A Tribe Called Quest: People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm Review

By Troy Burke
Music Reviewer

Artist: A Tribe Called Quest
Album: People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
Label: Jive Records
Release date: April 10, 1990
Website: http://atribecalledquest.com/

It’s hard to believe that this classic album is now 25 years old. When it first came out it received some praise but nothing like what it gets today. People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm is now considered one of the best hip hop albums of all time and for good reason.

A Tribe Called Quest was way ahead of their time when they came out with their debut album. Introducing a blend of jazz and hip hop was nothing new but what makes Tribe so different is how seamless it was for them.

Being surrounded by so many great artists in the Native Tongues collective, like De La Soul and Queen Latifah, definitely had an influence on them but they still had their own unique sound. The positive influences of Native Tongues helped to inspire Q-Tip’s lyrics which include topics like safe sex, healthy relationships and even vegetarianism.

Everybody has heard the classics of this album like “Can I Kick It?” and “Bonita Applebum” but listening to this album as a whole gives these songs a whole new life. While the intro to “Can I Kick It?” starts at the end of the first track and comes to a climax after “Bonita Applebum” you’re just waiting for the gang vocals to start getting louder. These songs are so prolific they were instant classics and they still hold up 25 years later.

The best part about People’s Instinctive Travels is how much of an influence it was on big artists like Kanye West and Nas. A Tribe Called Quest is synonymous with hip hop because of this album. While this album was great at the time of release it went on to be a legendary album to come from the 90’s that is still relevant today.