Beats, Rhymes and Life

A Tribe Called Quest

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 30, 1996)
• Original Release Date: July 30, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Jive
• ASIN: B00000053T
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,467 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Experimental Rap

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
Tribe's fourth album, Beats, Rhymes, and Life, should be the awkward one, the album on which the group, growing up, falters a little as it figures out what it's going to do next. It isn't. Marked by a number of changes, both internally (this is the album on which the Ummah production crew takes over, and it also marks Q-Tip's new religious faith) and externally (by 1996 Quest's jazzy approach to hip-hop had fallen out of popular favor), Beats finds Tribe taking it as it comes and handling all of the challenges with flair. It's a slower, steadier album than either People's Instinctive Travels or The Low End Theory, but that's a description, not a complaint; rather, it gives you plenty of time to enjoy jams like "1nce Again." It doesn't hurt that Q-Tip and Phife Dog are feeling the flow here; an inspired pairing with distinctive voices and different strengths, they trade verses with fluid grace. --Randy Silver

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect, From Start to Finish., November 14, 2000

By	WILLIE A YOUNG II "willow" (Houston, TX.) - See all my reviews

Excuse me, but what LP have all you so-called hip hop fans been listening to? "Tribe really fell off" is a favorite catchphrase people have using since this was released in 1996 and I still don't get it! "Beats, Rhymes and Life" is the most perfect album these gents have ever crafted and stands as a true classic in any genre. Tribes first 3 albums have been elevated to classic status because they all were released in quick succession, but after a 3 1/2 year lay off, the group lost some of it's core audience and the narrow-minded, fickle people who call themselves true hip hop 'heads' jumped on the "let's bash Tribe" bandwagon and deemed this album wack. What a terrible mistake! From the bangin' opener "Phony Rappers" this is a new, refreshed and mature Tribe and over the course of 15 tracks, Q-Tip, Phife and Shaheed top themselves over and over again. My personal faves from this album change every week (currently it's "Jam" featuring some of the best drums EVER to appear on a tribe album) so I won't single out any tracks, I will merely say this album can be listened to from start to finish without ever hitting skip/forward on your CD player. Special Musical Note: This CD gets special love from me for giving a much deserved shout-out to the then recently deceased Phyllis Hyman (on "Baby Phifes Return"). Ignore the naysayers, "B R & L" is a stunning achievement. Worth Owning.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Tribe Called Quest - Beats, Rhymes & Life, April 3, 2006

By	Constant (Vancouver, BC Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

A Tribe Called Quest's (Q-Tip, Phife, Ali Shaheed Muhammad) fourth album was "Beats, Rhymes & Life" (1996). Following the release of three albums I consider classics ATCQ dropped this solid fifteen-track release after a three-year hiatus. Jay Dee (R.I.P.) teamed up with Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhamammad for "The Ummah" and helped with production on this release. My favourite track on this one is "Stressed Out", ATCQ and Faith Evans collaborate for an outstanding track. Faith Evans really impressed me on this cut, her soulful singing is excellent. Backed by some sick production ATCQ shine on cuts like "Jam", "1nce Again" and "What Really Goes On". Overall their is a notable change in production (more hard, less upbeat) and lyrics, less Jazz oriented cuts (the type I love), and more serious lyrics in my opinion. I don't consider "Beats, Rhymes & Life" to be among ATCQ's best work, it does however have some memorable moments, and some impressive production, which makes it a keeper for any big ATCQ fan. A Tribe Called Quest 1988-1998.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Get a Hold on Hip Hip, October 19, 2005

By	Matt (NJ) - See all my reviews

I believe this was the last true Tribe album. The Love Movement didn't exactly seem like the way they should go out to me. This album reminds me of high school and being down the shore. I can't even explain to you the way I used to zone out to "Get a Hold", an overlooked track on this album. The rhymes are slick, as is to be expected from Q and Phife - and the tracks are all soulful and creatively constructed. 1nce Again was the single off this album and it really captured the Tribe sound as it had developed over time.

A solid effort from one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time.