The Low End Theory

Chill Hip Hop, but nothing that got me really hooked

No idea how people call this album boring. There's a lot of variety in there. Really liked this one, big fan of this Jazzy Hip Hop in general.

Hip Hop & Rap leiern fast 45 min herunter. Irgendwie ist das für mich uninspirierend und irgend eine Art R&B nie mir überhaupt nicht gefällt. Ich werde dieses Album nicht vermissen.

Definitely on my short list of best hip hop albums of all time. This one settles into a groove a maintains it all the way to the end. Five stars.

This album is pretty good. The jazzy elements have really stood the test of time, but the flows and lyrics haven't aged as well. 3/5.

You on point, Phife?
All the time, Tip
Well, then grab the microphone and let your words rip

This is a really easy listen, classic hip hop and classic early 90s. Enjoyed in the background this morning and then listened to again in detail.

Great beats. Maybe I like hip hop as I have enjoyed a few of these albums now.

Favourite song: What
Least favourite: all good songs.
Album artwork: Cool cover

A classic hip hop album.

Listening to this for the first time in more than 20 years is interesting. Simple, boom bap beats and decent (though uncomplicated) rhyme and flow for the most part. Also interesting, you can see emergence of more modern rap styles on songs like Show Business.

Really enjoyed this one!
Clever rhymes and good rhythms.
I don’t have much knowledge of hip-hop and have not been a big fan of some previous albums in this project, but would definitely come back to this one.

I have a few Tribe albums on vinyl but for some reason I can't remember ever listening to this one. As always Tribe perfectly incorporates the best jazz music and rhythms with their own brand of hip hop. The lyrics are great, the music is great. Great album front to back.

Didn't completely hit the spot, but definitely some standout tunes in there.

So, some of this hasn’t aged well. And what are the odds that 2/3 of the NBA players name checked on a song called “infamous date rape” are infamous for sexual indiscretions that came to light after the song’s release?

But apart from problematic sexual politics, this is such a fun album. I feel like you could put this on at any party and it would work. It’s on point (phife) all the time (tip).

I'm not a hip hop guy and this is not the album that is going to change my mind. It was okay at first, but by the end I was ready for it to be over.

An all-timer, this album has such a distinctive sound and compelling irrepressible energy. Simple but totally captivating beats with a smooth laid back funky jazz flavor keep your head bobbing along gently. The production is clear and crisp and balanced and everything comes through just right, like a live jazz trio perfectly captured laying it down. The vocals are the really stand out part though. Keeping the choruses to a minimum, Q-tip, Phife Dawg, and Busta Rhymes swap verses relentlessly and joyfully, they each have a unique flow, playing around with cadences, going off on wordy excursions, spinning out elaborate stories, bantering, conjuring images, and having fun with the language. It starts and ends on a high and never lets up in between.

It's 1991. Storrs, CT. UConn's West Campus. Lancaster Hall, 4th floor. This is the what you hear coming out of the windows on every nice day. It's the soundtrack to every party. This is the album you put on when you bring a girl back to your room and awkwardly try to get her in the mood. '90s hip-hop was full of experimentation and this is some of it's best. Stripped down beats and jazz samples under chill conscious rhymes delivered with precision. I think about this a lot because it's exactly the trajectory I wish hip-hop would've taken. Unfortunately the record industry thought it would be more profitable to glorify gang violence, crime, misogyny, and consumerism instead.

This one is one of the best 90s rap records. I wanna get it on vinyl

Rekindled my love for Hip-Hop Rap. You must hear this before you die.

Todella kokonainen levy! Rennolla tavalla varmaa suorittamista. 4/5

Today's album is fantastic! Really solid early 90's hip hop. Apparently this album helped garner Busta Rhymes notoriety and led to him breaking out on his own. Busta wasn't actually a member of the band but was featured on some songs, and was always hanging around with them. Their beats are mixed with jazz, and it just works so well. This whole album is a vibe!

Favourite songs: Scenario, Show Business, Excursions, What?, Buggin' Out, Rap Promoter, Verses from the Abstract, Check the Rhime, Infamous Date Rape, Butter, Vibes and Stuff, Jazz (We've Got), Skypager

Least favourite songs: if forced to pick, Everything is Fair

5/5