It was reported yesterday that the final album from A Tribe Called Quest has hit number one on the Billboard chart, which is an impressive accomplishment in this day and age. But rather than doing the predictable thing and celebrating this achievement, let us take a moment to discuss the about-face that Q-Tip has made regarding teh ghey community, who he openly supports in the hook for ‘We The People’. Cast your minds back to the Low End Theory recording sessions, which would spawn at least three versions of Scenario’ and an alternative track over the ‘Show Business’ beat called ‘Georgie Porgie.’ The latter song featured all three members of Brand Nubian and centred around pointing out the evils of butt sex between dudes. As to why the normally mellow Tribe Called Quest fellas got roped into such an extreme song concept is unclear, but I like to believe that it went down as follows:
They all got really stoned and Lord Jamar basically dared Q-Tip to make a song explaining why homosexuality will be lead to the downfall of civilization as we know it. Tip, already paranoid about being viewed as ‘soft’ by rap fans because of his voice, was like ‘Sure, why not?’ so as not to look like a punk in front of Brand Nubian. The following day when Tip returned to the studio and listened back to the blunted session from the night before, he spat out his Welch’s grape soda in shock when he heard Grand Puba exclaim ‘You fuckin’ faggot!’ and Jamar detailing a guy ‘sucking on a cock’ (actual lyrics) and scrapped the whole idea before one of the suits at Jive/Zomba heard it and had the group kicked off the label, replacing it with the slighty less problematic ‘Classic Example of A Date Rape.’
Here’s Q-Tip’s verse from the track in question:
‘Now Georgie Porgie pudding pie/what made you choose the path of the gays, oh why
Ain’t got no reason, to hell with alibis/won’t play basketball cause your nails ain’t dry
Call me homophobic but I know it and you know it/you’re filthy and funny to the utmost exponent
Never will I do that, disrespect my mommy/so run and hide your salami
Used to, didn’t you, used to be my man/instead of shaking, you’re dragging your hand
Yes it’s the Abstract the info provider/here’s your new name – the rump rider’
Considering this track was recorded back in 1991, it’s understandable that Q-Tip has matured and come to view the world differently since than and now regards queer folk as slightly less ‘filthy and funny,’ after all that time hanging out in fancy nightclubs and whatnot but it’s certainly one of the more extreme turnarounds since Dr. Dre stopped boasting about how he didn’t smoke ‘weed or sess’ on ‘Express Yourself’ to making an album titled The Chronic. Where’s Outraged Rap Twitter when you need them?
Man, delete this shit. Let those men live and stop trying to stir up the pot. Ol’ controversy seeking ass hoe.
Na fuck that, call these idiot rappers out for their politics of convenience.
Same way Jay-Z now a feminist but built his empire on misogyny.
I’m sure we all said/did something yesterday we now regret, let alone quarter of a century ago. Let he who is without casual xenophobia/sexism/homophobia in their 20s cast the first stone. I like the track but I like offensive/ignorant/angry rap from the early 90s (e.g. Too Much Trouble). Bad taste novelty records rule! Q-Tip isn’t standing for political office and this track was spiked so there’s not really a story here. Times, attitudes and people change.
Sun done seen da industry that all
There’s a Tribe song called “Listen up,Money” that was played twice on S&B that goes in(pun) on homosexual men. Hook is said by Q-Tip and taken from the lines of second part of “Truly Yours”
listen up ,money
or should I say honey
Come on p Dom Robbie is just trolling as usual. His last paragraph sums it up so no need to get upset.
I respect tip for growing /evolving as an artist and a person.
I imagine quest career would have taken a different path if they did release that song. Date rape was controversial enough at the time.
@getthesenets: That’s the song I’m talking about, it’s linked above.
Death on a phono/
my skills are porno/
you say “oh no”/
“like the Beatles told Ohno*/”
*2016 radio edit
@Robbie..thanks…I’m moving in slo-mo today…
At the very LAST performance of “Scenario”remix….I think at the Prudential Center…Busta Rhymes brought out full Tribe lineup and L.O.N.S. lineup.
They played Kid Hood’s part, with the crowd singing word for word.
Didn’t expect them to play it or the crowd to rock with it in 2015…crowd loved the entire song.
I always thought Tip was closeted.
“Q-Tip has matured”? If homophobia is not the most noble sentiment, it is intellectual dishonesty to deduce from it that homophilia is progress. Also, there is a difference between homosexuality (a sexual practice) and being gay (the political ideology that has been falsely attached to it). So I agree here with Darren that Q-Tip is a fucking conformist on this one. Album still knocks tho…
Peezmeister gots issues.
This shit is so corny Q-Tip must have fucked somebody’s girl or did something to the dude Rob … This is pure clown shit when we should be celebrating Quest putting out an incredible album. Cats on here dry as shit probably never had fun in there life.
@DialTone: You figured it out – Q-Tip once took my mother to the movies and made her pay for popcorn. I’ll never forgive that monster until my last breath.
Q-Tip has had the opportunity to see the full spectrum of the entertainment Industry at this point in his career.Not only is he doing business with lesbian women and gay men in ‘said industry’he has discovered that he has ‘worked’ and ‘is’ working with a number of ‘closeted’ gay & lesbian emcees.Just my opinion.
Lol @ 2 songs 25 years apart being referred to as an extreme turnaround.. Particularly when the new song lyrics being referenced are “Muslims and gays, boy we hate your ways” (tho when written alone are taken out of context). I’d chalk it up to life experience within said 25 years. I ain’t mad at the post tho it is quite entertaining to hear an alternate track to Show Business. Well done.
@Robbie…” made her pay for popcorn ” is a euphemism right? …..Hahaha; just kidding; I luv ya moms yo!
R.JONES HIT IT ON THE HEAD..IF YOU THINK THE SAME WAY YOU DID 25 YEARS AGO (FOR THE MOST PART) SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH YOU AND YOU DID NO GROW MENTALLY..
Homosexuality isn’t a practice and being gay isn’t an ideology.
AHHH!!!!! PIZZA….FOOD OF THE GODS!
I wanna see all you niggahz casually excuse a “racist” song of the same hateful caliber from 60 years ago! It won’t happen! As usual the MACRO of black people support and or excuse homophobia, but cry racism every nano second! Black people don’t want equality, they want privilege for HETEROSEXUAL BLACK PEOPLE ONLY!! All white people ain’t bad, and all niggahz ain’t good. -A Black Gay Man
Funny… Brand Nubian’s Lord Jamar is a masculine gay man in the closet that does the typical gay bashing carried on by closet cases. One day it will come out that Jamar is gay and everyone will wonder how they missed the obvious signs.