This year’s VH-1 Hip-Hop Honors will give some shine to a group of artists from Queens that created the lane in rap music now occupied by DeLa Soul, The Roots, OutKast, BlackStar’s Mos Def and TALIB KWELI, the Neptunes and to a large degree KANYE WEST.
A Tribe Called Quest was more than simply a groundbreaking music group. In my opinion they were the modern expression for post-African Black culture. From a social standpoint when you look at ATCQ you can clearly see the myriad artistic influences that Black Americans employ in the creation of their own art. ATCQ represented with a collage of jazz, soul and classical music along with a healthy sprinkling of pop culture. ATCQ and the Native Tongue movement was a healthy and spiritual antidote to the gangsta image gimmickry that was becoming the Hip-Hop industry’s prevailing iconography.
In a few short years after the formation of ATCQ there almost wouldn’t be any oxygen available in rap music for those that didn’t breathe and breed self-destruction. Thankfully, A Tribe Called Quest’s influence extended past their own artistry. Hip-Hop’s underground scene continues to thrive for artists who appreciate the complexity and dexterity of lyrical expression and the textures and context of beatmaking. Hip-Hop lives on and even with the awards and honors bestowed from VH-1, A Tribe Called Quest never needed a statue to tell you how nice they were.
If you are on the planet of Brooklyn next Saturday 10.6.2007 I invite you to come to this event…
Brooklyn Bodega & The Hip Hop Institute, in conjunction with VH1 Hip Hop Honors and powerHouse Arena present
• HIP-HOP HONORS PANELS 2007 •
Saturday, October 6, 2007 – 12-2pm
powerHouse Arena
37 Main Street, Dumbo, Brooklyn
F Train to York Street, A/C to High Street
PANEL #1: A Tribe Called Quest, The Birth and Evolution of a Legend: A Tribe Called Quest is one of the few universally respected groups in the history of Hip-Hop. Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Phife (and sometimes Jarobi) crafted five outstanding albums over a 10 year period that defined what is know referred to as the Golden Era of Hip-Hop. Their music has influenced artists from Kanye West to T.I. to J Dilla and many more. Come join us as we discuss the group’s genesis, evolution and legacy. Let’s separate fact from fiction and why this group holds such a special place in Hip Hop.
Panelists: Jeff Sledge, Senior Director, Jive Records
Brian Coleman, author, Check The Technique
Eskay, writer, Nahright.com
Dallas Penn, Dallaspenn.com, Internet Celebrities
Lynn Johnson, Senior Editor, Fast Company
Buttahman, Director of Music & Talent, MTV
ATCQ should have been honored years ago. But they don’t need to mention Q-Tip’s new album though.
Oh yeah, J.Lo and Marc Anthony just kicked off a joint tour and sold out the Trump Taj Mahal in A.C. I’m already winning.
*crickets*
Everything in that article is true about ATCQ. They was the shit. One of the most important groups in hip hop history.
If you really think about it, you can pinpoint the exact moment that hip hop died.
It died when Q-Tip released “Breathe and Stop”.
And while it was on life support, he pulled the plug with “Virbrant Thing”.
Almost the exact same song. And the exact same video, except one was in color and the other was in black and white.
Them dudes was really non violent, cuz I remember when they got into with Das Efx. Qtip just took the L.
Werd? I hope u got free tickets to the show or id be mad as hell if i was u homie
I wish I was in NYC. Respect due.
nah, I wouldn’t go to a J.Lo concert unless I got a bacstage private dance from her in one of those “Fly Girl” joints from In Living Color. And they still would have to provide free 40’s.
but I can’t even lie I liked that VIvrant thing joint. It was the perfect balance that rap needed. If you recall the LOX had just dropped the Wil’ Out video, so before I stomped somebodies head in, that Q-Tip joint would calm me down.
nice up on your panel dood.
Yo…from his time here at 92Q, I fuckin hate Buttahman…tell money to come out of the closet and lose his Wide Stance.
Best Rap Grop Eva………My opinion. First three albums R classic.
But I’ll go on a limb and say De la Soul opened the door for them and the other groups U mentioned, not the other way around.
is it open to the public?