• Track Listing

Q-Tip, Phife and their NY Tribe-mates introduced their jazz-fueled sound on their 1990 debut, but the big time came after "Low End Theory" began its rise to platinum sales in ’91. The layered beats, jazz samples, minimalist grooves, social commentary and infectious humor on display here all sound natural now, but this was groundbreaking stuff—and one of the best albums of its time (hip-hop or otherwise). Spin it on double vinyl: "Jazz (We’ve Got)," "Check the Rhime," "Excursions," "Versions from the Abstract," "Scenario," "Butter," "Rap Promoter" and more! Jive.