Trailer Time: Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest’

There really is only one way to say this: A Tribe Called Quest is the greatest hip hop group of all-time. Is that clear enough? Ever since their classic debut album, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, they have consistently set the standard for practically every group trying to follow in their wake. Using a combination of smooth jazz standards, looped to perfection by DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad; bangin' head noddin' beats; and butter flows from lead MCs Q-Tip and Pfife Dawg, the group was the epicenter of the rap world until they disbanded back in 1998. Since then, some of the private issues the group tangled with have become public, but that didn't stop them from reuniting a couple of times over the years. They went on tour back in 2006 and I was fortunate enough to see them live. It remains one of the most memorable nights of my life. Suffice it to say, I am and will always be a loyal fan of ATCQ.

So when word dropped that Michael Rapaport was working on a documentary about the group, I was extremely hyped. The film showed at Tribeca and won rave reviews, eventually being picked up by Sony Pictures Classics for a July 8th release. From the clips we've seen, and even some of the hostile reaction to the film by certain group members, this looks like a particularly hard hitting documentary. The first full trailer for the film has been released, and I think it captures some of the turbulence we're bound to experience, but also some of the love the group experiences while on stage. Can we go ahead and nominate this for Best Soundtrack of the Year?

I hope to have an interview with director Michael Rapaport in the coming weeks, so be sure to keep an eye on this site for details on that.