B. Cox reviews A Tribe Called Quest's seismic second album The Low End Theory as it turns 30. Fresh of their successful debut People's Instinctive Travels And Their Paths of Rhythm, the quartet-turned-trio from Queens sought to make a deeper impact on their sophomore album. Buoyed by the presence of inventive jazz samples, stirring and sense tingling bassliness, and the emergence of emcee and group member Phife Dawg, the album laid the groundwork of what many thought was possible with the fusion of jazz and hip-hop inspiring a key segement of the next generation of hip-hop artists, beatmakers and producers. Lauded and critically accalaimed upon its release, it has maintained its reputation being universally accepted as one of the best hip-hop albums of all time.
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Show Notes:
The Ringer: 'The Eternal Beat of The Low End Theory'
https://www.theringer.com/2021/9/24/22690923/low-end-theory-anniversary-bob-power-tribe-called-quest
Albumism: A Tribe Called Quest's 'The Low End Theory' Turns 30 | Anniversary Retrospective
OkayPlayer: How Bob Power Put The Low End In A Tribe Called Quest's 'The Low End Theory'
https://www.okayplayer.com/music/bob-power-the-low-end-theory-interview.html
Slant Magazine: Vibes and Stuff: A Tribe Called Quest's 'The Low End Theory' at 30.
https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/a-tribe-called-quest-the-low-end-theory-retrospective-review/
Ambrosia For Heads: The Making of ATCQ's 'The Low End Theory', Told By The People Who Were There
https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2016/09/a-tribe-called-quest-low-end-theory-making-the-album-interview/