Of all the genres that have reached the mainstream level of success that Hip-hop has achieved, hip-hop has some of the most iconic debut albums in music history: Nas’s Illmatic, De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising, and Outkast’s Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, just to name a few. Every legacy has a beginning, but not every beginning is followed by a legacy. It takes a special set of skills, a heart full of ambition, and fearlessness to even put yourself out in the world. Thankfully, the trio of A Tribe Called Quest contained all these qualities, and it shows on their iconic 1990 debut album, People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. The legendary debut from the heroic Tribe crashed into Hip-hop with a jovial yet urgent flair. The tides of the genre were shifting, and Tribe was steering the ship into jazzy, airy waters.
Originally released on April 10, 1990, miraculously, or maybe not so wondrous, these 14 songs sound as refreshing and passionate as the first time they hit anyone’s speakers. The album introduced the world to Tribe’s message of togetherness, the sharing of ideas, and how an open mind can contain a world of wonders. The album came at an interesting time in Hip-hop. Public Enemy was taking over the East Coast scene while Ice Cube was starting what would become one of the most iconic discographies in West Coast Hip-hop history, two sides of the restless societal upheaval consuming popular music at the time. While their messages were equally steeped in socio-political viewpoints, Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad took an approach that included a soulful touch.
The recording of People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm began in late 1989, four years after the trio initially formed. At the time, the young trio was already making a name for themselves in the New York City scene. The trio had already teamed up with Jungle Brothers and De La Soul to form their influential collective, Native Tongues, and a young Q-Tip was soaking every bit of it up. As one of Tribe’s producers, along with Muhammad, Q-Tip was present for recording both Jungle Brothers and De La’s debut records. Recording engineer Shane Faber took Tip under his wing in a sense, teaching him the ins and outs of recording in a major studio. While these sessions undoubtedly helped the young Tribe feel more comfortable in the new studio environment, the trio’s vision for People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm had been established for years.
The legend is that Q-Tip had the blueprint for much of the album’s production done in the tenth grade, using pause tapes to chop samples and create the rhythms that continue to resonate several decades after they were first conceived. The trio entered Calliope Studios in 1989 with a vision of purity, years of lessons, and the drive to make it all a reality. Muhammad handled all the live instrumentation and DJ Scratches heard in the deep grooves, while Tip handled the sampling and mixing. The trio was a well-oiled machine from the jump; the results speak for themselves.
The album starts with the seven-minute “Push It Along,” setting the tone for People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm and Tribe’s entire sonic persona. The groovy-laden intro welcomed the trio’s harmonious hooks, infectious drums, and jazzy tendencies, a blueprint that would echo throughout the halls of Hip-hop. The album produced essential hip-hop listening, such as “I Left My Wallet In El Segundo,” “Bonita Applebum,” and “Can I Kick It.” The trio’s youthfulness runs through the veins of People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, and the energy is still palpable.
A Tribe Called Quest exploded out of the gate with a debut album that was simply undeniable. The album received a perfect score from Pitchfork and The Source, making it the first to receive five Mics from the iconic Hip-hop publication. Near-perfect reviews came in from NME and Spin, and Tribe’s legacy was officially underway.
Tribe captured magic in a bottle at the turn of a decade and set new standards for Hip-hop in the 1990s. Aggression was not necessary. Instead, Tribe replaced the ruthlessness of their peers with a deep appreciation for intricate rhythms and minimalistic production. A Tribe Called Quest’s debut album is the kind of classic that would surely be the same runaway success if released in modern times. Thirty-five years have passed, and the release of People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm continues to be one of the most authentic and rejuvenating moments in Hip-hop history.
