A Tribe Called Quest and Wu-Tang Clan Albums to be Archived in the Library of Congress

 

Each year, the Library of Congress selects a small quantity of recordings to archive in the National Recording Registry.  A few classic hip hop albums reside there so far such as Jay-Z's "The Blueprint", N.W.A's "Straight Outta Compton", De La Soul's "3 Feet High and Rising", Nas' "Illmatic", Dr. Dre's "The Chronic", Run DMC's "Raising Hell", and Lauryn Hill's "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill".  

Today, it was announced that ATCQ "The Low End Theory" (1991) and Wu-Tang's "Enter the Wu-Tang 36 Chambers" (1993) would be joining the archive.  The National Recording Registry deemed both “worthy of preservation because of their cultural, historical and aesthetic importance". 

....Just keep feeding you... and feeding you x Come on everybody let's get with the fly modes is now officially stamped as a part of history.  Congrats to them both.  

Related Post:  Q-Tip is welcomed by the Kennedy Center as the First Artistic Director of Hip-Hop Culture

Related Post: Wu-Tang Clan set to release 400-pound Photo Album

Remembering Malik 'Phife Dawg' Taylor ...

I'll be the first to admit.  This one hurt.  I got the news around 5am Wednesday morning.  Loss of words then.  Aside from being a fan of his lyrics and sometimes taking his aliases into my own.. i.e. 'The Five Footer', I liked him as a person.  No.. I've never met him, but I developed the undefinable connection an artist can give you through their music, interviews, persona etc.  

He was one of the very few that did/do that for me.  

A couple years back, it intensified.  I saw the documentary 'Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest'.  Phife's illness was addressed and expressed through visual- how his everyday life was affected, friendships affected, thoughts etc.  A first hand look (for those who didn't know or recognize) of how illness can shift it all.  His longtime bout with his severe diabetes was indeed a battle.  Yet, here was a man determined to continue his life and passion while the odds were against him.  Inspiring.  A Specialist of this Hip-Hop craft.  Malik Taylor... the five footer... the five foot assassin... Phife Dawg... the funky diabetic... you will be missed.  R.I.P.

Q-Tip is welcomed by the Kennedy Center as the First Artistic Director of Hip-Hop Culture

Nas made the unexpected hip-hop stamp here when he performed his 'Illmatic' album in full with a symphony orchestra backing him up in 2014.  Those tickets sold out immediately.  Last year, they welcomed Kendrick Lamar .. and his tickets sold out just the same.  

As Hip-Hop is one of the most influential genres across the globe, it's only right that the Kennedy Center acknowledged the culture in a momentous way.  Today, the Kennedy Center announced that legendary A Tribe Called Quest member, writer, producer etc. Q-Tip is now named as their First Artistic Director of Hip-Hop Culture.  Kicking off this summer, Q-Tip is set to begin curating performances at the Kennedy Center.

“Q-Tip will establish a dynamic, new program that will stretch across all disciplines, bringing the historic roots, contemporary expressions, and transformative power of Hip Hop to the [Kennedy] Center and local and national audiences.”

It can only go up from here!

s.o. to the Washington Post

Related Post ::  After the Dance | Tittsworth x Q-Tip x Theophilus London x Alison Carney

Bonita Applebum (Pharrell Remix) | A Tribe Called Quest

For the 25h anniversary of ATCQ 'Peoples Instinctive Travels & The Paths of Rhythm', Pharrell remixes the classic single with a taste of his own... production wise.  

STUSSY x 'A Tribe Called Quest' Collection

In lieu of Stussy's 35th anniversary, the street brand launched their collaborated A Tribe Called Quest collection.  This is an indirect ode to ATCQ, whom Stussy credits as influencing their early work in the late 80s and early 90s.  The collection contains a variety of graphic print tees along with bucket hats and caps, sweatshirts, hoodies, and designed t-shirts.  See something you like? or just a Tribe fan?  You can cop here .

After the Dance | Tittsworth x Q-Tip x Theophilus London x Alison Carney

Said you gave your life to Jesus
No more tight skirts to tease us...

This track is so groovy. Feel good vibe x Flawless collab. New Tittsworth. Check it out::
"Give her two looks, headed straight to the exit"
Sn:: While this is not T. London's song, I just wanted to throw this out there... he makes some serious summer grooves for my listening pleasure. I'll be adding this one to the playlist.

Related Post: Pod Post Thursdays : Take My Time | Go Dreamer x Small Eyez x B.B London

Video : Nas & Q-Tip Perform on Jimmy Fallon

If you were up late like myself last night, you were able to travel back to the early 90s vicariously through Nas and Tip's performance on the Tonight Show w/ Jimmy Fallon. Catch their set of 'The World is Yours', backed up by the Roots, below::

Previous Post: Video - Nas performs the Symphonic Version of 'The World is Yours' in DC

Mixtape : The Abstract and The Dragon | Busta Rhymes x Q-Tip

The highly anticpated collaboration mixtape is here. Through 28 tracks, the two friends both revert back to their musical history by delivering their classic hip-hop vibe accompanied by a few features of Redman, Big Daddy Kane, Lil Wayne, Missy Elliot and more. You will find a few records of their work over the years along with some new ones mixed in the bunch. Take a listen below:

Trailer: Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip 's "The Abstract & The Dragon"

"It's weird for me when I really think about how many years done passed.. and all this work we done did together.. all the greatness we done accomplished together..”…

  Here's the official trailer for Busta and Q-Tip's highly anticipated "The Abstract & the Dragon" mixtape

.. set to release 12.12.13 @ Midnight.

Previous Post: Video - A Tribe Called Quest brings out Busta Rhymes to perform 'Scenario' on Yeezus Tour

Related Post: Video - Thank You | Busta Rhymes x Q-Tip x Lil Wayne x Kanye West

Video: Thank You | Busta Rhymes x Q-Tip x Kanye West x Lil Wayne

You're just a single
Cause you wouldn't engage...

I found it very ironic this vid was airing on MTV jams all last week to present but I couldn't locate it anywhere on the net. Nowhere but BTS vids were found. I wonder what that was all about.
Nevertheless, today.. the visual has finally made it to the net waves. This is hiphop.
Watch below:

Related Post: Video- Twerk It | Busta Rhymes x Nicki Minaj.

Video : A Tribe Called Quest brings out Busta Rhymes to perform 'Scenario' on Yeezus Tour

I could give a fxck about a ill subliminal

Last night on the Yeezus tour's final show in Brooklyn, ATCQ were the openers (as opposed to the previous night where Kendrick Lamar opened). During their 'Scenario' performance, special guest Busta Rhymes popped on the stage unexpectedly to spit his rhymes from the track. The crowd was stooooopid hype. Watch below:
Sn: It's so good to see them back together again :-) #PrayForPhife...

s.o. to AllHipHop

Q-Tip turns 43...

 Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, also known as the Abstract ... better known as rapper Q-tip... and member of critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest, turns 43 today. 

Happy Birthday!!

Groove out to one of my fav Q-Tip jams…

Womens' Empowerment Wednesdays...

You know the feelin

When you feelin like a villain

You be havin good thought but the evils be revealin

And the stresses of life can take you off the right path

Jealousy and envy tends to infiltrate your staff

We gotta hold it down so we can move on past

All adversities so we can get through fast

Don’t worry we gon make it

Keep this in mind whenever feeling down: “Your whole being, Comes from greatness, Do you remember?”.  The sun will always shine after the rain.  You’ll definitely pull through.  Don’t you forget that. Hang in there sweeties.  Xoxo.