I finally got around to watching Michael Rapaport’s excellent Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest a few years ago. I think it made me sad more than anything else; I hated seeing the drama and infighting between my favorite rap group.
I almost turned it off; I’m glad I didn’t, because I would have missed the explanation behind a line in my favorite ATCQ track (“Electric Relaxation”).
![tribecalledquest_electricrelaxation[1]](http://s3.amazonaws.com/darianbjohnson/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/tribecalledquest_electricrelaxation1.jpg)
First, a little about “Electric Relaxation”; I love this track. It’s my favorite track off my favorite rap album. It might be my favorite hip hop tune of all time. It’s got all the elements:
- A great hook (Tip’s “Relax Yourself Girl, Please Settle Down”)
- Killer beat from Billy Brooks by way of Raphael Saadiq
- A ying and yang flow between two polar opposite MCs
Continue reading “RIP Phife Dawg – Favorite Verses: #4 – “Electric Relaxation””