Trailer Debut: Beats, Rhymes & Life – The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

June 7, 2011 by Hilary Simmons 0 Comments

The trailer for Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest has been released online. Directed by Michael Rapaport, it is a hip hop homage to the Queens NY collective, who were given their name by Afrika Baby Bambaataa of the Jungle Brothers.

The two-and-a-half minute clip shows some of the biggest names in the hip hop and rap scene, such as Ludacris and Pharrell Williams, discussing A Tribe Called Quest’s innovative rhymes and revolutionary effect on the industry. Members of the Native Tongues Posse, the group made Africans Americans aware of their heritage through bracing musical stylings and jazz-inspired sampling.

Rapaport’s documentary delves into the ups, downs and much-publicised disbanding of A Tribe Called Quest. The foursome initially panned the film but recently attended its Tribeca Film Festival screening. “We’re happy with the finished version,” Ali Shaheed Muhammad told Rolling Stone at the premiere. “If none of us were fine with this, no one would be seeing the film.”

Check out the trailer and share your thoughts below.