For someone unfamiliar with the inner workings of the hip-hop industry, Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest was a welcome lesson in musical history. The film chronicles the rise and fall of a group beloved by anyone remotely interested in hip-hop.
We begin on the streets of Queens, NY, with four young kids who befriended one another through their love of music. Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jarobi White came together to form A Tribe Called Quest in 1988, fitting into a newly emerging sect of the New York hip-hop scene. Along with The Jungle Brothers, De La Sol, Queen Latifa and many others, A Tribe Called Quest became part of a tight-knit group of rappers and musicians who called themselves The Native Tongues. Drawing on roots, bebop and jazz, to name a few, these artists sampled genres rarely used in hip-hop of the early 80s. Their message was about unity, community and expression. The Tribe was creating, as Mike D of The Beastie Boys expresses it, “party music with a consciousness.”
Director Michael Rapaport’s face may be familiar from TV (he played Phoebe’s boyfriend for a season on Friends) but his directorial debut is surprisingly strong. The native New Yorker has been immersed in hip-hop culture since he was a kid, and Beats, Rhymes & Life is, as he calls it, his “love letter” to the group. And what a letter it is. The documentary is insightful, moving, comprehensive and entertaining, and drew me in immediately. Rapaport’s passion for his subject is in every aspect of the film, which makes it even more enjoyable for audiences.
Rapaport speaks to the group’s influencers (DJ Red Alert, LL Cool J) and those they influenced (The Roots, Common, Pharrell Williams), thus creating a cohesive arc for the film. He does a nice job of mixing up personal anecdotes from the group members with opinions from those they’ve touched. Although they broke up in 1998, their influence has been felt for years, for without A Tribe Called Quest, the face of hip-hop would certainly be different than it is today.
The film moves along nicely, using old photographs and new animation to keep things fresh and entertaining. The animation team was comprised of James Blagden, Phillip Niemeyer, and Christopher Isenberg, who have created a colorful world on screen. Their hand-drawn stop-motion animation adds an energy and brightness to the film that most documentaries lack. Along with the animators, editor Lenny Mesina has pieced the story together effortlessly, making the tale of A Tribe Called Quest easy to follow for the most distant of outsiders.
And of course there’s the exposition from Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali and Jarobi, who open up on screen in the most touching way. It’s wonderful to see these men who were once so close, expose themselves to their audience and tell the truths behind their careers and friendships. All four members are great characters whose honesty makes their story real. Their passion for music, life and each other is moving. As the group reminisces, their catharsis becomes palpable, as each member freely expresses his viewpoint to the camera.
Beats, Rhymes & Life is a personal journey for both the filmmaker and his subjects. Fans will love every intimate moment, and newcomers will enjoy getting to know A Tribe Called Quest. Now occasionally performing together again, each member is following his passion, be it in music, basketball, or the culinary arts. They’re all grown up, but their legacy remains. They’re just four guys who made it cool to be weird.
DVD Bonus Features
If you want a little more insight, you can turn on commentary with director Michael Rapaport. Go behind the scenes with the director and animators in “bringing beats to life,” see the guys chat about the film “On The Red Carpet at the Los Angeles Film Festival Premiere,” see some Deleted Scenes, and the Theatrical Trailer.
"Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest" is on sale October 18, 2011 and is rated R. Documentary. Directed by Michael Rapaport. Starring Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Phife Dawg, Q Tip.
