After 18 years, a war and a recession, at long last hip-hop pioneers A Tribe Called Quest have given us one last, powerful farewell. In a political climate that couldn’t have been more suited for goodbyes, this album hits all the checkmarks music connoisseurs didn’t know they wanted from one last ATCQ record.
“We Got it From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service” is a charged, righteous and smooth double-album featuring the whole Quest Tribe, in addition to a few friends they made along the way. Elton John, Anderson .Paak, Andre 3000 and Jack White join Q-tip, Phife Dawg, Jarobi and Shaheed to forge one of the best hip-hop albums this year.
A lot has happened since we last heard from the gang. This record covers two decades worth of content and, more importantly, is a vivid reminder of that particular aspect of golden age hip-hop we’ve missed: stories told by storytellers that are able to flow, rhyme, alliterate, perform and realize their art.
It’s a visceral experience that feels familiar and foreign at the same time. Lots of ‘90s nuances are back, but “We Got it From Here...” doesn’t feel trapped in the past. The Tribe knows how to keep up with current trends but also take enthusiasts back to where they came from.
In turn the production is jagged as it takes a minute to re-acclimate to their style. Riffs, such as a certain Jack White guitar lick, occur often and in very odd ways. There are parts of the songs that just stop and start suddenly, not unlike how “The Low End Theory” utilizes a crazy, sporadic mix.
The mix isn’t detrimental to the music, though. The melodies and rhythms that comprise the moments of misalignment are catchy and evocative. It feels like how it did on the earlier records: novel. You wouldn’t be able to guess how prolific Q-Tip is as a sample-based producer from this record, but perhaps that’s the beauty of his style — it’s creatively simple.
Implicity is to be pined for in this day and age. Right off the bat in “The Space Program,” Q-tip and Jarobi lay down their verses with such finesse that you can almost hear all the rappers they influenced along the way. A Tribe Called Quest doesn’t even need a beat; after this album I’m convinced they can rap over anything.
This record, however, is not without flaws. Some hooks are really lazy and feel more political than artistic. It’s understandable considering how 2016 shaped out to be, but there’s no doubt that a few could have been implemented better.
“We Got it From Here... ” ends on an extremely weak note. The last track is a tribute to Phife, featuring his final verse before he passed earlier this year. Yet, being called “The Donald,” it carries a political undertone that just seems...off. The track goes on for way too long and completely undermines the beautiful track dedicated to Phife, “Lost Somebody,” earlier on the record.
But with that said, each song is a moment. There’s not much filler besides some aforementioned odd ambiance, but that’s bound to make an appearance in a ATCQ album. In my opinion, the only bad song is the last one. That’s a fantastic ratio.
Of the many things this album does right, they all come together to remind the audience where hip-hop stands, and used to stand, as an art form. The genre is in good hands, as Q-Tip eloquently states on the track “Dis Generation”: “Talked to Earl, Kendrick and Cole, gatekeepers of flow, they are extensions of instinctual soul.”
Though Tribe may be sailing away now on their funky steamboat, they have left a legacy that has shaped one of the most powerful styles of music of all time. Regardless if you’re a fan of the genre or not, this record is worth a spin.
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Audrin Baghaie is a culture reporter and album reviewer for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @AudrinTheOdd.
