The Low End Theory  

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The Low End Theory is the second studio album by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, released on September 24, 1991, by Jive Records. Recording sessions for the album were held mostly at Battery Studios in New York City, from 1990 to 1991. Largely produced by group member Q-Tip, it is a departure from the group's debut album, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990), enveloping a minimalist sound that combines bass, drum breaks and jazz samples. Lyrically, the album features social commentary, word play, humor and interplay between group members Q-Tip and Phife Dawg.

Supported by the lead single "Check the Rhime", The Low End Theory debuted at number 45 on the Billboard 200 chart. Upon its release, the album's commercial potential was doubted by music writers and Jive record executives. However, the release of two additional singles, "Jazz (We've Got)" and "Scenario", brought further attention and popularity to the group. On February 19, 1992, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with shipments of 500,000 copies in the United States, and on February 1, 1995, it was certified platinum by the RIAA, with shipments of one million copies.

In the years since its release, The Low End Theory has garnered recognition from music critics and writers as a milestone in alternative hip hop. The album is regarded as Phife Dawg's breakout and is credited for helping launch rapper Busta Rhymes's successful solo career. The album's influence on artists in hip hop, R&B and other genres has been attributed to the group's lyricism and Q-Tip's production, which bridged the gap between jazz and hip hop. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time, appearing on many best album lists by music critics and writers.

Track listing

  • All songs produced by A Tribe Called Quest, except tracks 6 and 10 produced by Skeff Anselm and co-produced by A Tribe Called Quest.

Excursions | note1 = | writer1 = Jonathan Davis | extra1 = | length1 = 3:55

| title2 = Buggin' Out | note2 = | writer2 = Davis, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Malik Taylor | extra2 = | length2 = 3:37

| title3 = Rap Promoter | note3 = | writer3 = Davis, Muhammad | extra3 = | length3 = 2:13

| title4 = Butter | note4 = | writer4 = Davis, Muhammad, Taylor | extra4 = | length4 = 3:39

| title5 = Verses from the Abstract | note5 = featuring Vinia Mojica and Ron Carter | writer5 = Davis | extra5 = | length5 = 3:59

| title6 = Show Business | note6 = featuring Diamond D, Lord Jamar and Sadat X | writer6 = Skeff Anselm, Davis, Lorenzo Dechalus, Joseph Kirkland, Muhammad, Derek Murphy, Taylor | extra6 = | length6 = 3:53

| title7 = Vibes and Stuff | note7 = | writer7 = Davis, Taylor | extra7 = | length7 = 4:18

| title8 = The Infamous Date Rape | note8 = | writer8 = Davis, Muhammad, Taylor | extra8 = | length8 = 2:54

| title9 = Check the Rhime | note9 = | writer9 = Davis, Muhammad, Taylor | extra9 = | length9 = 3:37

| title10 = Everything Is Fair | note10 = | writer10 = Anselm, Davis, Muhammad, Taylor | extra10 = | length10 = 2:58

| title11 = Jazz (We've Got) | note11 = | writer11 = Davis, Muhammad, Taylor | extra11 = | length11 = 4:10

| title12 = Skypager | note12 = | writer12 = Davis, Muhammad, Taylor | extra12 = | length12 = 2:12

| title13 = What? | note13 = | writer13 = Davis | extra13 = | length13 = 2:29

| title14 = Scenario | note14 = featuring Busta Rhymes, Charlie Brown and Dinco D | writer14 = Davis, Bryan Higgins, James Jackson, Muhammad, Trevor Smith, Taylor | extra14 = | length14 = 4:10 }}

See also




Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "The Low End Theory" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.

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