Credit: Spotify

A Tribe Called Quest released many classic albums throughout the ’90s. Between projects like People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, Midnight Marauders, and Beats, Rhymes and Life, their catalogue is nothing short of exceptional. While it’s impossible to pick a favourite, The Low End Theory might just be the most complete of them all. At the very least, it’s home to Phife Dawg‘s favourite Tribe song.

The Low End Theory was released on Jive Records in 1991, serving as the follow-up to their breakthrough debut album. The project was recorded at Battery Studios in New York City and resulted in some of the most memorable songs of their career. ‘Check the Rhime’ was the first single to be released from the album, setting the tone for what was to come.

“That’s my all-time favourite Tribe record,” Phife told XXL. “For the simple fact that – call me selfish or whatever – that was the song that set off my coming out party on Low End Theory. ‘Cause if you judge by the People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm album, it was like, ‘What what the hell does he do? He don’t do nothing.’ That was just the consensus on Phife Dawg or whatever.”

He continued, “So when Low End came out and ‘Check the Rhime’ was the first single, it was like, ‘Oh, OK, so he can rhyme.’ I hold that closest to my heart. No ‘El Segundo’, none of that, looking all crazy in the video. Even though that was a really fun video, it was one of the most fun videos we ever did.”

His first solo verse in the song is a reflection of how he felt about putting his rapping abilities at the forefront. From the very first line, he makes it clear to the listener that he’s putting on a show. He raps, “Now here’s a funky introduction of how nice I am/ Tell your mother, tell your father, send a telegram/ I’m like an energiser ’cause, you see, I last long/ My crew is never ever wack because we stand strong.”

Sampling Average White Band’s 1976 song ‘Love Your Life’, the track includes individual verses from Phife and Tip, along with others that find the duo going back and forth. It was the record that truly showed Phife had what it took to go bar for bar with Q-Tip, eventually being certified gold by the RIAA. As well as ‘Check the Rhime’, Phife also revealed that ‘Verses from the Abstract’, ‘Excursion’, and ‘Buggin’ Out’ were some of his other favourite from the project.

Tribe were simply living in the moment at the time, watching themselves flourish with each record. While they could have been a bit smarter on the financial front, Phife wouldn’t change a thing. “It was definitely fun because we were young, energetic, and we were just kids doing what we loved doing,” he said. “We probably should have had the business end of it more solidified, but again, you live and you learn, and we were just kids. But it was definitely a fun time.”