Name: Beats, Rhymes and Life
Brand: A Tribe Called Quest

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

JIV41587

Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2024-07-26

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Scorpio

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

Total Cap

9999

Black LPx2

19658884881

Extended format: Yes

2025-02-14

Sony

0196588848810

Artist

A Tribe Called Quest

Genre GB

Hip Hop

Label GB

Jive

A Tribe Called Quest was a critically acclaimed rap group formed in 1988 in Queens, New York City. The group consisted of Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Jarobi, and Phife Dawg. They were part of the Native Tongues Posse along with Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Black Sheep, Monie Love, and the Jungle Brothers. Their music blended jazz and hip-hop influences to create a unique sound.

After their debut in 1989 with "Description Of A Fool," they gained popularity with hits like "Bonita Applebum" and "Can I Kick It?" Their album "The Low-End Theory" showcased their blend of boom bap beats with jazz, funk, and soul melodies. ATCQ collaborated with jazz bass player Ron Carter and incorporated samples from artists like Lou Reed and Stevie Wonder.

Throughout their career, ATCQ released several successful albums including "Midnight Marauders," which earned them the Group Of The Year award at the Source Magazine Hip Hop Award Show in 1994. Their album "Beats, Rhymes And Life" debuted at number 1 on the Billboard chart in 1996. Although their later album "The Love Movement" received critical acclaim but lacked the spark of their earlier works.

The Jive label was launched in 1981 by Clive Calder and Ralph Simon of the Zomba Group of Companies. In 1983, it was introduced in the US. In December 2002, the Zomba Group of Companies including Jive label was acquired by BMG. Two years later, it became part of the Zomba Label Group under Sony BMG Music Entertainment. Since 2008, it has been a label of the Jive Label Group and RCA/Jive Label Group under Sony Music Entertainment.

In September 2011, it was announced that Jive, Arista, J and LaFace were absorbed by RCA Records, bringing all its artists to the RCA family.

Afterwards, in January 2020, *Jive* was relaunched as a division of Sony Music Entertainment Italy. It focuses on releasing hip hop/R&B/pop from up-and-coming Italian artists. The label's relaunch was led by Antonio Dikele Distefano, founder and editor of Esse Magazine.

Beats, Rhymes and Life is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest. Released on July 30, 1996, by Jive Records, it followed three years after the highly regarded and successful Midnight Marauders. Produced by The Ummah, the album is a departure from the joyful, positive vibe of the group's earlier albums and is regarded as their darkest album in content. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on October 27, 1998.&nbsp;For Beats, Rhymes and Life, The Ummah created a minimalist sound reminiscent of The Low End Theory, which Ali Shaheed Muhammad described as "nothing extravagant, nothing far out." Miles Marshall Lewis of The Source praised The Ummah for being "the most proficient in the rap game at using samples as instruments in themselves." Regarding Jay Dee's five contributions to the album, Q-Tip stated, "He would just send me the beats and then I would lay them." One of his contributions, the lead single "1nce Again", was hailed as "one of the few successes" on the album and a "surprising R&amp;B crossover." Lyrically, the group addresses "everything from O.J. to spirituality" and were recognised for the complexity of their messages. However, they were criticised for sounding "bored", "confused, hostile, and occasionally paranoid." In the song "Keeping It Moving", Q-Tip responds to the diss comments made about him in MC Hammer's songs "Break 'Em Off Somethin' Proper" and "Funky Headhunter", as well as Westside Connection's song "Cross 'Em out and Put a K". In the first verse, he says that comments previously made about the West Coast were not intended to be a diss and that people should not misinterpret his lyrics. Looking back now this still stands up as another great album from the Tribe.

Beats, Rhymes and Life

Music GB

Discover Beats, Rhymes and Life by A Tribe Called Quest on Jive Records. Available in CD and LP formats. A dark departure from their earlier work, this platinum-certified album is a must-listen for hip hop fans.