This CD is one of those that you don’t get often. It had incredible and intensely clever wordplay, and was great for the culture because of the positive support it showed for hip hop. Back then everyone thought hip-hop was rap music and rap music was gangsta. It made people think twice before making an assumption like that. Any hip-hop purist who enjoys freestyles and great rhymes that make you think then this is the album for you.
Ahead of its time to say the least, A Tribe Called Quest’s experimental, alternative, jazz rap was originally unappreciated by mainstream audiences. It took six years for the Tribe’s first album to hit gold. The album might not have been a huge commercial success at first, but their innovative and comedic sound beautifully balanced the light-hearted social consciousness of their tracks. Although “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm” was critically acclaimed, some critics felt that the inspired lyricism and unique humor was at times overshadowed by the group’s immaturity and lack of focus. Their debut album did, however, generate buzz within the Alternative Hip Hop community that has gained them a devout cult following. Today “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm” is certified gold, and in The Source Magazines’s 100 Best Rap Albums. Other accolades include a 5 mic rating from The Source, 4 stars out of 5 by The Rolling Stone Album Guide, and a 3.5 out of 4 stars by the Chicago Tribune.
Regardless of which generation you belong to, every true Hip Hop fan can remember the first time they heard “Can I kick It?” by saying “yes I can!”…and how it changed their perception of the genre. In honor of this special day in Hip Hop history we did some digging and found old school Source articles reviewing “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm”, so feel free to take a look at the history.
Ahead of its time to say the least, A Tribe Called Quest’s experimental, alternative, jazz rap was originally unappreciated by mainstream audiences. It took six years for the Tribe’s first album to hit gold. The album might not have been a huge commercial success at first, but their innovative and comedic sound beautifully balanced the light-hearted social consciousness of their tracks. Although “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm” was critically acclaimed, some critics felt that the inspired lyricism and unique humor was at times overshadowed by the group’s immaturity and lack of focus. Their debut album did, however, generate buzz within the Alternative Hip Hop community that has gained them a devout cult following. Today “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm” is certified gold, and in The Source Magazines’s 100 Best Rap Albums. Other accolades include a 5 mic rating from The Source, 4 stars out of 5 by The Rolling Stone Album Guide, and a 3.5 out of 4 stars by the Chicago Tribune.
Regardless of which generation you belong to, every true Hip Hop fan can remember the first time they heard “Can I kick It?” by saying “yes I can!”…and how it changed their perception of the genre. In honor of this special day in Hip Hop history we did some digging and found old school Source articles reviewing “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm”, so feel free to take a look at the history.
30 years ago today, Nas dropped his debut LP, ‘Illmatic.’ Released by Columbia Records in 94′ Nas recorded the album at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording Studios in New York City. Produced by DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., and Nas himself, the bangers on the album will be embedded in Hip Hop culture as classics merely based on their production alone.
The album sold 60,000 in the first week and debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200 chart. On January 17, 1996, the album was certified gold by the RIAA. In 2001 it earned a platinum certification after shipping 1,000,000 copies in the United States alone.
Lyrically, Nas delivered certified street verses on ‘Illmatic’ that influenced the majority of the ’90s and is regarded as one of the greatest LPs of all time by critics and major publications globally.
30 years ago today, Nas dropped his debut LP, ‘Illmatic.’ Released by Columbia Records in 94′ Nas recorded the album at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording Studios in New York City. Produced by DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., and Nas himself, the bangers on the album will be embedded in Hip Hop culture as classics merely based on their production alone.
The album sold 60,000 in the first week and debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200 chart. On January 17, 1996, the album was certified gold by the RIAA. In 2001 it earned a platinum certification after shipping 1,000,000 copies in the United States alone.
Lyrically, Nas delivered certified street verses on ‘Illmatic’ that influenced the majority of the ’90s and is regarded as one of the greatest LPs of all time by critics and major publications globally.
Amp Fiddler, known for his innovative mix of genres, passed away at age 65. The legendary Detroit musician has sadly succumbed to cancer.
R.I.P. Amp
Amp Fiddler, whose real name was Joseph Anthony Fiddler, succumbed to cancer on Dec. 18.
In December 2022, his brother Joseph Fiddler launched a GoFundMe for the artist, who at the time was recovering from an unknown surgery and spent months in the hospital. The fundraiser surpassed its goal of $75,000.
On his Instagram page, his family shared a statement on his death.
“We face the insurmountable responsibility of sharing the passing of Joseph ‘Amp’ Fiddler,” reads the statement. “Our beloved ‘Amp’ Fiddler, Detroit’s own world-renowned ambassador of funk, soul, and electronic music, keyboardist, producer, Afro-futurist, and guiding force of light for so many, has transitioned at the age of 65.”
Fiddler, who gained recognition as a keyboardist, producer, and Afro-futurist, began his musical journey as a member of the band Enchantment in the 1970s. However, he made his mark as a key member of the legendary funk band Parliament-Funkadelic from the 1980s to the 1990s.
Influenced by the vibrant Detroit music scene, Fiddler’s talent extended beyond funk and soul, working with icons such as Prince, Raphael Saadiq, Maxwell, and others.
One of Fiddler’s notable contributions was his impact on the hip-hop community. He played a pivotal role in mentoring the late producer J Dilla, guiding him in production tactics and introducing him to A Tribe Called Quest leader Q-Tip, which paved the way for Dilla’s successful career. Fiddler’s influence transcended generations, connecting musicians and scenes from all corners of the globe.
Fellow Artists Pay Their Respects
Some notable members of the rap community shared their condolences and reacted to Fiddler’s death. The Roots drummer Questlove posted on Instagram:
“Rest easy brother Amp. For all those talks during the Pfunk tour. For all the music. Especially of course mentoring the one who mentored us (Dilla)——thank you brother.”
British DJ Gilles Peterson also reacted by saying:
“Waking up to the desperately sad news that our dear friend Amp Fiddler has passed… from George Clinton to Dilla to Moodyman … Detroit royalty … a huge influence on musicians from all sides of the globe – he connected generations and scenes… a mentor to so many.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to cover the funeral costs, allowing fans and supporters to contribute to honoring the late musician’s legacy.
Clarence Avant: Another Tragic Loss
Another recent loss in the music industry was Clarence Avant, the legendary music executive who passed away in August at the age of 92. Avant, known as the “Black Godfather,” managed artists from various genres, including soul and hip-hop, and served as the former chairman of Motown Records.
Q-Tip is poised to infuse his musical genius into the forthcoming Muhammad Ali Broadway musical. The rap icon joins as the music producer, co-lyricist, and cast album producer. Q-Tip In Broadway Q-Tip, best known as the lead rapper for A Tribe Called Quest, is set to add his musical prowess to the upcoming Muhammad Ali […]
Q-Tip is poised to infuse his musical genius into the forthcoming Muhammad Ali Broadway musical. The rap icon joins as the music producer, co-lyricist, and cast album producer. Q-Tip In Broadway Q-Tip, best known as the lead rapper for A Tribe Called Quest, is set to add his musical prowess to the upcoming Muhammad Ali […]
This past week, Grammy Award winning producer Salaam Remi shared the current MuseZeuM collection at a four day event in the Lower East Side of Manhattan at Legacy NYC.
MuseZeuM is a space for tangible fine art, limited edition merch and Web3 digital collectibles created and curated by Salaam Remi himself. The NYC Pop Up featured art pieces of Bob Marley, Nas, MarvinGaye, Slick Rick, Fab 5 Freddy, Amy Winehouse, Celia Cruz , Dennis Brown, and more.
Remi said, “As a lifelong creative and huge fan and patron of the art world, this is a dream come true. It’s an honor to be able to create a space where icons and emerging artists will be able to collaborate and benefit from their works at the highest level. MuseZeuM will be the ongoing home for creatives to showcase their works.”
The two day toast was provided by JADE champagne and Maison Marcel Sparkling Rosé.Notable guests included Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Black Thought, Large Professor, M1 of Dead Prez, Joell Ortiz, Rsonist, Roxanne Shante, DJ Cool Vee, Dj Teddy Ted, Fab 5 Freddy, Ro James, Sway, Ralph McDaniels, Angie Martinez, Ralph McDaniels, Guy Moot (Warner Chappell), Julie Swidler (Sony Music), and Barry Weiss (Records/Sony).
MuseZeuM headquarters is open to the public and located at 2032 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127.
Ahead of its time to say the least, A Tribe Called Quest’s experimental, alternative, jazz rap was originally unappreciated by mainstream audiences. It took six years for the Tribe’s first album to hit gold. The album might not have been a huge commercial success at first, but their innovative and comedic sound beautifully balanced the light-hearted social consciousness of their tracks. Although “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm” was critically acclaimed, some critics felt that the inspired lyricism and unique humor was at times overshadowed by the group’s immaturity and lack of focus. Their debut album did, however, generate buzz within the Alternative Hip Hop community that has gained them a devout cult following. Today “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm” is certified gold, and in The Source Magazines’s 100 Best Rap Albums. Other accolades include a 5 mic rating from The Source, 4 stars out of 5 by The Rolling Stone Album Guide, and a 3.5 out of 4 stars by the Chicago Tribune.
Regardless of which generation you belong to, every true Hip Hop fan can remember the first time they heard “Can I kick It?” by saying “yes I can!”…and how it changed their perception of the genre. In honor of this special day in Hip Hop history we did some digging and found old school Source articles reviewing “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm”, so feel free to take a look at the history.
