”

1. The Low End Theory (1991)

“This is the epitome of hip hop. The production was ahead of its time when it came out in 1991. Combine that with the smooth lyrics from Q-Tip and Phife Dawg give this album great replay value. The features are not overdone (only on 3 tracks). Quite a few hip hop artists in the later years sampled from some of the songs here and you can see why. Everything about this album seems just right. Will never get old.”