A Tribe Called Quest Pass the Torch on “Dis Generation”
Even before Phife Dawg’s death in March, there was a time when it seemed that he and embattled compatriot Q-Tip would never trade bars again. That there would never be another delightfully spontaneous Jarobi sighting, that A Tribe Called Quest—the greatest Three-Man Weave in rap history—was over for good. From the time they disbanded in 1998, Tribe scattered and all but closed the door on the possibility of a reunion album, the result of in-fighting and conflicting agendas. But last November, when they learned of the Bataclan attacks just after taping a late-night TV performance 18 years in the making, that switched: A Tribe Called Quest was fully restored, and with purpose.
“Dis Generation” is one of the most enduring moments from the just-released We got it from Here…Thank You 4 Your service, recorded with Phife in 2015. It is Tribe at the peak of their powers, or closer than many dared to imagine they’d be at this stage: in-sync yet diverse, anchored yet fluid, like swinging back and forth around a tetherball pole; it’s constantly in motion, razor sharp, and still freakishly fun.
The song champions rap as intergenerational, and its MCs move both in turn and in unison, bridging the divide. Tip naturally balances talk of chemtrails and “virtual thinkpieces” with Star Wars and Magic Mike. Phife, who was rap’s greatest sportsman, flows with the grace of a crossover, referencing NBA point guards and unattainable Jets titles. Longtime collaborator Busta Rhymes joins the posse once more for a spirited performance, seemingly animated by the mere prospect of a reunited Tribe. Jarobi, efficient as ever, fills the gaps with indelible marks. There are nods to Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Earl Sweatshirt, and Joey Bada$$ as carriers of the Tribe legacy, in the midst of Tribe cementing said legacy. With that, as Tribe pass the torch, “Dis Generation” is both a curtain call and a call to arms.
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