I've struggled for decades to get into them but I get the appeal. The smooth jazzy beats are cool but kinda boring for a whole album. I just can't get into them lyrically. I don't get the respect for Q-Tip lyrically outside of 1992. He's the least abstract "abstract" rapper and his rhymes are so elementary. His vocab isn't that wide either; just throws in a few arty references sometimes. Not that conscious either by today's standards. His voice is great tho. Phife Dawg is much better lyrically but his whole style is ripping off Grand Puba, who is still much better. Tribe get so much respect as intellectual and experimental but they're tame compared to a bunch of groups from the same period who weren't embraced by the MTV/white kid/black college crowd.
Its crazy to me they're the most successful of the Native Tongues. I get that they helped turn the tide to be more jazzy and nerdy but they represent hip-hop for people who don't really like hip-hop.
Don't need to hear if you disagree. Thats the majority take.
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