A Tribe Called Quest

The Low End Theory

De La Soul are remembered as the premier native tongues posse, those rappers who got low-key, self-consciously thoughtful, and jazzy in the face of gangsta's hardcore threats. But A Tribe Called Quest may have been even stronger, especially on their excellent second album, the bass-thumping, heavily jazz-sampled The Low End Theory. According to the opening 'excursions,' rapper Q-Tip's old man says the disc's jazz-rap 'reminded him of bebop,' and Q calls himself 'prominent like Shakespeare.' But if Charlie Parker had ever written poetic couplets and backed them with funky-drummer and Ron Carter-on-bass grooves this irresistible, he might have been as big as the bard and brother James combined.