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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. – David Cantwell.

Tracklist:

1. Excursions
2. Buggin’ Out
3. Rap Promoter
4. Butter
5. Verses From the Abstract
6. Show Business
7. Vibes and Stuff
8. Infamous Date Rape, The
9. Check the Rhime
10. Everything Is Fair
11. Jazz (We’ve Got)
12. Skypager
13. What?
14. Scenario

UPC: 012414141811
Label: Jive
Release Date: 11.12.96
Format: Vinyl