My former colleague from my former column at XXL, CARL CHERY, called me blasphemous when I said that Tanya Morgan was A Tribe Called Quest 2009. Let’s be perfectly honest and clear that I am not giving the accolades and achievements of ATCQ to Tanya Morgan, but instead I am looking at them as a structural entity that resembles Tribe. ATCQ had four members along with Consequence and J Dilla. Tanya Morgan has Che Grand, but no one to resemble the avant garde JayDee.
Getting past the exacting and technical references to the legendary rap group this lessondary rap group occupies a similar sphere in Hip-Hop’s cosmology. Tanya Morgan, like ATCQ, are progressive rap artists and this makes their commercial success an uphill battle. Their content is more cerebral and esoteric than the majority of the peers at their level. Tanya Morgan’s vibe is laid back and cool without arrogance or hubris. These are the cats that would kick it at the student organization open mic at the local community college.
A Tribe Called Quest was the same type of everyman rap group. They eschewed stereotypes and crafted great music which broadened the horizons within the Hip-Hop genre. The idea that people can come from tough living conditions and rise above those situations with their art is the essence of Hip-Hop in the first place. This is the legacy of A Tribe Called Quest that I see reflected in Tanya Morgan.
At the end of the day though you have to make good music.
And this is what Tanya Morgan does.
