In the ’80s and ’90s, the core members of the Native Tongues talked and lived the concept of change—garish print shirts, African medallions, psychedelic album art, digging in the crates for rare grooves, friendly but competitive subliminal disses on wax, subverting stereotypes, and writing rhymes of transcendence and redemption.
DJ Maseo said that the single and video for De La Soul’s “Buddy,” which was first video to showcase the original Native Tongue collective featuring De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, Chi Ali and the late Violator Records founder Chris Lighty, had a specific direction.
A Tribe Called Quest – Check The Rhime
A Tribe Called Quest w/Leader of the New School – Scenario
Black Sheep – The Choice Is Yours