Sam said

As to Tribe, I think their largest contribution to music is their lyrical freedom. While hip hop was into gangsta rap and tough, macho culture, Tribe were rapping about losing their wallet (Lost My Wallet in El Segundo), how eating vegetables is good for you (Ham & Eggs) critiquing black culture (Sucka N***a), or just having fun and remembering how it all was way back when (Can I Kick It?).

My favourite Tribe song is "The Chase Part II". It's a perfect mix of fun lyricism and wordplay, the members switching places and also delivers a wonderful fun vibe. I love how the song starts with a melodic beat, an introduction to the music that is going to carry us through this track, then Q-Tip exclaims: "Damn, Phifey got fat!" And Phife hops on to deliver the first verse: "Yeah I know it looks pathetic!/ Ali Shaheed Muhammed[another band member] got me doing calisthenics!" It's honestly, in my mind, one of the greatest song starts in hip hop effortlessly hilarious, referential, while also being lyrically sound and clever!

As to their drums, yup, they play a big part in their music and sometimes I guess they can be a bit overwhelming. Though it might also be something with headphones.

My reply:

Coincidentally, Spotify just started playing The Chase Part II at the time of writing this paragraph. This album made me know Tribe again! I can clearly feel its fun and the original blood of rap. It reminds me that at the beginning rap was just to make everyone have the happiest dance at the party, so DJ bought two records and played drum break alternately. I have read a book about the history of rap, which called the invention of breakbeat "paradigm shift". Fun, breakbeat, old school, all of these are so vivid in this album. Nice Tribe, nice recommendation!