A Tribe Called Quest

Throughout their ten-year history, A Tribe Called Quest were undoubtedly one of hip-hop's most influential groups. As part of the Native Tongues Family along with De La and the JBs, Tribe were among the first to fuse hardcore jazz elements with positive lyricism. Their early material combined mellow production by Ali Shaheed Muhammad with intelligent, socially conscious and witty flows from Phife and Q-Tip. They soon delved deeper into jazz, even sporting the bass work of living legend Ron Carter on their 1991 release The Low End Theory, an album many consider to be one of hip-hop's finest as well as the group's masterwork. 1998 saw the release of their final LP The Love Movement, a triple-vinyl concept album that included the single "Find a Way" as well as older remixes and B-sides. Although they've since disbanded, Tribe's musical impact and influence on hip-hop will be heard indefinitely.