We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service (2016) by A Tribe Called Quest is a gift to Hip-Hop. As one of the greatest all-time Hip-Hop acts, their run between 1990 and 1996 is one of the greatest four-in-a-row album runs in the game. Tribe professionally disbanded before the 2000’s, after constantly changing the culture for the better. However, 18 years after their last album, The Love Movement (1998), they returned in 2016 with We got it from Here.  This was intended as a glorious comeback until tragedy struck.
The phenomenal Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor, one of Tribe’s lead MCs, passed away on March 22nd, 2016, after a long battle against diabetes. Changing the album’s purpose from a comeback to a one-time revival, this project is Hip-Hop’s greatest swan song to date. With Phife coming up with the title and taking the purpose behind it to the grave with him, the other members decided it was a fitting title to describe their collective impact on the culture and Phife’s impact on their lives.
We got it from Here tackles a series of themes. Coming out in 2016, two days after Trump’s election, it is a political album. It speaks to everyone, addressing plenty of issues, worries, solutions, and raising all sorts of conversations. While Tribe is no stranger to these topics, they’re also synonymous with fun jams that celebrate life, love, and being yourself, and there’s plenty of that on here. Lastly, a good chunk of the album is dedicated to Phife’s life, given the 8 month period between his passing and the LP’s release.
“No matter the skin tone, culture, or time zone”
From the first two tracks, it’s clear that Tribe was absolutely in their bag when making this. The Space Program is exactly how one would expect a new Tribe song to sound. While maintaining their classic style while incorporating fresh sounds, Q-Tip introduces the themes of minorities being unwelcome to the planet, calling for unity. This leads perfectly into the beloved We the People…Â As expected, this is one of the most politically charged songs on here, but it’s a total jam. You can picture Tip and Phife rocking out on stage, challenging hate head-on with confident grins.
The fourth cut, Solid Wall of Sound, is where Q-Tip’s production really breaks into the avant-garde. Sampling and featuring Elton John, this is one of the more unique rap songs you’ll hear. With that, it’s important to shed light on the godsend of a feature list. Beyond Elton, we get Jack White, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Andre 3000, Talib Kweli, Anderson .Paak, Katie Cadet, Marsha Ambrosius, YEBBA, and of course, Consequence and Busta Rhymes. The chemistry between all is absolutely perfect between everyone. This is no accident, as Q-Tip demanded that every verse be recorded (and mostly written) together in the studio, making for perfect agreement between every verse, hook, and beat.
“Gatekeepers of flow, they are extensions of instinctual soul”
At track five, we get the impeccable Dis Generation. In a beautiful tribute to the new school, Tip, Phife, Jarobi, and Busta sail over a buttery guitar beat, trading bars back to back throughout. Shouting out the likes of Kendrick, J. Cole, Earl Sweatshirt, and Joey Badass adds new meaning to the album’s title, saying the culture is in good hands, and they’re ready to step back and watch.
On the flip side, the next song is Kids… On this long-desired collab between Tip and Andre 3000, the pair address the frustration of the younger generation, expressing skeptical disinterest from their point of view while also addressing the irresponsible lifestyle of the youth. This is the closest we’ll ever come to the forever-shelved “A Tribe Called ‘Kast” album.
Wrapping up the A-side of the album, we get Enough!! Die-hard Tribe fans will immediately recognize the sample flipping of their classic Bonita Applebum. On that note, it’s, of course, a song about sex while discussing striking a balance between work and relationship. It’s a very mature but super fun version of what they made as youngsters, strengthening the return vibe of the album
“If you don’t believe me, Tip, there’s truly life after death”
The B-side continues to push the sonic boundaries of not only Tribe but Hip-Hop music itself. The Keep it Thoro sample flipping on Mobius is instantly classic, followed by the bouncy joy of Black Spasmodic. Black Spasmodic is not only Phife’s strongest performance on the album, but Tip’s verse was recorded after his passing, making for one of the more heartfelt cuts when looking past the playful instrumental.
Lost Somebody is unmistakably about the five-foot assassin. While Jarobi and Tip are clearly heartbroken, they perform with accepting smiles, appreciative of the time they got with Phife. Their iconic brotherhood is immortalized, and it’s truly beautiful to see a fully-fledged tribute to the late great. The final song, The Donald, is yet another full tribute to Phife and a great way to wrap up the album.
“This is the last Tribe, and our egos hope that you felt us”
Before that final tribute, we get the fantastic Ego.  As modern a Tribe song as it gets, Tip spits over a unique Jack White guitar beat, shifting from stormy to jovial throughout. It’s a perfect penultimate cut before the unique ending while also serving as a conclusion of its own.
The brilliance of this album transcends what could be covered in a review. With Jay-Z’s 4:44, this is the best modern work made by a classic Hip-hop act. Slightly catering towards nostalgia while largely breaking down new barriers and advancing the sound, We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service is, without a single question, one of the best pieces of modern Hip-Hop. Rarely has an album been so mature, poignant, fun, heartfelt, and endlessly replayable. With The Low End Theory (1991), and Midnight Marauders (1993) under their belt, it’s not too controversial to say that A Tribe Called Quest matched their previous peaks when crafting this album. R.I.P. Phife Dawg forever.
We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service Rating: Platinum
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Jason Heilbronner | Twitter: @JasonHeilbronn1Â
