degrees of separation
analyzing the intersections of my favorite music producers (and brands)
Tip & Phife & Ali & Jarobi
today’s post is a precursor to a more in-depth celebration of acclaimed rap group A Tribe Called Quest that i will debut this summer. i’ve been leaving virtual Easter eggs about my love for ATCQ for about a decade now. after all, one of my prevailing usernames, heybonita, is a reference to Q-Tip’s first full verse in “Bonita Applebum.”
i recently acquired this Stüssy x ATCQ shirt in great condition and it’s a dream collab to me. i’ve collected a few other ATCQ related items (such as the “Bonita Applebum” Vans™️), but i’m not ready to discuss my full Tribe collection or my Stüssy pieces quite yet — so this tee is the sweet intersection of those prominent interests.
today’s musings also introduce us to Friday’s topic — which will be a celebration of all things Raphael Saadiq, looking at related items from my collection. besides producing some of my favorite music in the world, what do Raphael Saadiq & A Tribe Called Quest have in common?
Saadiq was previously a member of production collective The Ummah, which was comprised of Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and the incomparable J Dilla (aka Jay Dee). D’Angelo was also an occasional member, so it’s safe to say this was an iconic link-up! Raphael Saadiq and Q-Tip also collaborated on a 1999 single called “Get Involved.”
keeping up with the theme of family, i’d also like to link this newly released posthumous Phife Dawg track featuring Illa J (J Dilla’s brother). it’s a treat!
and in related news, i’m currently working on finishing Hanif Abdurraqib’s book Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest ahead of my summertime article on the group; this valuable context will be perfecting for connecting even more degrees of musical separation.
another bit of music history: Weezer’s debut self-titled album (Blue Album) was released 27 years ago on this date (May 10). this has been one of my favorite albums from adolescence to now. i’ll leave you with this classic.