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Low End Theory




  Name The Low End Theory
  Type Album
  Artist A Tribe Called Quest
  Cover ATribeCalledQuestTheLowEndtheoryjpg
  Background Orange
  Released September 24 , 1991
  Recorded 1991
  Genre Alternative Hip Hop
  Length 48:03
  Label Jive Records
  Producer A Tribe Called Quest , Skeff Anselm , Diamond D
  Last Album '' People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm ''<br />(1990)
  This Album '''''The Low End Theory'''''<br />(1991)
  Next Album '' Midnight Marauders ''<br />(1993)


''The Low End Theory'' is the critically acclaimed Alternative Hip Hop second album by A Tribe Called Quest , released on September 24 , 1991 (see 1991 In Music ) on Jive Records . With the pairing of Q-Tip and Phife Dawg 's lyrics, at turns socially charged, abstract and concretely grounded in reality, with groovy Jazz Samples , the album includes guests Brand Nubian , Diamond D. and Leaders Of The New School . The beats are widely different from the-then about-to-explode G Funk sound being pioneered on the West Coast , and shares more of an influence with East Coast artists like Public Enemy . With dominant basslines and sampled Jazz Horn solos, ''The Low End Theory'' has a distinctive sound that met the high expectations after their critically acclaimed debut '' People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm ''. ''The Low End Theory'' includes instrumental work from several pioneering musicians, including Upright Bass ist Ron Carter ("Verses from the Abstract").

Topics include the music industry's exploitation of musicians ("Rap Promoter", "Show Business"), music ("Excursions"), Date Rape ("The Infamous Date Rape"), Violence in Hip Hop ("Vibes and Stuff") and the beauty of Jazz ("Jazz (We've Got)").


CRITICAL RECEPTION & INFLUENCE


''The Low End Theory'' ranked #154 in ''), 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century ( Vibe Magazine ) and Essential Recordings of the 90s ( Rolling Stone ).

''The Low End Theory'' became a watershed album in the history of Hip Hop . The album established ''alternative rap'' as a definable genre, distinguished by aware, often abstract or political lyrics, and a light-hearted sense of humor, along with jazz and other unusual sampling sources. ''The Low End Theory'' transformed alternative hip hop, leading the way from the jazzy pioneers like De La Soul towards future artists like Common and The Roots . The song "Scenario" helped break future hip hop star Busta Rhymes into the mainstream, partially as a result of its popular Music Video on MTV .


ACCOLADES


  • Blender Magazine - ''The 100 Greatest American Albums of All time'' (2002) '''53#

  • '''

  • Ego Trip - ''Hip Hop's 25 Greatest Albums by Year 1980-98'' (1999) 2#


  • Kitsap Sun - ''Top 200 Albums of the Last 40 Years'' (2005) 151#


  • LostAtSea - ''90 Albums of the 90s (2000) 72#


  • Music Underwater - ''Top 100 Albums 1990-2003'' (2004) 53#


  • Nude as the News - ''The 100 Most Compelling Albums of the 90s (1999) 21#


  • Pitchfork - ''Top 100 Favorite Records of the 1990s'' (2003) 56#


  • Spin - ''100 Alternative Albums'' (1995) 87#


  • Spin - ''Top 100 Albums of the Last 20 Years'' (2005) 38#


  • Spin - ''Top 90 Albums of the 90s'' (1999) 32#



TRACK LISTING

#"Excursions" (Q Tip) - 3:53
#" Buggin' Out " (Muhammed/Phife Dawg/Q Tip) - 3:38
#"Rap Promoter" (Muhammed/Q Tip) - 2:13
#"Butter" (Muhammad/Q Tip) - 3:39
#"Verses from the Abstract" (Q Tip) (featuring Vinia Mojica ) - 3:59
#"Show Business" (Ali/Anselm/Dechalus/Kirkland/Murphy/Q Tip) (featuring Diamond D , Lord Jamar and Sadat X ) - 3:53
#"Vibes and Stuff" (Phife Dawg/Q Tip) - 4:18
#"The Infamous Date Rape" (Muhammad/Phife Dawg/Q Tip) - 2:54
#" Check The Rhime " (Ali/Phife Dawg/Q Tip) - 3:36
#"Everything Is Fair" (Ali/Anselm/Phife Dawg/Q Tip) - 2:59
#" Jazz (We've Got) " (Ali/Phife Dawg/Q Tip) - 4:09
#"Skypager" (Ali/Phife Dawg/Q Tip) - 2:13
#"What?" (Q Tip) - 2:29
#" Scenario " (Higgins/Jackson/Muhammad/Phife Dawg/Q Tip/Smith) (featuring Leaders Of The New School )- 4:10


MUSIC SAMPLES



PERSONNEL



SAMPLES


1. Excursions

2. Buggin' Out

3. Rap Promoter

4. Butter

5. Verses From the Abstract

6. Show Business

7. Vibes and Stuff

8. The Infamous Date Rape

9. Check the Rhyme

10. Everything Is Fair

11. Jazz (We've Got)

12. Skypager

13. What?

14. Scenario


CHART POSITIONS

Billboard Music Charts (North America) - album
1991 The Billboard 200 No. 45
1991 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums No. 13
Billboard (North America) - singles
1991 Check The Rhime Hot Rap Singles No. 1
1991 Check The Rhime Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks No. 59
1991 Check The Rhime Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales No. 28
1992 Scenario The Billboard Hot 100 No. 57
1992 Jazz (We ve Got) Hot Rap Singles No. 19
1992 Scenario Hot Rap Singles No. 6
1992 Scenario Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Trackd No. 42
1997 Scenario Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales No. 34


EXTERNAL LINKS