A Tribe Called Quest - The Love Movement (CD)

Sensing that the darker hues of Beats, Rhymes and Life might have isolated them from audiences, their fifth outing The Love Movement pursued a lighter, but still thoughtful touch—especially regarding its songwriting. Clocking in at 15 tracks on the standard pressing—and 21 tracks on the special edition that sported several classic Tribe tracks, albeit remixed—almost all of them were solid party jams. Celebratory (“The Love”), romantic (“Find A Way”) and playfully boastful (“Start It Up,” “Pad & Pen”), The Love Movement floats on its own cool, lyrical cloud. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg’s rhymes—whether operating parallel to each other or jovially sparring—are in peak form per usual. Q-Tip is his ever handsome, hypnotic self. Phife Dawg provides a pleasant contrast with his own equally fetching rough-edged charm. See the cunning and succinct boogie of “Da Booty” for details. Featured guests are plentiful. Fellow colleagues of the period step in and include (but aren’t limited to) Busta Rhy