On this present day in Hip Hop historical past A Tribe Known as Quest Launched their third studio album Midnight Marauders. Because the group’s hottest work, this album marked the peak of Hip Hop’s Afrocentric/hippie motion.
Apart from content material, this album’s cowl is its most distinctive high quality. It encompasses a full frontal portrait of the identical black, inexperienced, and pink lady from The Low Finish Principle cowl in addition to head photographs of a number of the extra well-known rappers of the time, together with Dr. Dre, Afrika Bambaataa, Busta Rhymes, Chuck D, Ice-T, Kool Moe Dee, MC Lyte, Del the Funky Homosapien, P. Diddy, Heavy D, Too $hort, The Pharcyde, The Beastie Boys, and extra.
With this album, Tribe took a slight step away from its heavy jazz affect to perpetuate a funkier vibe. Ali Shaheed Muhammad’s manufacturing sounded extra on this album like one thing you’ll hear on the radio within the early 90’s (with a Tribe twist in fact). The most important change, nevertheless, got here within the realm of lyricism. Over their four-year quest, Q-Tip and Phife Dawg picked up linguistic expertise that come full circle on this album. Their cadence, move, and diction all present indicators of enchancment, together with the size and depth of their metaphors. Though this album options much less subject-specific tracks than their earlier work, the 2 present that they’ve lastly discovered the best way to intrigue the minds of each the Hip Hop trustworthy and on a regular basis music listeners.
Commercially, Midnight Marauders is A Tribe Known as Quest’s highest-selling album. The album offered over 1,000,000 copies inside it’s first 12 months, making it a platinum hit. It additionally peaked #70 on the UK album charts, #8 on the Billboard 200, and took the highest spot High R&B/Hip Hop chart.
Numerous the album’s success is because of its timeless basic of a single, “Award Tour,” which peaked at #47 on the Billboard Scorching 100. Its affect has spanned a long time, with the observe being referenced by the likes of Wale, Kanye West, Frequent, Azealia Banks, and Justin Timberlake.
