A Nice Pair: A Tribe Called Quest

It’s Sunday which means it’s time for A Nice Pair: book and vinyl pairings that go together like the start of a new month and clean slates. Today we’re pairing the book Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest by Hanif Abdurraqib with The Low End Theory album by A Tribe Called Quest.

Go Ahead in the Rain is a tribute to the influential hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. The book blends personal reflection, cultural analysis and music history, exploring the group’s impact on hip-hop and Abdurraqib’s own life. Structured as a series of love letters, it delves into their rise, challenges, and legacy, highlighting their fusion of jazz and hip-hop and their lasting influence on music and culture.

Released in 1991, The Low End Theory is the second studio album by A Tribe Called Quest, . It blends jazz influences with hip-hop, featuring minimalist production and socially conscious lyrics, with standout tracks like “Check the Rhime” and “Scenario”. The album is widely regarded as a landmark in alternative hip-hop, helping launch Phife Dawg’s career and influencing generations of artists.