A Tribe Called Quest Hits, Rarities & Remixes CD

Remixed Hits + Several Unrel. Tracks.

Producers: A Tribe Called Quest, The Ummah.
Unquestionably one of the most influential acts in the history of hip-hop, the Tribe left behind them a legacy few could contend with and most have revered since their debut release. And while Hits, Rarities & Remixes is not as thorough a compilation as 1999's Anthology, it does offer highly sought-after tracks that are out of print, including a few that were featured exclusively on movie soundtracks. A good number of the crowd-favorite anthems that made Tribe one of the most adored groups of its time are featured here, and a few that were secret weapons in many a DJ crate during their initial release. What separates this collection from the earlier anthology is its ability to function as a comprehensive road map through the group's career for the inquisitive first-timer as well as offer up obscure tracks for the die-hard beat heads. And while serious fanatics will already have all of these releases on CD, it's well worth the purchase price to have them all in one place. ~ Rob Theakston
While universally recognized as the cream of the hip-hop canon, A Tribe Called Quest may somehow be underappreciated. Expert jazz-hip-hop fusionists, Native Tongue poets, College Radio darlings, proponents of the Afrocentric movement, rap hitmakers; it's actually rather incredible to think of all the paths they've trod, even more incredible to think that Q-Tip was still sleeping on a relative's couch after multiple major label releases. HITS, RARITIES & REMIXES perfectly chronicles the group's memorable, witty, subtly crafted oeuvre, mixing up the hits with a couple of remixes and sharp new tracks.
The hits aptly display the breadth of the Tribe songbook, from the inexplicable and brilliant western road ballad "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo" to the swinging party of "Scenario." The schoolyard rhymes of "Check The Rhyme" rubs shoulders with the straightforward lyrical chops of "Award Tour" and the stone groove of "Electric Relaxation." On the newly released tracks, Q-Tip and Phife trade off in classic style, balancing the playful with the gravely serious on "Mr. Incognito," while the Abstrac' relates a sly story on "The Night He Got Caught." HITS, RARITES & REMIXES handily documents the history of these prominent hip-hop innovators.

Q (10/03, p.124) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...The finest moments sound fresher and more welcome than anything from the last century has a right to..."