A Tribe Called Quest was an American hip hop group, formed in 1985.[1] They released six studio albums, five compilations, sixteen singles and two extended plays. The group was made up of rapper/main producer Q-Tip (Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, formerly Jonathan Davis), the late rapper Phife Dawg (Malik Taylor) and DJ/co-producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Phife Dawg was only persuaded to join when a fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, joined the group. In 1989 they signed a demo deal with Geffen Records, but not given a full-fledged recording contract. After receiving many offers, they opted for the Jive Records label, an independent rap label. In under a year, they managed to produce People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm to critical acclaim, but lukewarm sales, reaching #91 on the Billboard 200, though it did eventually achieve gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
A Tribe Called Quest discography | |
---|---|
Studio albums | 6 |
EPs | 2 |
Compilation albums | 5 |
Singles | 16 |
Features singles | 4 |
Their next album, The Low End Theory, helped shape alternative hip-hop in the 1990s.[2][3] It established a link between their hip hop based music and the jazz genre. It was a large success, and, on February 1, 1995, the RIAA certified the album platinum.[4] Their following album, Midnight Marauders, released in 1993, also earned the platinum award. Beats, Rhymes and Life, their subsequent album which was released three years after Midnight Marauders, was considered their darkest work. It lacked the positive and joyful vibe present in their previous albums. Their fifth studio album followed, The Love Movement. It was regarded by critics as returning to the group's positive vibe.[citation needed] It was awarded gold by the RIAA on November 1, 1998.[5] Their sixth and final album, We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service, was released on November 11, 2016, with posthumous contributions from Phife Dawg. On May 22, 2017, the album was certified gold by the RIAA.
Albums
editStudio albums
editTitle | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [8] |
US R&B /HH [9] |
AUS [10] |
CAN [11] |
FRA [12] |
GER [13] |
SWE [14] |
NED [15] |
NZ [16] |
UK [17] | |||
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm | 91 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 54 | ||
The Low End Theory |
|
45 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 58 | |
Midnight Marauders |
|
8 | 1 | — | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | 70 | |
Beats, Rhymes and Life |
|
1 | 1 | — | 7 | — | — | 30 | — | 32 | 28 | |
The Love Movement |
|
3 | 3 | — | 2 | 40 | 36 | 45 | — | — | 38 | |
We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service |
|
1 | 1 | 13 | 3 | 75 | 14 | 31 | 16 | 13 | 24 |
|
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
Live albums
editTitle | Album details |
---|---|
Live in Chicago '98 |
|
Remix albums
editTitle | Album details |
---|---|
Revised Quest for the Seasoned Traveller |
|
Compilations albums
editTitle | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [9] |
US R&B /HH [9] |
CAN R&B [21] |
UK R&B [17] |
UK Ind. [17] | ||
The Anthology |
|
81 | 28 | 2 | 22 | 26 |
Hits, Rarities & Remixes |
|
190 | 51 | — | — | — |
The Lost Tribes |
|
— | — | — | — | — |
The Best of A Tribe Called Quest |
|
— | — | — | — | — |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart. |
Promotional albums
editTitle | Album details |
---|---|
Classics (compilation EP) |
|
EPs
editTitle | EP details | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
UK [17] |
UK Dance [17] |
UK R&B [17] | ||
People's Instinctive Remixes |
|
— | — | — |
A Tribe Called Quest EP (compilation EP) |
|
— | 22 | 28 |
The Jam EP (compilation EP) |
|
61 | 1 | 12 |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart. |
Promotional EPs
editTitle | Album details |
---|---|
Classics (compilation EP) |
|
Singles
editAs lead artist
editTitle | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [25] |
US Dance [26] |
US R&B [27] |
US Rap [28] |
CAN [29] |
NED [30] |
NZ [31] |
SCO [32] |
UK [7] |
UK R&B [33] | ||||||
"Description of a Fool" | 1989 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | * | People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm | |||
"I Left My Wallet in El Segundo" | 1990 | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
"Bonita Applebum" | — | — | 56 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 47 | ||||||
"Can I Kick It?" | 1991 | — | — | — | 8 | — | 13 | — | — | 15 |
| ||||
"I Left My Wallet in El Segundo (Vampire Mix)" | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | — | — | 86 | People's Instinctive Remixes | |||||
"Check the Rhime" | — | — | 59 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
|
The Low End Theory | ||||
"Jazz (We've Got)" | — | — | — | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
"Scenario" (featuring Leaders of the New School) |
1992 | 57 | — | 42 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| ||||
"Luck of Lucien (Tom and Jerry Remix)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Revised Quest for the Seasoned Traveller | |||||
"Can I Kick It? (Boilerhouse Remix)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
"Hot Sex" | — | — | 99 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Boomerang (Soundtrack) | |||||
"Award Tour" (featuring Trugoy the Dove) |
1993 | 47 | 27 | 27 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | Midnight Marauders | ||||
"Electric Relaxation" | 1994 | 65 | — | 38 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — |
| ||||
"Oh My God" (featuring Busta Rhymes) |
—[A] | — | 69 | 15 | — | — | — | — | 81 | ||||||
"1nce Again" (featuring Tammy Lucas) |
1996 | — | — | 38 | — | — | — | 36 | 70 | 34 | 5 | Beats, Rhymes and Life | |||
"Stressed Out" (featuring Faith Evans) |
—[B] | — | 56 | 15 | — | — | — | 81 | 33 | 2 | |||||
"Find a Way" | 1998 | 71 | — | 29 | 18 | — | — | 48 | 75 | 41 | 12 | The Love Movement | |||
"We the People...." | 2016 | 77 | — | 31 | 23 | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service | |||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. "*" indicates a chart that did not exist at the time. |
As featured artist
editYear | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | US Rap | NLD | UK | |||
1997 | "Rumble in the Jungle" A (Fugees feat. A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes & John Forté) | 71 | 3 | — | 3 | When We Were Kings (soundtrack) |
2003 | "I C U (Doin' It)" (Violator feat. A Tribe Called Quest & Erykah Badu) | — | — | — | — | non-album single |
A Did not chart on the Hot 100 or Hot R&B/Hip-Hop charts (Billboard rules at the time prevented album cuts from charting). Chart peak listed here represents Hot 100 Airplay and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts data.
Promotional singles
editTitle | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Like It Like That" | 1998 | The Love Movement |
"Rock Rock Ya'll" (featuring Punchline, Jane Doe, Wordsworth & Mos Def)[36] |
Other charted songs
editTitle | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US [25] |
US R&B/HH [27] | |||
"The Space Program" | 2016 | —[C] | —[D] | We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service |
Guest appearances
editTitle | Year | Other performer(s) | Album |
---|---|---|---|
"What Yo Life Can Truly Be" | 1991 | De La Soul, Dres | A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays" (VLS) |
"Sh.Fe.Mc's" | 1994 | De La Soul | Clear Lake Audiotorium (EP) |
"If the Papes Come" | — | Mi Vida Loca (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | |
"Glamour and Glitz" | 1995 | — | The Show: The Soundtrack |
"Peace, Prosperity & Paper" | 1996| data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | — | High School High (soundtrack) | |
"The Remedy" | Common | Get on the Bus: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture | |
"Wild Hot" | 1997 | Busta Rhymes | Rhyme & Reason (soundtrack) |
"Same Ol' Thing" | — | Men in Black: The Album | |
"That Shit" | 1998 | Jay Dee | The Mix Tape, Vol. III |
Notes
edit- ^ "Oh My God" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 2 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.[34]
- ^ "Stressed Out" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 8 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.[35]
- ^ "The Space Program" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 25 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[37]
- ^ "The Space Program" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number two on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[38]
References
edit- ^ A Tribe Called Quest official site: Group biography Archived 2012-07-08 at archive.today
- ^ Chinen, Nate (October 17, 2007). "CMJ Music Marathon: Q-Tip Catches the Fever". The New York Times. Accessed December 29, 2008.
- ^ Daley, Dan (November 2007). "New York Grooves Archived December 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine". EQ. Accessed December 28, 2008.
- ^ "Searchable Database - "The Low End Theory" Archived October 17, 2015, at the Wayback Machine". Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed October 6, 2009.
- ^ Search Results - "The Love Movement". Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed December 11, 2008.
- ^ The Love Movement > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums. Allmusic. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 565. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Billboard charts". Billboard charts. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
- ^ a b c "Billboard charts". Billboard charts. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
- ^ "australian-charts.com - Australian-Charts.com". australian-charts.com.
- ^ "A Tribe Called Quest Chart Positions". RPM. Archived from the original on 2011-09-22. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
- ^ "lescharts.com - Les charts français". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ "Suche - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ "swedishcharts.com - Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ "A Tribe Called Quest Discography" . dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ "A Tribe Called Quest Discography" . Charts.org.nz. eMedia Jungen. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f "Uk Discography for A Tribe Called Quest". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "American certifications – A Tribe Called Quest". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "British certifications – A Tribe Called Quest". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 19, 2023. Type A Tribe Called Quest in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ a b "Gold/Platinum - Music Canada". Music Canada. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
- ^ "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. November 8, 1999. Archived from the original on November 10, 1999. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ Classics (track listing). Jive. 1996. JDJ-42362-2.
- ^ People's Instinctive Remixes (track listing). Jive. 1991. ND 75066.
- ^ Classics (track listing). Jive. 1996. JDJ-42362-2.
- ^ a b "A Tribe Called Quest - US Hot 100". billboard.com. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "A Tribe Called Quest - US Dance Club Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ a b "A Tribe Called Quest - US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "A Tribe Called Quest - US Rap Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "A Tribe Called Quest - Dutch Chart". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "A Tribe Called Quest - Dutch Chart". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "A Tribe Called Quest - Dutch Chart". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "A Tribe Called Quest - Dutch Chart". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ UK R&B albums chart peaks:
- "Raw Deluxe": "Official Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart Top 40: 01 June 1997 - 07 June 1997". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ Rock Rock Ya'll/busta's lament (track listing). Jive. 1998. ATCQ1.
- ^ "A Tribe Called Quest – Chart history (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
- ^ "A Tribe Called Quest – Chart history (Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2016.