The spirit of A Tribe Called Quest lived on at Joe’s Pub in New York City on Monday (Jan. 17) as hip-hop, neo-soul and jazz artists came together for “Beats, Rhymes and Life” – A Tribute to A Tribe Called Quest. With musician/vocalist Anu-Sun leading the Bohemian Chocolate Café’s jazz sextet, the band laid down classic Tribe songs live as Anu-Sun and others expressed their admiration for the seminal hip-hop group. The tracks varied between faithful renditions of original Tribe songs, original neo-soul Café songs and various MC’s own rhymes interspersed with Tribe verses. While rumors of certain ATCQ members showing up proved to be just that, underground hip-hop luminaries such as Wordsworth, El Da Sensei and Buckshot did show up to give praise to their mentors. Buckshot loyally recreated verses from “Check The Rhime” with vocalist Farrah Burns before later joining El and Words on “Scenario (Remix)”. The band spanned the whole of Tribe’s career, from “Luck of Lucien” off People’s Instinctive to The Love Movement’s “Find a Way.” Using the Black Rock Coalition’s — a nonprofit organization dedicated to further the creative and commercial interests of black musicians — artist tribute shows as inspiration, the idea for a tribute show was originally conceived by Anu-Sun three months ago. Being both a lover of jazz and hip-hop, A Tribe Called Quest was a logical first choice. “If Tribe had the resources to play live back then,” theorized Anu-Sun, “they would’ve done it.” The success of last night’s event has prompted thoughts of further tributes. While no further tribute shows have been confirmed as of yet, Anu-Sun told AHH he is looking at various eclectic artists and will hopefully turn last night into a regular event in New York.
The spirit of A Tribe Called Quest lived on at Joe’s Pub
in New York City on Monday (Jan. 17) as hip-hop, neo-soul and jazz artists came
together for “Beats, Rhymes and Life” – A Tribute to A Tribe
Called Quest.
With musician/vocalist Anu-Sun leading the Bohemian Chocolate
Café’s jazz sextet, the band laid down classic Tribe songs live
as Anu-Sun and others expressed their admiration for the seminal hip-hop group.
The tracks varied between faithful renditions of original Tribe
songs, original neo-soul Café songs and various MC’s own rhymes
interspersed with Tribe verses.
While rumors of certain ATCQ members showing up proved to be
just that, underground hip-hop luminaries such as Wordsworth, El Da Sensei and
Buckshot did show up to give praise to their mentors.
Buckshot loyally recreated verses from “Check The Rhime”
with vocalist Farrah Burns before later joining El and Words on “Scenario
(Remix)”.
The band spanned the whole of Tribe’s career, from “Luck
of Lucien” off People’s Instinctive to The Love Movement’s
“Find a Way.”
Using the Black Rock Coalition’s — a nonprofit organization
dedicated to further the creative and commercial interests of black musicians
— artist tribute shows as inspiration, the idea for a tribute show was originally
conceived by Anu-Sun three months ago.
Being both a lover of jazz and hip-hop, A Tribe Called Quest
was a logical first choice. “If Tribe had the resources to play live back
then,” theorized Anu-Sun, “they would’ve done it.”
The success of last night’s event has prompted thoughts
of further tributes.
While no further tribute shows have been confirmed as of yet,
Anu-Sun told AHH he is looking at various eclectic artists and will hopefully
turn last night into a regular event in New York.
