A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory (1991)

1. Excursions
2. Buggin' Out
3. Rap Promoter
4. Butter
5. Verses From the Abstract
6. Show Business
7. Vibes and Stuff
8. Infamous Date Rape
9. Check the Rhime
10. Everything Is Fair
11. Jazz (We've Got)
12. Skypager
13. What?
14. Scenario [Feat. Busta Rhymes]
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The Low End Theory is the second album by A Tribe Called Quest, released on September 24, 1991 through Jive Records. With the pairing of Q-Tip and Phife Dawg's lyrics, at turns socially charged, abstract and concretely grounded in reality, with groovy jazz samples, the album includes guests Brand Nubian, Diamond D and Leaders of the New School, the original rap group of Busta Rhymes.
The beats are widely different from the-then about-to-explode G funk sound being pioneered on the West Coast, and shares more of an influence with East Coast artists. With dominant basslines and sampled jazz horn solos, The Low End Theory has a distinctive sound that met the high expectations after their critically acclaimed debut People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. The Low End Theory includes instrumental work from several pioneering musicians, including upright bassist Ron Carter ("Verses from the Abstract"). The Low End Theory ranked #154 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time", #32 in Spin magazine's "90 Greatest Albums of the '90s", and was the album of the year for Spex magazine (also #10 on the "100 Albums of the Century"). It also made it onto the unordered "100 Best Hip-Hop Albums of All Time" by The Source, the "100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century" by Vibe magazine, and "Essential Recordings of the 90s" by Rolling Stone.
The Low End Theory became a watershed album in the history of hip hop music. The album established alternative hip hop as a definable genre, distinguished by aware, often abstract or political lyrics, and a light-hearted sense of humor, along with jazz and other unusual sampling sources. The Low End Theory transformed alternative hip hop, leading the way from the jazzy pioneers like De La Soul towards future artists like Common and The Roots. The song "Scenario" helped break future hip hop star Busta Rhymes into the mainstream, partially as a result of its popular music video on MTV. Some sources, such as Angus Crawford of mvremix.com, say that "Scenario" is the best posse cut ever. Phife Dawg, who fans thought of as adequate but nothing special on the first album, greatly improved his style on this album. This amazing turn-around is highly respected in hip hop circles. Songs like "Buggin' out" and "Butter" showcased Phife's new confidence.
Topics include the music industry's exploitation of musicians ("Rap Promoter", "Show Business"), music ("Excursions"), date rape ("The Infamous Date Rape"), violence in hip hop ("Vibes and Stuff") and the beauty of jazz ("Jazz (We've Got)").
It was certified platinum by RIAA on February 1, 1995.
In 2006, the album was chosen by Time magazine as one of the 100 best albums of all time.
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[ mp3 @ VBR / Lame 3.98 (HQ) ]
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A Tribe Called Quest - Scenario Feat. Busta Rhymes