A Tribe Called Quest

Released: April 17, 1990

Songwriter: Maurice White Ali Shaheed Muhammad Q-Tip

Producer: A Tribe Called Quest

[Intro: Q-Tip]
Dip dip dive, to the socialized
Issued rhythms that are on the rise
Step right up, with an opened circuit
Get this current, don't you know it's worth it
Presented with, Tribe-centricity
Compared, don't you know? Vibe electricity
Strong like a bomb, quick like a comet
Can I get whatever from Mr. Muhammad?

*Ali scratches interlude*

[Verse 1: Q-Tip]
If Muhammad has the breaks, who will have the backs?
Bodies set it up all flow to rhythm stack
Okay I see my brother (huh), you know what we can do (what?)
Cruise with the rhythms (hah), Shaheed will lead us to (yeah)
Posin with the hotties (huh), harder than the hard (hard)
Still Muhammad plays with a full deck of cards (card)
The Tribe's stuff is present (yeah), established with the beat (beat)
We roll around on wheels (huh) or utilize the feet (feet)
Go and keep progressin (huh), egos of the Tribe (Tribe)
If we have to swing it (uhh) we won't take a dive (dive)
Comprende my compadre? (Yeah) Kid you want some more? (Yeah)
Muhammad push the button (huh), sample sing the score (ho)

Brothers try to pose, up with the Tribesmen
Rhythm on your toes, yes it's the funk again
Appreciate the flow, denounce the circuit breakers
Do it with the best, the movers and the shakers
Bustin out your heap, ??? my vehicle
Burnin up the felts, rhythm's rough to me it will
Be strong like a bomb, quick like a comet
Can I get a whatever from Mr. Muhammad?

*Ali scratches interlude*

[Verse 2: Phife Dawg]
Sitting on the dock (huh), fin' to make a wish (word)
Muhammad oh Muhammad (huh), damn you're quite a dish (dish)
Fondeling the groove (groove), with a mystic sense (sense)
Cronies won't you try (huh), they pushy and they're tense (tense)
But I don't give a damn (word), rhythms are the thing (huh)
Rhythms have the key (huh), rhythms make you swing (huh)
If you don't like it (no), you can pucker up (hoo)
You listenin Mr. Quayle (yeah), if you're hiding just give up (hoo)
I'm a rhythm monster (wild), who's out on a prowl (yeah)
Muhammad gives a hoot (hoot) like Woodsy the Owl (yeah)
Comprende my compadre (uh huh)? Kid you want some more (word)?
Muhammad push the button, sample sing the score (ooh)

A Tribe Called Quest is to Hip Hop what Pink Floyd is to Rock ‘n’ Roll. With humble beginnings in Queens, New York, the group blossomed from the friendship of Jonathan Davis (Q-Tip) and Malik Taylor (Phife Dawg). Along with acts like Jungle Brothers and De La Soul—their comrades in the Native Tongues rap collective—they vitalized East Coast Hip Hop, setting the stage for the rise of mainstream and alternative hip hop alike.

Their style, a synthesis of avant-garde production and authentic lyricism, paved the way for the conscious and jazz rap movements. Alongside other upbeat artists like Digable Planets, Us3, and Guru, ATCQ opened up the world of afrocentrism to a wider audience.

MEMBERS

more tracks from the album

People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

From the albums

A Tribe Called Quest popular songs

Mr. MuhammadA Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest

People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm