What happens when you mix hip hop and jazz with a sprinkle of political issues? You get The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest . Record Room is dedicating episode three to one of the greatest Hip Hop Albums of all time.
This influential album is celebrated for its innovative production, insightful lyrics and significant contributions to the evolution of Hip Hop. Jazz was a huge influence to the production of this album by sound and also to the title. Ali Shaheed Muhammad describes the true definition of the album with Talib Kweli.
Tackling a range of topics like social issues and self reflection, Q-tip and Phife Dog deliver clever thought provoking verses. Tracks like “Buggin Out,” “Excursions” and, “Check the Rhyme” are celebrated for their intricate wordplay and memorable hooks. Butter is a pure example of how smooth and clever Phife’s pen was. The cohesive flow of the album is characterized by smooth transitions between tracks creating a journey of a listening experience.
Released in 1991, the album took to the charts by storm. By 1995, it was certified
platinum by the RIAA with shipments of one million copies. Since its release, The Low End Theory has been included on several ‘best of’ lists including:
- Best Hip Hop Records by Dance de Lux
- Best Rap Album by About.com placing at #4
- Hip Hop’s Greatest Albums by Ego Trip placing at #2
- Top 25 Hip Hop Albums by Rolling Stone placing at #9
- Top 100 Albums of the 90’s by Treble place at #3
Good Deeds 
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