26. Tribe Called Quest, Low End Theory
This is the first time that we see the unidentified (most likely female) red, black and green striped-humanoid logo that has so widely been associated with A Tribe Called Quest is on the cover of their Low End Theory album. The image has been so prominent in Hip-Hop that we almost believe that it is a progenitor of its own kind. But perhaps not. Many speculate that its inspiration comes from the many genres that actually inspired the original members of the group. The cropped kneeling from The Ohio Players’ Skin Tight album is remarkably similar to the Tribe avatar. The black space and vibrant colors of Steely Dan’s Aja can be cited as an influence also. However, the greatest influences are married to their Native Tongue tribe. All of them seem to have the same color palette to express their Afrocentric sensibilities that continue to define them as the parents of the Soulquarians movement that birthed so many of Hip-Hop’s most thoughtful artists.
This album cover has a humanoid crouching as if ready to spring into its future, and the colors that she carries in her body represents the whole of Black trauma, beauty and willingness to still expansively exist.