When's the last time you heard a funky diabetic?

One of the things I insinuated with my blog is that I will usually be writing about slightly lesser-known albums, albums that I think a large part of my audience might not have heard.  If we are referring to the prevalence of an album in mainstream culture, the previous Q-Tip album breaks that code a tiny bit -- and this album completely shatters it.

A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory (1991)

The Low End Theory is often considered by critics for their lists of the top albums of all time -- of any genre.  Some people will argue that the next album Midnight Marauders is the pinnacle of Tribe, but the truth is that both them are incredible albums who's existence prove the legendary status of the group.  As the second album, The Low End Theory was particularly interest in context with all the doubt it was facing -- their first album was good and critically acclaimed, but a bunch of hook-based raps like Can I Kick It would be difficult to still sell as ground-breaking.  They definitely grew.

The album starts off with what I feel to be Tribe's best song of all time.  Excursionshas an amazing beat, and lyrics that allude to exactly why tribe is so groundbreaking -- they closely tie hip-hop to one of it's strong roots in historical black culture, jazz.  And the entire time, Q-Tip and the music itself...they exude this confidence that says Tribe knows it has fully realized the music they were seeking to create when they first put together the group in High School.  The rest of the album continues to shine and radiates this same confidence; listening to it has been a large factor in why I have been on an insatiable hip-hop craze for the past month or so.  Maybe something will break it soon, but if it doesn't, you'll probably be reading about more old-school hip hop in the near future.

Standout Track(s):
Excursions

See above.

Check the Rhime 

Q-tip and Phife Dawg repeat the playful banter of "You're on point..." a few albums later... but it doesn't really stick like it does on this album.

Interesting Fact(s):
The documentary Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest (named in reference to their fourth album) came out this year, and it documents Tribes entire quest from inception to modern time.  It's fairly incendiary, heh... you should check it out.  It's got a great sound-track.

Also... 1991 was a pretty awesome year for music.  This album, Nirvana's Nevermind, My Bloody Valentine's Loveless.... Proud to be born then.

Snatchin' hip-hop from the light & bringing it back into dark

Planet Asia - EP (1998)

Usually when I write about music, I tend to write things and thoughts down while I'm listening to the album.  Though I had many thoughts formulate in my head while listening to the Planet Asia EP, I had to stop myself.  I didn't want to miss a single verse.  Plus,  I had a minor fear that I would lose the beat that PA got me bouncing my head too.  These beats are so simple and smooth, and Planet Asia has a great flow with incredible lyricism to go on top of it.  Seriously, some of these beats just seem way ahead of their time in terms of style.  Don't get me wrong, this stuff has a classic sound to it - just not in the way that you feel like your listening to a throwback rap mix - no, this sounds like something that was made today but with old-school emceeing and simple beats only to make you feel like this stuff is old.  But oh no, it actually is old. Released 1998.

Some beats are stronger than others, but they all share a similar dark-toned style.  Luckily, the EP is only 8 songs long, just short enough to prevent you from getting sick of it.  And when the beats aren't as strong, Asia makes up for it with even stronger raps.  So... yeah.  Check this out; or just ride with me, because I feel it will be in my rotation for awhile.


Standout Track(s) -
On The Corner Part 2
Quite a smoker's anthem.  Love it - gimme Asia over Wiz any day. (Note - I normally embed the youtube players, but they were defaulting to lower quality, and I think these benefit a bit from you playing it in the higher qualities, even though they are only like 480.)

Kalidascope
Probably my favorite beat on the whole thing.  It's just so smooth, and the whole thing has a classic feel.

Interesting Note(s) -
Found Planet Asia after he guested on MED's new Classic album.  I'm not emphasizing the word, that is the name of the album.  It's an alright album - but it mostly just has some very solid guest spots.

Check it