In theory, the first album from A Tribe Called Quest since 1998 should be a cause for celebration. In reality, this record emerges under the shadow of Phife Dawg’s death earlier this year making the album, one recorded after a reconciliation between Phife and fellow member Q-Tip, all the more poignant.
“We Got It From Here . . .” is a powerful swansong, an album where the collective’s core musical beliefs around bass (the “low end theory” of legend), jazz, Afrocentrism and the poetry of ordinary life are very much to the fore. There are guests galore in the engine room – including Kendrick Lamar, Jack White, Andre 3000, Anderson Paak and Elton John – but the real pleasure principles come with the Tribe come on strong with righteous, hard-hitting tones.
Listen to We the People, Move Backwards (with Paak in killer form), Whateva Will Be or The Space Program and revel once again in how ATCQ blend freshness with vintage appeal to make their mark.
