A Tribe Called Quest @ The Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA, 10/11/04	By Knowfrillz

I remember when I first saw the video for “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo” on Video Music Box. Back then, Tribe was an afterthought behind their Native Tongue brethren The Jungle Brothers and De La Soul. But as I watched that grainy, low-budget, quirky video with the four-member crew dressed in clothes that looked straight out of thrift store, who could have imagined that I was witnessing the birth of one of the greatest groups in Hip Hop history.

Since that time, the Tribe story has been well documented. Classic albums. Timeless songs. Label woes. Breakups. Reunions and a myriad of rumors. But for one night in The City of Brotherly Love, all four members, Q-Tip, Phife, Ali Shaheed Muhammed and Jarobi, took the stage “1nce Again” for a performance for the ages.

The four members took the stage one by one and were greeted by a rousing round of applause that lasted approximately 5 minutes straight. As the ovation went on, there was a look of genuine appreciation and humility on each member’s face as they took humble bows, smiled, and gazed out into the faces in the crowd there were all in attendance as a result of their incredible careers.

After the applause began to subside, Ali took his rightful place behind the 1 and 2’s and the other 3 members each grabbed a microphone. They each brought the microphones to their mouths in their right hands and began to stand perfectly still. The venue became quiet and without warning, the beat to their classic song “Buggin’ Out” blared through the speakers. The group began a two-step routine that many of the audience joined into and it was on from there.

Shows like this make one realize how much of an impact certain artists have had on the musical landscape. And with a career that has spanned for almost 15 years, A Tribe Called Quest has been a major part of Hip-Hop culture. They performed hits from every album; so many that it would be impossible to name them all. But each one was greeted with jubilation from all in attendance.

At one point during the show, the crowd was treated to a surprise guest appearance from Talib Kweli who performed two songs “I Tried” and “Get By.” After his performance, Q-Tip stopped the show to pay homage to Talib for carrying on the legacy of what artists like Tribe have laid down before him. It was a truly memorable moment that seemed to be a “passing of the torch” of sorts from one generation of artist to another and it was a memory that will remain with all those who witnessed it.

To see A Tribe Called Quest on stage together in 2004 was something that I did not think I would ever see. But after seeing it, I realize the power of music. In can bring together a group of individuals that have been through the rigors of the music business, personal hardships and disagreements, breakups, reunions, life changes, love and hate. But for one night on stage, none of that mattered. What mattered was the music. And I am privileged to have witnessed it.