de la Soul are remembered as the premier Native Tongues posse- those rappers who got low-key self-consciously thoughtful and jazzy in the face of gangsta's hardcore threats. But A Tribe Called Quest may have been even stronger especially on their excellent second album the bass-thumping heavily jazz-sampled the Low End Theory. According to the opening "Excursions" rapper Q-Tip's old man says the disc's jazz-rap "reminded him of bebop" and Q calls himself "prominent like Shakespeare." But if Charlie Parker had ever written poetic couplets and backed them with funky-drummer and Ron Carter-on-bass grooves this irresistible he might have been as big as the Bard and Brother James combined. - David Cantwell. - - Tracks - Low End Theory - Excursions - Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory - 00:00 - 00:00 - - Excursions - Buggin' Out - Rap Promoter - Butter - Verses from the Abstract - Show Business - Vibes and Stuff - Infamous Date Rape - Check the Rhime - Everything Is Fair - Jazz (We've Got) - Skypager - What? - Scenario