I never thought this day would come for me.  To have the opportunity to listen to new material from the group that influenced so much of my taste of music. Growing up in Charlotte NC,  A Tribe Called Quest were everything to me due to their affiliation with the local rap group Black Sheep. The Tribe always put on for my state on a good amount of their songs even including the classic “Vibes and Stuff.” Having all these factors in my mind, makes it a great honor for me to give my opinion on the first Tribe album in 16 years. A record that in one word is a testament to the age of Hip-Hop that we have entered in the past two years.

This project really came out of nowhere. ATQC wasn’t heard from until last year after their first live performance ,since their world tour in 2006, on The Jimmy Fallon Show to support the 25th anniversary of their debut album, Peoples Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm.

Soon after this performance (according to a message from the collective),  the group of Q- Tip, Phife Dawg, Jarobi White and DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad went back into the studio to work on what would soon be the last ATCQ project. During the recording process, tragedy struck. one of hip-hop’s most beloved voices , Phife Dawg, passed away due to complications with his long know battle with diabetes. The five foot assassin was only 45  years old. Thus changing the meaning of this album again.

We Got It From Here… Thank You For The Service, is a tribute to the late emcee and a return to form for ATCQ as well. What i mean by that last statement is the Tribe went through a rough patch of creative differences after releasing a trilogy of albums that still are looked upon as classics in the Rap game. When the group dropped their 4th and 5th studio LPs there wasn’t the same attention of detail that was put into to them. For example Q-Tip gave up much of the production side of those albums to make it a group effort called The Ummah. This group consisted of Tip, Ali and the late J Dilla, but Tip wasn’t nearly as involved as in past albums.

In this latest project however, you can feel Q-Tip’s fingerprints all over it. From the opening track “Space Program” to the elegant “Solid Wall of Sound.” Every instrumental on this album feels so imaginative and fresh that it gave me chills. To give a fair assessment of how these beats stack up with past Tribe records, I might be going out on a limb here but there right up there with the first three. The tracks “Melatonin” and “Whateva will be” are perfect examples of this, both tracks are extremely well thought out and executed at the highest level. Make no mistake this might be the best produced album in 2016 and we shouldn’t have expected anything less from ATCQ.

On to the performances on the album and it is like the group never lost a step. Q-Tip is in “Top 5” form once again, Phife is just as charismatic as I can remember and even Jarobi  jumps on the mic and drops plenty of memorable verses all over this project. Of course, this being the last ATCQ album ever there were going to be a long list of features. From Andre 3000 to Busta Rhymes , Consequence and Kendrick Lamar, the album is littered with so many epic performances worthy of being apart of this project. Busta personally brings some of his best material than any of the other features on the album, including his spirited verse on “Mobius.”

Honestly there are so many brilliant moments on this record that its hard to find a weak link in the chain. “The Killing Season” tackles police brutality and race gracefully . While the record “Dis Generation” is  a passing of the torch to the new generation of artist.

Talk to Joey, Earl, Kendrick, and Cole, gatekeepers of flow
They are extensions of instinctual soul
It’s the highest in commodity grade
And you could get it today –    Q-Tip “Dis Generation”

Another standout moment on this album is Tip and Jarobi’s emotionally tribute to their late member and life long friend Phife Dawg on “Lost Somebody“. There is so much passion in both of there verses that it makes for a truly somber moment especially when they give a moment of silence at the end of the record.

What makes We Got it From Here is it’s socially aware it is during this time in america. “Conrad Tokyo” and “We The People” grapple with issues that many american are dealing with at this moment. Especially  the rhetoric that is being slung around by the president elect is a huge topic that is brought up more than once on this project. The album’s title track is even called “The Donald.” This is classic ATCQ, taking on subjects that artist should be talking about because they have the platform to do so.

Marks and scars, we own it, only made for tougher skin
Helps us actualize the actual greatness held within
Been on the wrong team so much, can’t recognize a win
Seems like my only crime is having melanin
Connection to the sun so strong the relationship is lusted for
Causes men to suffocate, I can’t breathe no more – Jarobi White “The Killing Season”

To close, this is an incredible album from start to finish. It is yet another milestone in this amazing group’s career, one that will continue to have the longevity of their previous works. We Got It From Here… Thank You For The Service continues to make me believe that we have been in another Golden Age of Hip-Hop for the past two years. This project is yet another by-product of that statement.

For more news on A Tribe Called Quest, keep it locked on RESPECT.

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Despite the show kicking off by avoiding the usual direct criticism of now President-elect, Donald Trump, Dave Chappelle opened his initial monologue more pointed with criticism of the election result reactions saying, “It seemed like Hillary [Clinton] was up in the polls, but I know the whites.”

While most of the media seemed shocked by Trump’s win, Chappelle wasn’t surprised at all, a reaction that he channeled into his first skit, with an appearance by none other than fellow legendary political comedian Chris Rock, titled “Election Night.”

As if the night couldn’t get any more epic, A Tribe Called Quest hit the stage with their first performance, performing the song, “We The People,” a politically charged song that excoriates complacency in the face of xenophobia, racism, and homophobia. The performance, which noticeably was missing the charisma of Phife, ended up as an on-air tribute to the Hip Hop legend as the group unfurled a banner featuring the rapper’s face among a piece of art.

For those of us who missed the Chappelle Show, Dave did his own tribute to the show and beloved characters during his “Walking Dead Chappelle’s Show” skit, which featured characters Tyrone Biggums, Chuck Taylor, Clayton Bigsby, the Time Travelling Haters and Lil Jon facing death as Negan decides who he’s going to off. Eventually, Chappelle’s Negan chooses to kill Tyrone Biggums. After the baseball bat decapitates him, however, Tyrone’s head comes rolling back, and does, in fact, have its own political message to declare:

“Even though our country seems irrevocably severed, like a man from his head, let my example prove that we should continue to move forward.” In some ways, the bizarre, genre-bursting sequence seemed like a proper response to such an insane week. Tyrone notes, “I’ve only got two weeks until they take away my health care.”

The final performance of the night featured ATCQ performing “The Space Program” with special appearances by Busta Rhymes and Consequence, which was the best way to end an amazing show. Still paying tribute to Phife, the group performs the second track off of their final album, We Got it From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service.

During an interview with the New York Times, Q-Tip spoke on him and Phife Dawg mending their often-fractious relationship, stating that he was unaware that things were that critical with Phife’s health.

“I had no idea that his days was numbered,” Q-Tip told the New York Times. “I just want to celebrate him, you know.”

We Got It From Here, Thank You 4 Your Service features appearances by Andre 3000, Jack White, Kendrick Lamar and Elton John and is available now.

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Byron Summers

Recently, Consequence interviewed with The Combat Jack Show to discuss coming up with Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, which is his cousin, his relationship with Puff Daddy, Kanye West, being a “weed carrier”, and his career as a ghostwriter. The Queens-native rapper also touches on his beefs, his first love and being offered a Bad Boy record deal. Consequence has been in the industry for over twenty years and counting, which is why his initial statement about not chasing relevancy and chasing destiny is actual genius. Allow the rap veteran to remind us of his pedigree, and listen to the new episode below:

The post Consequence Talks Beefs, Being A “Weed Carrier” & Kanye West With Combat Jack Show appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Mobb Deep performed some of their hit singles that included “Shook Ones” and “Quiet Storm.” Though the festival took place in BK, Queens was definitely representing in the crowd when Mobb Deep hit the stage. Lion Babe brought the smooth, shagadelic sounds to the festival and easily balanced out the hip hop festival with some cool vibes.

Overall the show was entertaining but many couldn’t wait for Common to hit the stage. Though Common didn’t get on stage until about an hour after his expected time, he closed out The BK Hip Hop Festival strong! A combination of his hit tracks and a surprise appearance from BK’s very own, Foxy Brown, the extra hour was worth the wait!

It goes without saying, Brooklyn Bodega knows how to put together an unforgettable show. Already looking forward to next year!

Writer: Jasmina Cuevas

Photographer: Jourdan Ash

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Consequence and Lupe Fiasco have dropped a black-and-white visual for their collaborative track “Countdown” featuring Chris Turner. The 3 minute and 30 second visual employs visual effects like splicing and quick shifts as the two rappers spit their bars. Catch it below.

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The post Consequence + Lupe Fiasco featuring Chris Turner – “Countdown” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Producer Lee Bannon has been providing the canvas for some of your favorite new rappers to paint illustrious rhymes upon. With production credit behind the likes of Talib Kweli, The Alchemist, Joey Bada$$, Ab-Soul, Fat Trel, Smoke DZA, Strong Arm Steady, U-N-I, Consequence, Curren$y, the experimental hip-hop producer, originally from north California and now based in Brooklyn, NY, is stepping out with his latest offering, CALIGULA THEME MUSIC 2.7.5.  Check out his new video below as well.

The post New Video: Lee Bannon’s Caligula Themed Music appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.