Don't Say Nine Trey 'Cause This Is For Eternity

And that's exactly what 'Midnight Marauders' is...an album for eternity! Hundreds of years from now, this album will still resonate through the ears of its listeners. How many groups do you know (especially hip hop) can make back to back to back classic records in a span of three - four years? As a matter of fact, how many records do you know where you can play the whole thing without reachin' for the skip button? The Tribe just had a way of connecting with their fanbase and they continued to uplift their legacy with their greatest offering yet.

Once again, Phife and Tip are a two headed monster tearin' the frame out of some smooth like butter beats that will keep heads bouncin'. What makes A Tribe Called Quest's third record one of my all-time personal favorites are all the little things that real rap listeners notice. Maybe it's the xylaphones sprinkled in on "Award Tour", Ali Shaheed Muhammods masterfully cut sample of Rakim on "We Can Get Down", or Q-Tips descriptive tale of New York nightlife on "Midnight". Whatever the reason, the beats and rhymes effortlessly go hand in hand. Hell, Phife is so confident in his mic skills that he boasts, "I'm Jordan with the mic/ Wanna gamble"?

You may never hear such a cohesive album like 'Midnight Marauders' again. Even the computerized voice drops knowledge, bridging the gaps between songs. The subject matter was diversified to keep people on their toes. Q-Tip educates on the controversial usage of the N-word with quips such as, "You know the word dummy/ other people in the community think its crummy/ But I don't, 'cause the youth we em-brace adversity it goes right with the race/...and bein' that we use it as a term of endearment/". Phife tells his version of freaky tales on the hypnotic "8 Million Stories". Large Professor (the only outsider on the production tip) produced one beat which amazingly fit perfectly with the tribe vibe on "Keep It Rollin'". Who could forget that chant of "yeah, yeah now check the method"? In spite of the superb quality of songwriting and musicality, the unquestionable standout is "Electric Relaxation". The song is a crowning achievement of hip hop in its purest form. Ali hooks up a beat for the hip hop hall of fame as Tip and Phife give a monumental performance.

In conclusion, 'Midnight Marauders' was a masterpiece from the brilliant sequencing to the who' who in hip hop album cover. There were actually three album covers of different rap stars in the background with the black cover being the rarest. You have to wonder if ATCQ was mocking the inside of the cover, standing by the clock because of the timelessness of their music they put out. They even teased their listeners by bringing the computerized voice in, after "The Chase" saying it concludes the program when there was still two incredible songs to follow. Whatever the case, never say the year 'cause this one is for eternity!