Beats, Rhymes, & Life (2011)
Beats, Rhymes, and Life: The Travels of a tribe Called Quest (USA) Directed by Michael Rapaport
The title comes from A Tribe Called Quest’s 1996 Grammy Award nominated fourth album. Director Michael Rapaport, better known for his acting talents, examines the history of one of hip hop’s most beloved and respected acts. Consisting of founding members Q-Tip (Jonathan Davis/Kamaal Fareed) aka The Abstract; Phife Dawg (Malik Taylor); DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammed; and originally (and then only occasionally) Jarobi White (who is now a chef), the group’s origins date back to when the foursome were teenagers in New York City in the late 80s. Tribe, who brought us classics like Award Tour; Bonita Applebum; Can I kick It?; Buggin Out; and Scenario, was part of a kind of collective that originally consisted of a collaboration with the Jungle Brothers (who they knew in high school) and De La Soul, which they called Native Tongues. Though Native Tongues didn’t actually create much with all of these three groups together, the basic idea took root, and a host of variations throughout the years would include repeated pairings with artists like Pharcyde; The Roots; Monie Love; Queen Latifah; The Leaders of the New School; and Black Sheep, among many others. In fact, the way these groups shared their talents and ideas, and worked on/influenced one another’s projects, helped create the basis for a new style of socially conscious, afro-centric, funk/jazz/soul hybrid sometimes called New School. We hear from a long list of hip hop luminaries, including Common; Marry J. Blige; Mos Def; Adam Horowitz; Talib Kweli; and Pharrell Williams, all of whom cite Quest’s influence on the art form. It is always a bit disturbing to find the subject of a documentary listed in the producing credits, but this never feels like a puff piece, mostly because Rapaport doesn’t shy away from detailing the longstanding friction between the now 40-somethings Q-Tip and Phife Dawg, a fractured relationship that comes to serve as a kind of ongoing storyline propelling the film forward. While unity and brotherhood are certainly legitimate elements of the overall panorama, so to is aging, ego, control, and artistic integrity. Rapaport obviously unabashedly loves the music, but thankfully it doesn’t seem to keep him from painting a pleasingly complex portrait. Tribe as an entity is an interesting amalgam, with the DJing, multi-instrument playing, prolific, perfectionist producer Q-Tip, a member of the nation of Islam, and the sports obsessed, diabetic street kid Phife Dawg, serving as the most obvious contrast in personality and style. While plenty of artistic accolades have come their way over the years, in the end this is a story about a group of real life friends with a shared personal and professional history. The group officially disbanded in 1998 after only five albums, and master sampler Q-Tip went on to pursue a solo producing and performing career (a fact that still rankles Phife), but they have (despite some serious acrimony) gotten together for several tours since then. Their place in music history might be cemented, but mirroring real life, their ongoing and evolving personal and professional relationships don’t come wrapped up neatly with a bow on top. “Yo, Microphone check, one two what is this. The five foot assassin with the roughneck business.” Indeed.