Go Ahead in the Rain

Notes to A Tribe Called Quest

By: Hanif Abdurraqib

Narrated by: Ron Butler

The seminal rap group A Tribe Called Quest brought jazz into the genre, resurrecting timeless rhythms to create masterpieces. This narrative follows Tribe from their early days as part of the Afrocentric rap collective known as the Native Tongues, through their first three classic albums, to their eventual breakup and long hiatus. Their work is placed in the context of the broader rap landscape of the 1990s, one upended by sampling laws that forced a reinvention in production methods, the East Coast-West Coast rivalry that threatened to destroy the genre, and some record labels’ shift from focusing on groups to individual MCs.

Throughout the narrative, poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib connects the music and cultural history to their street-level impact. Whether he’s remembering The Source magazine cover announcing the Tribe’s 1998 breakup or writing personal letters to the group after bandmate Phife Dawg’s death, Abdurraqib seeks the deeper truths of A Tribe Called Quest, truths that - like the low end, the bass - are not simply heard in the head but are felt in the chest. Digging into the group’s history, Abdurraqib draws from his own experience to reflect on how its distinctive sound resonated among fans like himself. The result is as ambitious and genre-bending as the rap group itself.

©2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC (P)2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Critic reviews

"[R]iveting and poetic…Abdurraqib's gift is his ability to flip from a wide angle to a zoom with ease. He is a five-tool writer, slipping out of the timeline to deliver vivid, memoiristic splashes as well as letters he's crafted to directly address the central players, dead and living." (Washington Post)

"[W]arm, immediate, and intensely personal...This lush and generous book is a call to pay proper respects not just to a sound but to a feeling." (New York Times)

A Beautiful Tribute to ATCQ

This is by far one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read, across all literary genres. The lessons of love, loss, and life that are interwoven into this beautifully told story transcend ATCQ and hip hop. It is a poetic tribute to friendship and and remaining true to one’s self in an ever-changing world.

Someone please help the narrator...

How do we end up with a narrator who doesn’t know how to pronounce the names of the artists in the book? These aren’t the obscure names of long-dead artists in some forgotten language. Hit up YouTube or ask somebody who actually listens to hip-hop.

Pronunciation errors

Great story, good reading. In the future, especially when dealing with popular culture, all names and cultural references should be cross-checked for pronunciation before reading. It is unforgivable to pronounce the God MC, Rakim (rah-kim) as rah-keem, and the Fugees (foo-jeez) as fyoo-jeez. It takes you out of the storytelling, as if the reader isn’t knowledgeable.

Not your typical music bio

I’m not a big band biography guy, with few exceptions. I loved the fact that the author is a poet, not your typical music journalist. That perspective lent the book a personal quality I appreciated. He weaves the history of the group, the cultural context of the time and his own personal relationship to the music into a compelling narrative.

Beautifully written

Hanif’s ode to a Tribe Called Quest is deep, touching, educational and all around magnificent.

deeper appreciation for music you've loved for a long time. If you're a hip-hop fan, you'll find something to enjoy.

I didn't have expectations for this book. I learned about Tribe in the context of broader history and opinions. There wasn't anything I didn't like here. the references expanded beyond the scope I imagined for the work and pointed me in a few new directions. the personal anecdotes grounded this for me in a way that only my favorite authors know how to do.

Passion for music

As someone that recently got into tribe called quest , I loved this and loved the writing style and passion that the author had for his favorite rap group.

Beautiful narration, beautiful words

Not only did I learn all about A TCQ and the history of hip hop; I also enjoyed the incredibly thoughtful and beautiful reflections on cultural history (including but not limited to music), growing up a sibling, nostalgia for the 90s and for childhood/formative years, recent politics, and much more. Beautiful writing, absolutely wonderful narration.

Would have been better if the Narrator was a fan

Della Soul (De La Soul), Chee uh lee (chi ali), Rahkeem (Rakim)... I cringed every time he came across another rapper's name. The story was terrific but why have a guy who can't tell Eric B from Rakim to tell the story. It would have made it better if the guy reading was feeling the nostalgia I was going through.

Great book,

Only downside it makes you want to stop reading and listen to the all the music.