The Low End Theory: Original Samples

A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory was one of the first sample sets we compiled here on the site.  Fast forward seven months later, we realized we made a lot of mistakes on that release.  Close to 20 missing samples for one and there were also a few mistakes in credit listings.  We’ll I think we’ve worked out all the bugs now.  After this set though, I don’t think I’m gonna work on another set that has more than 25 samples.  44 samples in this set and things were getting confusing!  I hope I got everything listed right and we didn’t make any mistakes again.

The Low End Theory is the critically acclaimed second release from A Tribe Called Quest. Released on September 24, 1991, the beats are widely different from the then about-to-explode G funk sound being pioneered on the West Coast, and shares more of an influence with East Coast artists like Public Enemy. With dominant basslines and sampled jazz horn solos, The Low End Theory has a distinctive sound that met the high expectations after their critically acclaimed debut People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm.

The Low End Theory became a watershed album in the history of hip hop. The album established alternative rap as a definable genre, distinguished by aware, often abstract or political lyrics, and a light-hearted sense of humor, along with jazz and other unusual sampling sources. The Low End Theory transformed alternative hip hop, leading the way from the jazzy pioneers like De La Soul towards future artists like Common and The Roots.

1. “Time” by The Last Poets
   • From the album This is Madness (1971)
   • Sampled in “Excursions”
2. “A Chant for Bu” by Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
   • From the album Buhaina (1973)
   • Sampled in “Excursions”
3. “Tribute To Obabi (Ogun)” by The Last Poets
   • From the album Chastisement (1973)
   • Sampled in “Excursions”
4. “The Soil I Tilled for You” by Shades of Brown
   • From the album Shades of Brown (1973)
   • Sampled in “Excursions”
5. “New Rags” by Jack DeJohnette
   • From the album New Rags (1977)
   • Sampled in “Buggin’ Out”
6. “Spinning Wheel” by Lonnie Liston Smith
   • From the album Drives (1970)
   • Sampled in “Buggin’ Out”
7. “Ekim” by Michael Urbaniak
   • From the album The Beginning (1973)
   • Sampled in “Buggin’ Out”
8. “Long Way Down” by Eric Mercury *
   • From the album Electric Black Man (1969)
   • Sampled in “Rap Promoter”
9. “Keep on Doin It” by New Birth
   • From the album It’s Been a Long Time (1973)
   • Sampled in “Rap Promoter”
10. “Stand” by Sly & the Family Stone
    1. From the album Stand (1969)
    2. Sampled in “Rap Promoter”
11. “Turned on to You” by Eighties Ladies
    • From the album Ladies of the Eighties (1981)
    • Sampled in “Butter”
12. “I Like Everything about You” by Chuck Jackson **
    • From the album Arrives! (1968)
    • Sampled in “Butter”
13. “Gentle Smiles (Saxy)” by Gary Bartz
    • From the album Shadow Do (1975)
    • Sampled in “Butter”
14. “Young and Fine” by Weather Report
    • From the album Mr. Gone (1978)
    • Sampled in “Butter”
15. “Star of the Story” by Heatwave
    • From the album Central Heating (1978)
    • Sampled in “Verses from the Abstract”
16. “Upon this Rock” by Joe Farrell
    • From the album Upon this Rock (1974)
    • Sampled in “Verses from the Abstract”
17. “Funky President” by James Brown
    • From the album Reality (1975)
    • Sampled in “Show Business”
18. “Wicky-Wacky” by The Fatback Band
    • From the album Keep on Steppin’ (1974)
    • Sampled in “Show Business”
19. “Midnight Cowboy” by Ferrante & Teicher
    • From the album Midnight Cowboy (1969)
    • Sampled in “Show Business”
20. “Down Here on the Ground” by Grant Green
    • From the album Alive! (1970)
    • Sampled in “Vibes and Stuff”
21. “Is it Him or Me?” by Jackie Jackson
    • From the album Jackie Jackson (1973)
    • Sampled in “The Infamous Date Rape”
22. “The Steam Drill” by Cannonball Adderley
    • From the album Black Messiah (1971)
    • Sampled in “The Infamous Date Rape”
23. “North Carolina” by Les McCann
    • From the album Talk to the People (1972)
    • Sampled in “The Infamous Date Rape”
24. “Love Your Life” by Average White Band
    • From the album Soul Searching (1976)
    • Sampled in “Check the Rhime”
25. “Sunshower” by Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band
    • Sampled in “Check the Rhime”
26. “Baby, this Love I Have” by Minnie Riperton
    • From the album Adventures in Paradise (1975)
    • Sampled in “Check the Rhime”
27. “Hydra” by Grover Washington, Jr.
    • From the album Feels So Good (1975)
    • Sampled in “Check the Rhime”
28. “Fly Like an Eagle” by Steve Miller Band
    • From the album Fly Like an Eagle (1976)
    • Sampled in “Check the Rhime”
29. “Hot Pants. . . I’m Coming, I’m Coming, I’m Coming” by Bobby Byrd
    • From the single Hot Pants (1971)
    • Sampled in “Everything is Fair”
30. “Let’s Take it to the People” by Funkadelic 
    • From the album Tales of a Kidd Funkadelic (1976)
    • Sampled in “Everything is Fair”
31. “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Harlem Underground Band (feat Willis Jackson)
    • From the album Harlem Underground (1976)
    • Sampled in “Everything is Fair”
32. “Red Clay” by Freddie Hubbard
    • From the album Red Clay (1970)
    • Sampled in “Jazz (We’ve Got)”
33. Green Dolphin Street” by Sonny Lester
    • Sampled in “Jazz (We’ve Got)”
34. “Sing a Simple Song” by Sly & the Family Stone
    • From the album Stand (1969)
    • Sampled in “Jazz (We’ve Got)”
35. “Long Red” by Mountain
    • From the album Mountain Live (1972)
    • Sampled in “Jazz (We’ve Got)”
36. “Don’t Change Your Love” by The Five Stairsteps
    • From the album Love’s Happening (1968)
    • Sampled in “Jazz (We’ve Got)”
37. “Advice” by  Sly & the Family Stone
    • From the album A Whole New Thing (1967)
    • Sampled in “Skypager”
38. “Uncle Willie’s Dream” by Paul Humphrey
    • From the album America Wake Up (1973)
    • Sampled in “What?”
39. “Oblighetto” by Brother Jack McDuff
    • From the album Moon Rappin’ (1970)
    • Sampled in “Scenario”
40. “Give it Up” by Kool and the Gang
    • From the album Kool and the Gang (1969)
    • Sampled in “Scenario”
41. “Little Miss Lover” by Jimi Hendrix
    • From the album Axis: Bold As Love (1968)
    • Sampled in “Scenario”
42. “Blind Alley” by The Emotions
    • From the album Untouched (1971)
    • Sampled in “Scenario”
43. “Ecstasy” by Ohio Players
    • From the album Ecstasy (1973)
    • Sampled in “Scenario”
44. “Soul Vibrations” by Kool and the Gang
    • From the album Music is the Message (1971)
    • Sampled in “Scenario (Remix)”

*** all tracks produced by A Tribe Called Quest
**  only snippet available
*   unavailable in compilation

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