As the trailers begin to start my cell phone rings and its playing "Electric Relaxation". It's just something about that song that just hits the nerve, but in a good way. Maybe its the words, the jazz elements, the beats, its everything...
Relax yourself girl, please settle down
Relax yourself girl, please settle down
Relax yourself girl, please settle down
Honey, check it out, you got me mesmerized
With your black hair and your fat-ass thighs
Street poetry is my everyday
But yo, I gotta stop when you trot my way
If I was workin' at the club you would not pay
Aiyyo, my man Phife, dig it, he got somethin' to say
I can remember when their first album dropped "The Low End Theory" and playing it over and over again, because hip hop was given a new exposure and new voice. Here we got 4 kids from the NY who had so much skill and knowledge and they blessed the world by showing us their talents. We literally get to take a journey with them as the story is told of, Beats, Rhymes and Life: Travels of A Tribe Called Quest. Even if you do not know the name of the albums, you know the songs, but I guarantee by the end of the film you will know both plus a heck of a lot more.
I really felt like I was at a house party/concert during this film because I could not help but nod my head from time to time because the music is just so intoxicating and addictive. Group members Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Jarobi are what I like to call legends continuously leaving a legacy. What this group brought to this world will never be matched. ATCQ made certain styles that looked crazy look cool and fashionable (ex. Zulu Nation). They were able to use the music that our parents listened to and bring it to the modern day masses in a new and eclectic way. They were able to mix jazz, soul, and r&b into a big bowl and make it sound dope!! And to think they were able to realize this at such a young, ripe age, how many people can we say about that today....think about it!! These dudes had raw talent and this documentary opens our eyes to that in so many ways.
I am so glad that this film made it to the big screen because it is definitely deserving of a 90 minute documentary. Gotta give thanks to Michael Rapaport for staying with it, despite the time in between waiting for all the pieces to fall together. To be honest it came out at the right time, just like the fact that A Tribe Called Quest came out during what many call the Golden Age of Hip Hop. "Beats and Rhymes" not only focuses on A Tribe Called Quest, but all the groups that worked collectively with them (DJ Red Alert, Jungle Brothers, Native Tongues, De La Soul, and Leaders of the New School). Each of them including ATCQ made a huge impact on the hip hop scene and to be able to get a taste of their contribution sheds a little more light on how this group made such an impact. To see how each of them got started is a history lesson in itself. To be able to hear the anecdotes from them as well as other artists (Black Thought, Common, Pharrell, Dres, Prince Paul, and former manager Chris Lighty, just to name a few) gives the film even more depth. The lyrical and musical skills were genius, so much so that there has not been anybody the same since. And I guess that's a good an bad thing, because now they can be defined as "classic".
What I really liked about this film was that it gave clarity on a lot open topics, for example after watching this I had a even greater respect for group member Jarobi and his decision to part the group early on. When someone is able to make a tough decision at age 18 and 19 about their maturity you can't help but understand, and give huge kudos. I say that because he could have easily stayed and potentially tainted the group in a way that was not benefiting for everyone. The film just does not show the happy moments but the not so happy as well. I can vividly remember buying their last album "The Love Movement" and being sad at the same time, because this was the end. Also the fact that Phife allowed viewers to step into his private world speaks many volumes. He could have easily said that he didn't want any cameras focusing on his health and personal life. Seeing his struggle does many things, it informs and educates and it has the potential to impact somebody else who may be in the same predicament. That's what I like about movies, they do more than just entertain they influence the audience as well.
My only gripe with this film was that there was just a little too much focus on the beef/riff between Q-Tip and Phife. We definitely needed to see it but it was just a matter of how much did we need to see. With 20 years in the game it was inevitable to see a not so pretty picture, so the audience should not be shocked. If nothing else it made the group members even more appreciative of each other. Director and filmmaker Michael Rapaport was able to document in a pretty good way the inner soul of the group, by answering some questions, posing some questions, and exploring what is yet to come for these pioneers of rap/hip-hop. We, the fans, may not like that they are not officially together, but we still carry that hope. And we carry it even more after watching this film, knowing that under there 1989 contract they still got album that they owe the company. Hmmmmm.....now that's something to truly marinate on right there folks!!
This group was so dynamic I do not think there will be any group like them again, its just not possible. Even through the good, great, bad, and ugly A Tribe Called Quest still manages to serve as a model for what is hip hop, but true to form skill and talent within the music world. Rapaport provides a story with all of its complexities, personal relationships, the impacts of the business, and most importantly the groups maturity in the midst of the darkness. To this day I will always have a love for this group, because they are just that great!!
"Beats and Rhymes..." is what I would like to call a "truth serum" type flick. And why do I say that, because this film from beginning to end focused on the truth, that's what made it sooooo real!! No sugar coating at all, Im sure Rapaport held back some, which is good no need to paint a dark and ugly picture. It will help if you are already a fan, but even those who may be new to them or not even a fan, its still an enjoyable documentary to watch. The music will touch and steal your soul and Madlib's original soundtrack will rock your body too!! (Also when watching the film be on the lookout for the Seaman Furniture commercial....lol)
This film will go make you dust off your old records and cassettes and go find your wallet that you left in El Segundo.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
P.S. Just a little something to keep the vibe going!!
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