By Jimbo Jax
A Tribe Called Quest is considered one of the most influential bands in hip hop history.
A Tribe Called Quest is one of the most important bands in hip hop history. They sit among the ranks of the Wu-Tang Clan and De La Soul for their innovative use of jazz-like lyrics and soft yet rhythmic beats. A Tribe Called Quest can easily be credited for laying the foundations for alternative rap groups and performers – artists like Pharell Williams and Tyler, The Creator have cited them as influences. While many rappers depended on heavy bass and drums, Tribe utilized subtle and low-key samples, like Lou Reed’s A Walk on the Wildside baseline which was used as the beat for their hit Can I Kick it. Their lyrics were also more mellow while still addressing heavy topics like racial oppression and police brutality. While the group had some supporting players come and go during their 20-plus-year tenure, like Consequence and the legendary Busta Rhymes, the original and founding bandmates included producer Q-Tip, rapper Phife Dawg, DJ and co-producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and rapper Jarobi White.
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Each of A Tribe’s original members has gone on to well-established, respectable careers that are both commendable for their individual achievements and can still credit their initial success to their affiliation to such a pivotal, revolutionary band. A Tribe Called Quest revolutionized not only hip hop, but music as a whole, and here is what their original members did after that revolution.
6 Q-Tip Teaches At NYU
Q-Tip, aka Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, is arguably the most famous member of Tribe and sometimes is credited as the band’s leader and primary founder. Since the band’s break up he has worked in music as a solo artist, producer, and educator. He currently DJs and hosts the Apple Music 1 radio show Abstract Radio which he’s done since 2015. In 2016, Q-Tip was named the artistic director for hip hop culture at the Kennedy Center, and in 2018, he became the instructor of a jazz and hip hop course at New York University's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. This is all in addition to his work as an actor in film and television and his Grammy Award-winning solo albums.
5 Phife Dawg Passed Away In 2016
Phife Dawg, aka Malik Izaak Taylor, went on to collaborate with a series of other artists on various albums and songs, such as Painz and Strife with Diamond D and La Schmoove with Fu-Schnikens. Phife Dawg rejoined the rest of the group for a reunion performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in 2015 and helped record their final album We Got It From Here … Thank You For Your Service. Unfortunately, Phife Dawg passed away in 2016 at the age of 45 due to complications caused by his diabetes.
4 Ali Shaheed Muhammad Produced The Soundtrack For 'Luke Cage'
Ali Shaheed Muhammad has continued to work consistently in the music industry. After A Tribe Called Quest broke up, he started an R&B supergroup called Lucy Pearl with Dawn Robinson and Raphael Saadiq. After that, he released his first solo album Shaheedullah and Stereotypes in 2004. He produced the soundtrack for both seasons of the Netflix / Marvel series Luke Cage, and he is now the co-host for National Public Radio’s program Microphone Check.
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3 Consequence Released His Latest Album 'No Cap Pack' in 2020
Consequence, aka Dexter Raymond Mills Jr., was never a full-time member of the band but he was a guest rapper on at least half of a dozen of A Tribe Called Quest's songs, most popularly on “B-side” from their famous album Award Tour. Consequence continues to write and record solo projects and as a featured player on others’ albums. His latest album, No Cap Pack, was released in 2020. Consequence is also one of Q-tip’s cousins.
2 Busta Rhymes Is Rumored To Appear On Snoop Dogg's Upcoming Album
While also never an official member, the iconic rapper and legendary MC performed with the band regularly and was a featured performer on their hit album Midnight Marauders, most notably on the song "Oh My God." Busta continues to write, produce, record, and collaborate with other rappers like Chuck - D and a few of his other old-school hip hop contemporaries. Rumor has it that Busta Rhymes is slated to appear on Snoop Dogg's newest album along with Jadakis and Mary J. Blige. Busta is also an actor who can be seen in films like Finding Forrester,Shaft, and HalloweenResurrection.
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1 Jarobi White Left The Group To Become A Chef
Jarobi White was an early exodus from the band, leaving when they were arguably at their most popular. However, he left on good terms and remained cordial with the band. White left A Tribe Called Quest in 1990 to pursue the culinary arts and became a chef before returning to record their final album in 2016. White has received multiple hip hop awards and honors including VH1’s Hip Hop Honors in 2010. He occasionally would return to the group for some live performances, like the 2006 Bumperfest music festival or Rock The Bells in 2010. White is also the manager for a rapper named Head-Roc and as a member of the Native Tongues hip hop collective he has regularly collaborated with others in the crew. For example, he can be heard on the De La Soul single "Peas Porridge" from their album De La Soul Is Dead. He also performed for another hip hop group he founded called evitaN, which released their debut album in 2012.
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