Beats, Rhymes, and Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest

DISCLAIMER: THIS POST IS NOT A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE FILM BECAUSE I HOPE THAT YOU ALL VENTURE OUT TO SEE IT AND FORM YOUR OWN OPINION.

Sunday evening was the first time, in awhile, that I had a chance to just sit back and relax. My exam to determine if I mastered the art of performing human voodoo (trigger point dry needling) was complete, it was still Hades hot outside, and the documentary about the group from which my blog was inspired opened this weekend. With an extra shot caramel latte (nope, not from Fourbucks) and Swedish fish in tow, I settled into my seat at E Street Cinema to check out “Beats, Rhymes, and Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest (BRL)” directed by Michael Rapaport better known as Remy from Higher Learning.

In short, I thought the documentary was fantastic. Blessed with talent, two members with relentless work ethic, an infatuation with music, and being in the right place to capitalize on opportunity, A Tribe Called Quest was born. Nodding my head to film’s score, the audience has a bird’s eye view into the intricacies of the legendary hip hop trio/quartet. Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Jarobi recount their perspective of the rise and fall of the group. Their instinctive travels and the paths of rhythm through the low end theory served as a catalyst to becoming a melodic fraternity comprised of the good, bad, and ugly. We also witness the self-proclaimed “Funky Diabetic’s” personal battle with the juvenile form of the disease and his addiction to high fructose corn syrup. BRL provides an emotional rollercoaster of love, hate, camaraderie, solitude, bitterness, jealousy, and loyalty. Unless you were a true hip-hip head, most people thought that Ali Shaheed Muhammad was the brainchild behind most of ATCQ's beats. In reality, it was Q-Tip’s realization that the sum was greater the parts that deceived mainstream. Having three brothers and eight line brothers, I firmly understand this concept.

I was first exposed to hip-hop from my cousin and older brothers. When I would visit my grandparents’ house, my cousin would always play tapes in his boom box. On the drive home, I’d ask my dad if he would buy me a tape. But, he refused based on the subject matter of the songs. So I did what any determined kid would do, I stole Breaking Atoms by Main Source from my cousin. To give you a bit of hip hop history, this album was the official introduction of Nasir Jones to the world. I listened to that album on my Walkman until I memorized every word and had to rewind the cassette with a pencil. As a kid who did well in school, the Large Professor’s (who has a cameo in BRL) lyrics in “Watch Roger Do His Thing” spoke directly to me. Over the years, groups that went against grain like A Tribe Called Quest inspired me to continue to do the same thing. In addition, my dad lightened his grasp a bit. Our agreement was that I had to listen to my tapes with him once. Sounds easy, right? Well, try listening to Big Daddy Kane’s “Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy” on the ride to your biddy league basketball game with your father and uncle in the car. They analyzed that song like they were working for the FCC. As a connoisseur of good music, the suffering was worth it because "my days of payin' dues are over, acknowledge we is in there!"

The Score

Bonita Applebum


Check The Rhime



We Got The Jazz/Buggin' Out



Electric Relaxation





Lyrics To Go