Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest (2011)

Michael Rapaport documents the inner workings and behind the scenes drama that follows this innovative and influential band to this day.

Director:

Michael Rapaport

Stars:

Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad

4 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Phife Dawg	...	Self (as Malik Izaak Taylor aka Phife Diggy)
Ali Shaheed Muhammad	...	Self
Q-Tip	...	Self (as Kamaal Fareed)
Jarobi White	...	Self
Adam Horovitz	...	Self (as Ad-Rock)
Adam Yauch	...	Self (as MCA)
Questlove	...	Self
Angie Martinez	...	Self
Barry Weiss	...	Self - CEO, Jive Records
Barbara Esmilla	...	Self
Bobbito Garcia	...	Self
Cheryl Taylor	...	Self (as Cheryl Boyce-Taylor)
Ludacris	...	Self
Chris Lighty	...	Self
Deisha Head Taylor	...	Self

Storyline

Having forged a 20-year run as one of the most innovative and influential hip hop bands of all time, the Queens NY collective known as 'A Tribe Called Quest' have kept a generation hungry for more of their groundbreaking music since their much publicized breakup in 1998. Michael Rapaport documents the inner workings and behind the scenes drama that follows the band to this day. He explores what's next for, what many claim, are the pioneers of alternative rap.

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Plot Keywords:

rap | hip hop | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Quotes

Phife Dawg: But when it came to the black parties and the hip hop, once I saw them grab the mics and getting busy I risked my livelihood, getting kicked out of the house and everything just to be a part of it.

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Connections

Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.24 (2011)

User Reviews

Best Hip-Hop documentary ever!!!

First off, a big thank you to Michael Rapaport for doing this. And he truly directed a wonderful documentary. I grew up on a tribe called quest, however, I am an African,living in Africa and those were the days before the Internet, so I really never heard any news surrounding the group. This documentary fills in all these gaps for me, finally made me understand what made ATCQ tick and such a brilliant hip-hop group. The director really did a great job balancing the views from both protagonists, Q-tip and Phife. Q-tip really comes across as a musical genius and Phife as the real funky diabetic (never understood this until watching this movie) and I had never heard Ali Shaheed speak, but I was hanging on to every word of his. I think M. Rapaport should have given Ali more time. And Jarobi, the y. Nice dude, from the documentary I'd wish, he had not left the group when he did, he fitted in just like anybody else.

Finally, the live shows were amazing. I wish I had had the opportunity to attend just one of them, anyway, if ATCQ ever come to Accra, Ghana, I'll be the first in line to buy tickets.

Great documentary, great story-telling from the director, highly recommended to any music lover out there.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 2012 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

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

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$111,982, 10 July 2011

Gross USA:

$1,200,326

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,200,326

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rival Pictures, Om Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1