Performer Notes

A Tribe Called Quest: Jonathan "Q-Tip" Davis, Malik "Phife-Dawg" Taylor (rap vocals); Ali Shaheed Muhammad (turntables).
Additional personnel: Large Professor, Trugoy, Busta Rhymes, Raphael Wiggins.
Producers: A Tribe Called Quest, Skeff Anselm, Large Professor.
Engineers: Bob Power, A Tribe Called Quest, Tim Latham.
Recorded at Battery Studios, Platinum Island, Matermix and Sorcerer Sound, New York, New York.
Audio Mixer: Bob Power.
Recording information: Battery Studios, Platinum Island; MasterMix; Sorcerer Sound.
Photographers: Carol Weinberg; Darren Modricker.
Third and last of the "classic" Tribe records (preceding the addition of Jay Dee and the formation of "the Ummah" production team), MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS is not as groundbreaking as PEOPLE'S INSTINCTIVE TRAVELS or as consistently on-point as LOW END THEORY. However, it is arguably the group's most musically sophisticated album. The tracks balance jazz, soul, and even reggae influences with pure hip-hop to arrive at a completely distinctive Tribe sound, the logical evolution of the bop-inflected hooks which characterized LOW END THEORY.
Production-wise, Tribe graduates from a cool school aesthetic to an electric jazz sound (reminiscent of fusion-era Miles Davis). Lyrically MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS finds the group's abstract poetics in excellent form as usual, and Phife is miles ahead of the "mayor-flavor" rhymes of "Can I Kick It." As per the title, the album develops the introspection of "After Hours" into a nocturnal feel which winds it's way through "Midnight," the party-rock of "We Can Get Down," "Clap Your Hands" and the complex layers of "God Lives Through."

Professional Reviews

Spin (12/93, p.119) - Highly Recommended - "...the way Q-Tip and Phife trade solos evokes the spontaneity of an improv jam session, but the smoke in the room is cheeba, not tobacco..."

Entertainment Weekly (11/12/93, p.65) - "...[A Tribe Called Quest's MIDNIGHT MARAUDER] sounds as fresh as their first...rappers Phife and Q-Tip manage to hold attention without resorting to gun references or expletives..." - Rating: A

Q (12/93, p.125) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...another phat and funky platter simply oozing positive vibes and street-sussed style..."

Vibe (11/93, p.103) - "...on MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS [Tribe Called Quest] counter with beats that are less jazzy and more jeep-centric...a rap classic..."

The Source (12/93, p.88) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...With their third album, MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS, Quest do what they've always done - ignore all of the current trends in hip-hop and deliver a solid collectable..."

Melody Maker (11/27/93, p.41) - "...A Tribe Called Quest have expanded their vision with a lyrical gravitas and a musical lightness of touch that has hitherto eluded them across a whole album...."

Musician (1/94, p.92) - "...MARAUDER's varied, sophisticated themes hold your attention even as the grooves lull you into head-nodding..."

Village Voice (3/1/94, p.5) - Ranked #21 in the Village Voice's 1993 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll.

NME (Magazine) (11/27/93, p.32) - (7) - Very Good - "...MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS is [Tribe Called Quest's] most complete work to date..."

Album: Midnight Marauders
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Midnight Marauders Tour Guide	More Info...
2)	Steve Biko	More Info...	0:03
3)	Award Tour	More Info...	0:03
4)	8 Million Stories	More Info...	0:04
5)	Sucka Nigga	More Info...	0:04
6)	Midnight	More Info...	0:04
7)	We Can Get Down	More Info...	0:04
8)	Electric Relaxation	More Info...	0:04
9)	Clap Your Hands	More Info...	0:03
10)	Oh My God	More Info...	0:03
11)	Keep It Rollin'	More Info...	0:03
12)	The Chase, Part II	More Info...	0:04
13)	Lyrics to Go	More Info...	0:04
14)	God Lives Through	More Info...	0:04
15)	Hot Sex+	More Info...	0:02

Album: Midnight Marauders
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Midnight Marauders Tour Guide	More Info...
2)	Steve Biko	More Info...	0:03
3)	Award Tour	More Info...	0:03
4)	8 Million Stories	More Info...	0:04
5)	Sucka Nigga	More Info...	0:04
6)	Midnight	More Info...	0:04
7)	We Can Get Down	More Info...	0:04
8)	Electric Relaxation	More Info...	0:04
9)	Clap Your Hands	More Info...	0:03
10)	Oh My God	More Info...	0:03
11)	Keep It Rollin'	More Info...	0:03
12)	The Chase, Part II	More Info...	0:04
13)	Lyrics to Go	More Info...	0:04
14)	God Lives Through	More Info...	0:04
15)	Hot Sex+	More Info...	0:02