Midnight Marauders - Tribe Called Quest (A) (CD 1993)

With all of the insane talk about Tribe Called Quest reuniting once again, its great to hear. After years apart and a lack of solo success by its members, its good to hear that the trio is back together. So in celebration, I will take a look at what is known by their fans to be their greatest hit album yet: Midnight Marauders. Many fans cant seem to decide as to whether Low End Theory or Midnight Marauders is the better album by the Tribe Called Quest. Everybody agrees that Low End Theory was the most critically acclaimed and groundbreaking piece of the series, but a lot of the hardcores that I've spoken to loved Midnight Marauders more and feel that it is the apex of the alternative hip-hop/jazz blend.

Midnight Marauders came out in 1993, in the midst of the takeover of The Chronic and Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers. However, instead of switching styles to conform with what the mainstream released that year, The Tribe went back to the lab and sharpened their beats and lyrics to a T. Members Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Ali Shaheed Muhhamed came with creative, innovative hip-hop loaded with intellect, social-consciousness, and jazzy beats. This album is definetely a treat to listen to...


Track List & Rating

1. Midnight Marauders Tour Guide (NOT RATED)
2. Steve Biko (Stir It Up) (****)
3. Award Tour (*****)
4. 8 Million Stories (*****)
5. Sucka Nigga (*****)
6. Midnight (*****)
7. We Can Get Down (*****)
8. Electric Relaxation (******)
9. Clap Your Hands (***)
10. Oh My God (*****)
11. Keep It Rollin (****)
12. The Chase, Part II (*****)
13. Lyrics To Go (*****)
14. God Lives Through (****)


Midnight Marauders kicks off with a typical intro called "Midnight Marrauders Tour Guide", which is easily skippable, and i usually skip it on all my listens. In my opinion, though its unneccessary, i dont mind skipping it due to the fact that the core of the album begins right after and its enjoyable from the get-go. But otherwise, its useless.

The album really kicks off with "Steve Biko (Stir It Up)". Immediately, the saxophone hits your ear, giving us that extremely familiar Tribe Called Quest vibe, bringing in the jazz/rap fusion yet again. Eventually, the drum loop and jazzy bass and background kicks in, indicating that we've reached lyrical bliss. Phife and Q-Tip spit their brand of ATCQ old-school braggadiocio, loaded with some clever and witty punchlines and an on-point, at times multi-syllable flow. Q-Tip comes with some of the most memorable lines i can remember in recent memory from the tribe: "You know that I'm the rebel, Throwin out the wicked like God did the Devil, Funky like your grandpas drawers, dont test me, We in like that, youre dead like Presley". I still continue to praise Q-Tip's talent as he is one of the most underrated emcees in hip-hop, and on this album, we have a lot more lyrical showcases of his skills. Steve Biko was an african political legend, and if this is a tribute, its done tight.

However, that track is nothing compared to the excellent "Award Tour".

Immediately the jazzy feel of the track kicks in, with various trumpets, an old-school style drum loop, some deep bass, and keyboard effects, which is the typical beat that Tribe Called Quest utilyzes. Dove of De La Soul provides the hook for this track to help out on this single. The witty lines and excellent lyricism are a great testamet as to what skills truly encompass both Q-Tip and Phife. If they reunite, i really have high hopes for thier newest album. Check out these dope Phife lines: "The wackest crews try to dis, it makes me laugh, When my track record's longer than a DC-20 aircraft, So, next time that you think you want somethin here, Make somethin deffer, take that garbage to St. Elsewhere"

"8 Million Stories" is a bit of a change. First of all its a Phife Dawg solo track, and it swings the album in a different direction for this track. Q-Tip appears, but only on the outro hook to the track. The instrumental is the typical jazzy style, but this time features some incredibly thumping bass, ensuring that speakers wear out quickly with this classic. Here we find Phife Dawg resorting to using the age-old method of storytelling. He storytells about all of his problems, and goes into detail as to what is happening. He touches on a variety of sh*t like his girlfriend, his money problems, problems with the law, family, and the fact that it seems like it never ends. Im guessing Phife had a lot on his mind and wanted to let it out on this track, and does a great job of it.

"Sucka N*gga" is the opposite of the last track, because now its Q-Tip spittin dope battle rhymes and social consciousness on a solo track. The lyrics are dope and the beat is a nice orchestration of bass. Its difficult to say anything about this track without sounding repetitive, because its similar to some of the other songs on the album, but it is an excellent lyrical display by Q-Tip, so dont skip it.

We return to narratives and storytelling with the classic "Midnight".

Q-Tip narrates a story about a kid named Jake who was a street thug and everything that happened to him. Q-Tip mixes this with social consciousness and intellect as he touches on drug use, which happened to be one of Jake's passtime. Q-Tip uses a metaphor for night explaining that Jake's life is in a dark period but can be pulled out and gives hope for the kid. This is definetely one of the highlights of the Tribe's career. His flow is dope and his vocabulary is, as expected, excellent.

"We Can Get Down" is another dope braggadiocio track, which the Tribe was used to hitting us with. Instead of breaking down the elements of this excellent track, ill let the lyrics speak for themselves. Here is Phife: "I'm not your average MC with the Joe Schmoe flow, If you don't know me by now, you'll never know, Steppin on my critics, beatin on my foes, The plan is to stay focused, only then I can go, Straight from the heart, I represent hip hop, I be three albums deep, but I don't wanna go pop, Too many candy rappers seem to be at the top, Too much candy is no good, so now I'm closin the shop, Crushin competition like your tires on grapes, My rhymes styles be blendin like a Ron G tape, My man where ya goin? You can't escape, When the Tribe is in the house, that means nobody is safe". Absolutely ill...

One of the most famous tracks in the Tribe's history has to be the classic single "Electric Relaxation".

Featuring a famous beat which has been sampled countless times, upon listening, it immediately gives you sort of a happy feeling in youre stomach, making you smile due to the beat and lyrics. The instrumental features some piano and keyboard effects, with some scaling synthesizers and a beautiful drum / clap accompaniment. Its just a wonderful track to listen to beat-wise, but the lyrics are equally dope. Both emcees compilment themselves perfectly on this track as they trade verses back and forth throughout the duration. The subject matter revolves around their appreciation for females, sort of comical mysogony, but in more of a heartful way, and not in a verbal or sexual tone, which is refreshing. This is nowhere near being like west-coast mysogony, but its still just as clever and tight. If you do purchase this album, be sure you give this track more than a few listens, because it is dope.

I sort of agree with Madtheory that "Clap Your Hands" isn't as good as it should be. The track isn't weak by any means, but its not up to the standards that the Tribe has set thus far. As for the buyer, id suggest listening to it just to see if you like it, cause i know a lot of people who like it. I like it too, but its just not as good as the rest of the album.

The Tribe Called Quest returns to intellect with the excellent classic "Oh My God".

Immediately, the haunting beat draws you in, with a drum / clap accompaniment, low-key guitar plucks, and some synthesizer effects. The instrumental, besides being incredibly good itself, is a perfect match for the lyrics. Busta drops by the supply the hook, but Q-Tip and Phife take center stage for this one. They spit clever and witty flows, but also bring in a small ounce of intelligent social consciousness about racism and oppression on a few lines. A dope track to me.

Large Professor drops the beat for the great "Keep It Rollin", which finds more braggadiocio from the Tribe, yet its still dope.

"The Chase Part 2" is braggadiocio again, but a bit better. The punchlines on this particular track, in my opinion, are a bit more memorable. Besides the fact that the Biz Markie sample and instrumental are excellent, of course the lyrics have to be dope. This track is a mix between having a low-down party vibe, to just a good driving song, with tight lyrics. Phife drops one opening verse, and Q-Tip then takes over for verses 2 and 3. Some of the memorable punchlines range from: "Me not deal wit no changaram, bangaram business, I got soul on a hymn, like Jehovah's got the witness", and "Movin with the grace, here we go, let's begin, Makin people jump out their goddamn skin, Lyrically, we bite like we Rin Tin Tin, Peace to Grand Pu and his many, many skins". The old style drum loop and saxophone are the same production that Tribe always uses, and the best that fits them. Definetely give this more than a few listens.

Midnight Marauders is almost at a close, and they end it with two dope tracks. "Lyrics to Go" shows us a sheer lyrical masterpiece, as the Tribe jump to a multi-syllable flow and extensive vocabulary, showcasing their skill. Do not skip this one. "God Lives Through" is sort of a tribute to hip-hop, as we get dope lyrics from both Q-Tip and Phife, as they continue to amaze us over and over.

Midnight Marauders is a perfect example of what hip-hop used to be, and looking by the way the current music scene is, probably will never be like again. Its a shame that most artists dont follow the formula of this classic and give us real hip-hop, and stray away from the ice and female bullshit which plagues the current rap music scene. Hip-Hop is about expression, intellect, humor, and life, not how much money you have, and A Tribe Called Quest prove it on this track themselves. However, until an artist or group with this mentality steps up again, we'll still have this classic to listen to. That begs the final question... will the Tribe's new album sell-out, or be another classic?? I guess we gotta wait.... and wait.........

5 Stars