Jazz (We've Got)
A Tribe Called Quest
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We got the jazz Stern firm and young with a laid-back tongue The aim is to succeed and achieve at 21 Just like Ringling Brothers, I'll daze and astound Captivate the mass, cause the prose is profound Do it for the strong, we do it for the meek Boom it in your boom it in your boom it in your Jeep Or your Honda or your Beemer or your Legend or your Benz The rave of the town to your foes and your friends So push it, along, trails, we blaze Don't deserve the gong, don't deserve the praise The tranquility will make ya unball your fist For we put hip-hop on a brand new twist A brand new twist with the homie-alistic So low-key that ya probably missed it And yet it's so loud that it stands in the crowd When the guy takes the beat, they bowed So raise up squire, address your attire We have no time to wallow in the mire If you're on a foreign path, then let me do the lead Join in the essence of the cool-out breed Then cool out to the music cause it makes ya feel serene Like the birds and the bees and all those groovy things Like getting stomach aches when ya gotta go to work Or staring into space when you're feeling berserk I don't really mind if it's over your head Cause the job of resurrectors is to wake up the dead So pay attention, it's not hard to decipher And after the horns, you can check out the Phifer We got the jazz Competition, them Phifer come sideway But competition, they mus' me come straightway Competition, them Phifer come sideway But competition, they mus' come straightway Hows about that, it seems like it's my turn again All through the years my mike has been my best friend I know some brothers wonder, can Phifer really kick it? Some even wanna dis me, but why sweat it? I'm all into my music cause it's how I make papes Tryin' to make hits, like Kid Capri makes tapes Me sweat another? I do my own thing Strictly hardcore tracks, not a new jack swing I grew up as a Christian so to Jah I give thanks Collect my banks, listen to Shabba Ranks I sing, and chat, I do all of that It's 1991 and I refuse to come wack I take off my hat to other crews that intend to rock But the Low End Theory's here, it's time to wreck shop I got Tip and Shah, so whom shall I fear Stop look and listen, but please don't stare So jet to the store, and buy the LP On Jive/RCA, cassettes and CD's Produced and arranged by the four-man crew And oh shit, Skiff Anselm, he gets props too Make sure you have a system with some phat house speakers So the new shit can rock, from Mars to Massapequa Cause where I come from quality is job one And everybody up on Linden know we get the job done So peace to that crew, and peace to this crew Bring on the tour, we'll see you at a theater nearest you We got the jazz Hey yo but wait, back it up, hup, easy back it up Please let the Abstract embellish on the cut Back and forth just like a Cameo song If you dig this joint then please come dance along To the music cause it's done just for the rhyme Now I gotta scat and get mine, underline The jazz, the what? The jazz can move that ass Cause the Tribe originates that feelin' of pizzazz It's the universal sound, best to brothers underground In the one-six below, ya didn't have to go Some say that I'm a sinner cause I once had an orgy And sometimes for breakfast I eat grits and porgies If this is a stinker, then call me a stink, I ask "What? What? What?" now check it out All my peoples in Queens ya don't stop Now all my peoples in Brooklyn ya don't stop And all my peoples uptown ya don't stop That includes the Bronx a' Harlem ya don't stop Now to that girl Ramelle ya don't stop I say because Ladies First ya don't stop And to the JB's, ya don't stop And De La Soul, ya don't stop To my Brand Nubians ya don't stop And to my Leaders of the New ya don't stop To my man Large Professor ya don't stop Pete Rock for the beat ya don't stop Everybody in the place ya don't stop Ya keep it on, to the rhythm, ya don't stop And last but not least on the sure shot It's the Zulu nation
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Written by: Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, Ali Shaheed Jones-Muhammad, Malik Izaak Taylor, Bronislaw Kaper, Ned Washington
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
21 facts about this song
Album Snapshot"Jazz (We've Got)" is a hip-hop track by "A Tribe Called Quest" which appears on the group's second studio album, 'The Low End Theory' released in 1991.
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Innovative ReleaseThis song stands out as it was released as a double single along with another of their track "Buggin’ Out."
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Song AppealThe song is celebrated for its merging of jazz and hip-hop elements, reflecting the group's experimental approach to the genre.
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Message and LyricsThe lyrics of "Jazz (We've Got)" aim to communicate the group's passion for jazz music and its relevance to their style of hip-hop.
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Style and CompositionA defining feature of the song is its fusion of bebop jazz elements, soft drum beats, and complex rhyming schemes. This makes it stand out in the hip-hop scene.
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Music VideoThe music video for "Jazz (We've Got)" was directed by Jim Swaffield. It starts with the voice of an elderly man, intended to depict a jazz radio station DJ, and then continues with the group performing their song.
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Sample UsedThe song samples the jazz track "Green Dolphin Street" by famous jazz pianist Jimmy Smith.
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Tribute to JazzThe song is a demonstration of the group's objective to align themselves with the jazz world. It pays homage to jazz greats like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
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Chart PerformanceWhen released, the song performed well on charts, reaching number 15 on the Hot Rap Singles chart in the U.S.
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ImpactThe crossover of Jazz and Hip-Hop in the song "Jazz (We've Got)" has continued to influence many hip-hop artists and groups in subsequent years, helping to shape what is now termed as Jazz Rap.
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Album Release"Jazz (We Got)" is a song from A Tribe Called Quest's second studio album, "The Low End Theory," which was released in 1991.
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Fusion genreThe song is noted for its fusion of jazz and hip-hop, a style that the group is well-known for. It samples distinguished jazz tracks, hence the title.
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Sampled Tracks"Jazz (We've Got)" samples "Green Dolphin Street" by Lucky Thompson; "Red Clay," "Suitcase," and "Introducing the Players" by Freddie Hubbard; and "Down Here on the Ground" by Grant Green.
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Chart PerformanceThe song reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles and number 48 on the Billboard Hot R&B, Hip-Hop Songs chart.
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Lyrical ThemeLyrics of the song focus on the cultural elevation and expression of the Afro-American community and is a critique of the more violent tendencies of early 90's rap music.
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B-Side Track"Buggin' Out" is the B-side track of "Jazz (We've Got)". Over time, "Buggin' Out" gained significant recognition and often overshadowed “Jazz (We’ve Got)".
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Music videoThe music video for the song is elaborate, covering the group's passion for jazz and the use of jazz samples in their works.
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Vocal PerformanceThe primary vocal performances in the song are delivered by Q-Tip and Phife Dawg, the core members of A Tribe Called Quest.
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InfluenceThe incorporation of jazz elements into hip-hop by A Tribe Called Quest in songs like "Jazz (We've Got)" has inspired and influenced many modern artists, making it a ground-breaking trend in the rap music industry.
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Re-ReleaseIn 1992, the song was released as a 12-inch single, with longer versions of both "Jazz (We've Got)" and "Buggin' Out".
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Album ReceptionWhile the album "The Low End Theory" wasn't an instant commercial success, it received uniformly enthusiastic reviews for its innovative fusion of jazz and hip-hop and is now considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.
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Citation
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