Friday marks the 30th anniversary of one of the most celebrated albums of all time: The Low End Theory, by A Tribe Called Quest. This is the group's second release, and it stands as an album that changed the sonic palette of music for a generation. The tempo slowed down; upright bass and hard-hitting drums moved to the center; and jazz-influenced Afro-centric rap was no longer a novelty or a flash in the pan — it was a tree trunk for artists like the Roots, Little Brother, Nat, Jill Scott, and Outkast to grow from. This week on The Message, we'll play some key tracks from "The Low End Theory" and explore the branches that grew out of this family tree.

We'll also hear a track from MMYYKK's project, Science.

Segments

Playlist