8 - The Michigan Daily - Weekend etc. - Thursday, March 31, 1994 Testing longevity, Tribe Called Quest goes for number three By DUSTIN HOWES Third time at bat, A Tribe Called Quest have hit their third home run. But for the band this is only the first inning of a never ending game. The broader musical picture is in focus; they are attempting an ongoing quest for unity and musical consistency. As Q-Tip said, "music is eternal ... we can just keep addin' on to that ... different expressions, different types of things (on) each album, you know?" Someone knows, because someone is listening. The group's third album "Midnight Marauders" debuted at number one on Billboard's R&B chart, was ranked second in the nation on major college radio station play lists and has no one disappointed after their almost platinum "Low End Theory" and their influential "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm." But these stats are not part of the Quest, at least on a personal level; when asked if they know how the new album is doing they replied, "It's going pretty well" - they are not busy tracking the charts. In fact, while certainly aware of their audience, the group's endeavors are highly personal. "We give a basic blueprint for who we are as people, through our music," said Tip. And this notion is not constrained to what Phife and Q-Tip literally say on wax, to which the new album's deep, soulful jazz testifies. There is no doubt that the music - sample manipulation, clean special effects and a few scratches - support the feelings expressed verbally. Indeed the Tribe attempts to make the music and the aura of a song supersede the particular lyrical flow. Q-Tip said of "Steve Biko (Stir It Up)", the opening jam on "Marauders," "A lot of people is bullshittin', Steve Biko was a person of revolution, and really settin' it, you knowumsayin', so everybody's talkin' about how they live and I thought that he's the livest motha, but we ain't A Tribe Called Quest have hit their third home run. But for the band, this is only the first inning of a neverending game. actually write no rhymes about him 'cause we want people to use they minds to find out who he was." While the personalities of Q-Tip and Phife (and perhaps Mr. Muhamed, as known through his cuts and the musical element) are overwhelming on the musical landscape, the group is not isolated. They are perhaps most responsible for the birth, or evolution, of the jazz/rap connection. Songs like "Bonita Applebum" and "Footprints" on "People's Instinctive Travels" were new not strictly in their use of jazz (in fact many groups had used jazz from Stetsasonic to Big Daddy Kane), but also in the burgeoning hip-hop styles and jazz tradition - melded into something which could not be broken down into either genre. It defied categorization; it was their own original blend. Since then, a lot of folks have set up shop and labeled themselves (or have been labeled) the "acid jazz" movement. Digable Planets has come closest to the Tribe flavor, but have added a few delectable spices of their own. Artists all over the world (like Ronnie Jordan, Great Britain, Greg Osby, USA and The United Future Organization, Japan) have journeyed along the "Paths of Rhythm" with a decidedly jazz-oriented perspective, and projects like US3 and Guru's "Jazzamatazz" have made inroads on the commercial front while simulta- neously revealing the group spirit of the phenomena. US3 hooked up with the Blue Note people, while Guru pulled together people like Donald Byrd, Lonnie Liston Smith, Branford Marsalis and Ronnie Jordan. It seems that the scene has fol- lowed something laid down on Tribe's "Youthful Expression" when Muhamed says, "If you want to get the rhythm, then you've got to join a tribe." When asked about a couple of the new jazz/hip-hop projects, Q-Tip said, "Those are good." So from their lyrics, "Blackpeople unite and put down your steal" (from "We Can Get Down" on 0 A Tribe Called Quest's most recent album ("Midnight Marauders") debuted at n Wilderness Expeditions for your fraternity, sorority, dormitory or club LET GLACIER WILDERNESS GUIDES LEAD YOUR ORGANIZATION ON A QUALITY BACKCOUNTRY EXPERIENCE. We offer the following expeditions: * snowshoeing hiking " canoe/sea-kayaking sailing GLACIER WILDERNESS GUIDES provides all equipment, instructors, food and transportation rfrom our base camp at Camp Sea-Gull in Charlevoix, Michigan. Expeditions run $40.00 per day/per person, all inclusive. Call or write for further information. GLACI ER 5680 Euclid " West Bloomfield, Ml * 48323 WILDERNESS 810-855-5873 GUI DESBill Schulman and Bill Bechek, Directors "Marauders"), to the consistency of their albums, to their attempt at "a blueprint" for who they are, the Tribe is about mental and musical harmony. When asked to compare their albums, Q-Tip neglected to do so, saying, "I know a lot of people have problems with (that), comparing one thing to the next, 'cause that's just the way that this system and this society brought us up." They refuse to drive words between their own music, just as they refuse to put themselves in the "jazz/hip-hop" category while simultaneously embracing the artists associated with it. The theme of unity is reflected in more than the words and music of Tribe; it is reflected in how they use words. When asked if Jarobi, a member of Tribe whose role was un- specified but whose picture was no- ticeably absent from press photos on "Low End" and "Marauders," Phife said, "Jarobi's our friend. Family." Even when asked to comment on a genre that seems to be antithetical to Tribe's success - the emergence of gangster rap, the enormous sales of Snoop Doggy Dog and the pull away from the kind of reflective artistry of groups like Tribe - there is a resistance to critical judgment. Q-Tip said, "People just got they own thing ... got to do what they got to do; that's basically it. You can't really explain that shit, that's just they way of the world. We want to just accept reality and just deal with it. We know we ain't never gonna be, like, large like umber one on Billboard's R&B chart. that, you know? But, wejust try to do our music, man." A sense of historical perspective keeps Tribe from dissing Snoop; knowing that music is an eternal game allows Tribe to focus on playing well instead of winning. "We still have a couple a more albums to go. We're just babies tome and I don't even look at it like that, I look at it like each album's our first one," said Tip. According to Muhamed, in action and in words, the message they want 1 to get across is "Simply, yo, Tribejust wants people out there to unify; and just think about the shit that they doin'." Reflected lyrically, musically and personally, the Tribe is unified and should be slammin' 'em out of the park for years to come. London $524* Paris $379* Munich $379* Rome $680* n err ,ex~er ' , .- ouni Trael 1220 S Universty Avenue. Ste. 208 (above McDonalds) Ann Arbor, M 48104 313-998-0200 Ca. f * *REStdn Trae . maain Band's delivery provides welcome change WHIGS Continued from page 3 band. He's the main songwriter, the lead vocalist, the rhythm guitarist and the former manager (back when times weren't as good). Dulli enjoys his role as navigator. That his music serves as emotional release is evident in the contrast between the Whigs' often morbid, isolated music and Dulli's jovial nature. The lyrical content of the music distinguishes the band. The lyrics on "Gentlemen" are a colorful collection of stories about sexual relationships. "The lyrics, like anything in life, are i LORD OF LIGHT LUTHERAN CHURCH 801 SOUTH FOREST (AT HILL) ANN ARBOR, MI 48104 (313) 668.7622 truth mixed in with lies." The direct- ness of the sexual material sometimes smacks you over the head. For ex- ample, on "Gentlemen," Dulli sings "I stayed in too long, but she was a perfect fit." Although he is some- times explicit ("She wants love and I just want to fuck"), his emotional delivery has a profundity sadly lack- modern music. the last time the Afghan Whigs played Detroit, Motown star Martha Reeves made a memorable appear- ance with the band. Similar fireworks may occur this time around. This may be your last chance to see this rising star in a small venue. THE AFGHAN WHIGS will be at St. Andrew's tonight. Tickets are $9.50. Call (313)961-MELT. HOLY WEEK EVENTS AT LORD OF LIGHT Thursdav, March 31 Friday, April 1 Saturdav, April 2 Sunday. April 3 6 P.M.. A Feast Celebrated in Commemoration of the Last Supper 7 P.M., Maundy Thursday Worship Service 7 P.M.,. Good Friday Worship Service with Campus Chapel, 1236 Washtenaw Ct. Noon Lunch and Pysanky Easter Egg Workshop 11 P.M., Easter Vigil 10 A.M., Easter Day Worship Service -ith Brunch Following Correction The clothing which was featured in the centerfold of the Spring Fasion issue went uncredited. The clothing was provided by Banana Republic and Bivouac 0i All Arc Welcome! Please Join Us! amm