Beats, Rhymes and Life

Infobox Album
Name = Beats, Rhymes and Life
Type = studio
Artist = A Tribe Called Quest


Released = July 30, 1996
Recorded = Battery Studios, New York, New York
Genre = Alternative hip hop
Length = 51:18
Label = Jive
Producer = The Ummah, Rashad Smith
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3zfuxqyhldte~T1 link]
*Robert Christgau rating-Christgau|hm3 [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=A+Tribe+Called+Quest link]
*"Entertainment Weekly" (A) Aug 9 1996, p.58
*"NME" (7/10) Aug 10 1996, p.51
*"Q" Oct 1996, p.172
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/241031 August 8 1996, p.58]
*"The Source" Sep 1996, p.145
*"Spin" (7/10) Sep 1996, p.149-150
Last album = "Midnight Marauders"
(1993)
This album = "Beats, Rhymes and Life"
(1996)
Next album = "The Love Movement"
(1998)

"Beats, Rhymes and Life" is the fourth album of hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest. Released in 1996, it followed three years after the highly regarded and successful "Midnight Marauders". This album is a departure from the joyful, positive vibe of the earlier albums and is regarded as the groups darkest album in content

Background

The album was also the first to feature production work from The Ummah, which was composed of Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jay Dee. One topic on this album was the Death Row vs. Bad Boy rivalry. This album also features Consequence frequently on the album, which made many fans think he was a new member.

It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 1997 and contains a song, "1nce Again", which was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1997. [ [http://www.buy.com/prod/Beats_Rhymes_Life/q/loc/109/60022036.html Buy.com - Beats Rhymes & Life - Tribe Called Quest - CD ] ] It was certified platinum by RIAA on October 27, 1998. [http://www.riaa.com/gp/database/default.asp] Even though it received negative reviews, ten years later it is considered a classic among tribe fans.Fact|date=October 2007

The video version for Stressed Out has Phife Dawg rapping the 2nd verse instead of Consequence. However, Phife's verses does not appear on the album.

In the song "Keep It Moving", Q-Tip responds the diss comments made about him from Westside Connection's song "Cross Em Out And Put A K", by saying that comments made about the West from some time before the album were not inteded to diss the west coast and that people should not misinterpret his lyrics.

Quote_box|width=40%|align=center |quote="Somethin for your earhole,
so you can clean them shits out
It seems that some don't understand what I'm talkin about
How you get West coast nigga, from West coast hater?
I could never dis a whole coast, my time is too greater(true)
Yeah, we from the East, the land of originators
You also from the West, the land of innovators
The only difference of the two is the style of the rap
Plus the musical track, this beef shit is so wack
Let me let y'all brothas know I ain't no West coast disser
Another thing I'm not is a damn ass kisser
So listen to my words as I set things straight
I ain't got no beef, so don't come in my face
Yo, keep it movin"
|source=Q-Tip "Keep It Movin"

Track listing

References