Q-Tip was a recent guest on Elton John’s Beats 1 radio show, where he was greeted with a barrage of compliments courtesy of the rock icon. During the interview, Sir Elton referred to A Tribe Called Quest as one of Hip Hop’s most influential groups ever.
“I’m so thrilled to do this show with you,” John said. “ATCQ are probably the seminal hip hop band of all time I think.”
As he continued, the Grammy Award-winning singer asked Q-Tip about the group’s initial breakup.
“Yeah, you know it gets to the point like it’s a marriage as everybody says,” Q-Tip explained. “It got a little funky there, but we always loved each other we all grew up with each other and plus, the times were changing.
“When we started it was more of a group thing, and then years later it’s a very trendy thing in Hip Hop where it got to be a solo man’s game. It just happened, but we did okay.”
John replied, “There’s something about A Tribe Called Quest that was so cool. It was so kind of laid back, but it was so funky. You were unlike any other Hip Hop band, I think. I remember starting out seeing bands like N.W.A and Public Enemy in London at the Hammersmith Odeon.
“And then De La Soul and people like that. And it’s just, there’s something wonderful about you guys coming together and all the different members.”
Q-Tip responded, “I guess the thing with us is that we just always tried to kind of just be ourselves. Like we obviously had, you know, all of the guys who came before us, whether it be the Grandmaster Flashes or the Run-DMCs that set a certain precedent.”
Elsewhere in their conversation, Q-Tip touched on losing Phife Dawg and revealed he’s working on three new solo albums as well as projects with Danny Brown and Mary J. Blige.
Although the full recording isn’t yet available on Apple Music, check out the snippets above.
I hear you Elton, but not OutKast????
outkast is a fake tribe
You’re dreaming. 10x better rappers in Outkast than Tribe.
Geto Boys get an honorable mention? Without the GB no One would have take the South seriously especially in 1994 when Outkast dropped…
‘Kast is a fake tribe? stop the silly nonsense….. you better go pick up Outkast first 4 albums and take a listen…… more like ATCQ the fake DeLaSoul….. lol
Hell no Elton John! Public Enemy tied with Run DMC were the most influential groups followed by Wu Tang, NWA, EPMD, Outkast, Bone Thugs and then Tribe. Geto Boyz get an honorable mention. People forget just how dope and influential Bone was in their prime. NWA defined how west coast music is made even to this day.
Lol a serious reach here by Elton
Elton’s got good taste .I give him credit for that.
The word of an old gay white man from England on hip hop is holds no value.
Exactly. This english pillow biter should stfu
People are responding to this man’s opinion. NWA had 2 albums, one without the Great Ice Cube. Most of the lyrics were extremely vulgar, and talked about gang banging and raunchy sex. I will take ATCQ and OutKast, you keep the rest.
I don’t like that old head energy u projecting fool
Maybe you should first try to comprehend what Elton John is even referring to because old head energy is the whole point, fool.
LMAO
yeah even cube said that about the second album without him, it was too raunchy and focused more on violence and just sex then trying to put an actual message out there
Nawwww migos the best
I agree. ATCQ are at the top.
Yeah but he a homosexual
So fucking what? So is half the rap game (regardless of era).
Yeah Tribe are incredible. If you’re disputing that just because Elton John said it then you’re an ignorant moron. Personally I put Outkast as my favourite group in hip hop but there’s so many excellent groups in rap that have come and gone. The Roots are also one of the best bands in music, full stop. It’s a real shame Slaughterhouse fizzled out because in terms of pure lyricism, they were at the top.
How does this get credence? What has he contributed to hip hop? Whats the last hip hop song he made? Why does he think he gets to tell us whats what?
I could ask you the same thing. I love how hip hop is now so full of snowflakes that someone expressing an opinion over what band they like is now a point of contention. Grow up kid, anyone on this planet can have an opinion.
When will hip hop fans stop talking like this . I’m a hiphop fan. Guess what hip hop isn’t the big unique fantasy you think it is . Its soul ,funk ,rock all merged into one . Samples ?. Look them up . Elton John is a legend in music and a MUSICIAN (check out what instruments he plays etc ).
Do you think Q-tip respects his opinions ?. Yes he would because he is also a musician and a legend in MUSIC . Grow up . Elton John is in a position to speak on Music as a whole and that’s all hiphop is .
OMG! Elton John!
I always thought a group has to be 3 or more members? And 2 members is a duo. Correct me if I’m wrong?
two emcees can be a duo or group…… it’s not that serious…… lol
We went through this already…bone thugs harmony
Bone thug
YEA BUT HE WITE DOE. SINCE WHEN A WHITE BOY OPINION MATTER ABOT REEL HIPHOP?? PLUS MY MOMS SAID HE GAY AN I DON FUCC W THAT SHIT EVEN IF HE MADE CLASSIC HITS AND IS ROYALTY N SHIT U THINK I CARE?? U DRESS LIKE A DISCO BALL N SHIT TALKIN BOUT HIP HOP WEN WE ALL KNO KODAK THE NEW 2PAC- RITE NOW THE GOLDEN AGE OF HIP HOP N YALL CRAZY TO BE AKSIN ELTONS JOHN WUT HE THINK ABOUT NETHING LET ALONE THE CULTURE. TYPIKKKAL DAY IN AMERIKKKA
Caps lock . Come on man !
Elton John knows more about hip hop than most of these suspect mumble rap fans. That’s a sad thing.
Elton appreciate real music stop with the race shit not all white people are bad music is universal and i like some of elton john music so shout out to elton for loving music
I wouldn’t put Tribe in the top 5 groups of all time.. Maybe, MAYBE top 10. Run-DMC, NWA, Wu-Tang, Outkast, Bone Thugs definitely are ahead.. Then I’d probably even put Geto Boys and De La Soul before them as well..
…and someone else with an entirely different perspective like myself could say ATCQ is better than damn near all of those groups. I’ll give you OutKast and Wu-Tang, but I think I personally enjoyed Midnight Marauders more than any other album put out by any of these groups.
Low End Theory & Midnight Marauders are classics…..But ATCQ the best group? No Sir! RUN DMC…. De La Soul …..OutKast… and EPMD are all ahead on my list…….
Run DMC wack as hell
Good call, I hardly hear anyone mention epmd as a great group which is a huge oversight. They are so great, and the thing that is so cool is how different the two mcs are, and how their styles create such a good balance. Atcq is my personal favorite, but epmd is right up there.
You can’t hate on someone’s choice because their queer. That’s completely wrong but I agree for me ATCQ is the best hiphop group hands down.