"Beats, Rhymes & Life" is the fourth album ATCQ. The crew took to "Midnight Marauders" a little break (due to personal things) and place now in 1996 another album before. The cover joins creative in the series of previous albums a: It shows the red-green-black striped "males", which are reflected in the scenario of a world destruction. They probably represent members of a movement that will save the world and liberate them from the negative. This is meant as a reference to the condition of that (and even today) hip-hop scene, which is flooded by gangsters. A Tribe Called Quest and its followers represent a counter-movement and provide the right sound. Q-Tip, Phife Dawg and Ali Shaheed Muhammad present on this album not only in a newer sound garment, they also have a certain MC called Consequence in the "backpack", which will most probably be known by Kanye West albums today. He is represented in 7 of 15 tracks. Tip and Phife rap here technically better than before and of course again have some awareness packed in their lyrics. All songs (except "The Hop") were produced by the production team "The Ummah"; Ali Shaheed Muhammad consisting of, Q-Tip and especially: J Dilla (RIP). The latter gave the album the excellent funky sound image: releasing and pumping drums alternate with crunchy and crispy snares, which are accompanied by fine jazz elements / melodies. These songs like the single "1nce Again", which has a dreamy vibe. "Crew" for example is a 1:58 min. long track, which includes a athmospheric "Jazz-Key" while "The Pressure" that is loaded with scratches and scraps that came from De La Soul's DJ Mase. "Keeping it Moving" is üüüüber funky and reminds deal to the typical production of J Dilla. And "Sressed Out" with Faith Evans each HipHopper must probably know.
In short: Anyone 90's rap is on jazz and R'n'B influences Mid should definitely click this drive in the cart. Perhaps Q-Tip and Phife change to their predecessors from better and perhaps "Midnight Marauders" a bit more varied. But "Beats, Rhymes & Life" is a very fluid album that you can enter multiple times a day to. Especially filters (yes all things of) ATCQ with their music a nice change for today's rap is.
