Jazz (We've Got)
"Jazz (We've Got)" is the second single from A Tribe Called Quest's second album The Low End Theory. A segment of the track "Buggin' Out" appeared in the music video. The sequences from "Jazz (We've Got)" are in black and white, while the "Buggin' Out" sequences are in full color. The original material sampled in the song was provided by Pete Rock, and was then recreated in a similar way by Q-Tip.[1][2] Although Pete Rock is not officially credited, Q-Tip credits him in the outro of the track, rapping "Pete Rock for the beat, ya don't stop.".[3]
"Jazz (We've Got)" | ||||
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Single by A Tribe Called Quest | ||||
from the album The Low End Theory | ||||
B-side | "Buggin' Out" | |||
Released | November 27, 1991 | |||
Recorded | 1991 | |||
Genre | Jazz rap | |||
Length | 4:09 | |||
Label | Jive Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Kamaal Fareed, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Malik Taylor, Bronisław Kaper, Ned Washington | |||
Producer(s) | A Tribe Called Quest Pete Rock (demo) | |||
A Tribe Called Quest singles chronology | ||||
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Music video
In the video, directed by Jim Swaffield, the group travels around the city while rapping about the beauty of jazz. Q-Tip starts off the first verse followed by Phife, who rhymes after the second chorus. After Q-Tip's second verse, he pauses and says, "now check it out", at which point the music stops and Ali asks, "Check what out?". Phife answers with, "Check this out", and the video shifts into color for "Buggin' Out" and Phife begins rapping his verse. This was the first time a track cut into its B-side within a single music video. During the "Buggin' Out" sequence, the two rappers are seen wearing eye caps that make their eyeballs appear to be very large. After half of the song is performed the music stops, and the video once again cuts to black and white, with Q-Tip finishing his rhyme from "Buggin' Out" a cappella.
Remix
A remix (called a "Re-Recording") was done for "Jazz (We've Got)" and was featured on The Love Movement and Revised Quest for the Seasoned Traveller. "Your Mic & My Mic, Come On Yo, No Equal" from Q-Tip's verse on "Jazz (We've Got) (Re-Recording)" can be heard on "No Equal" by The Beatnuts from their 1993 EP "Intoxicated Demons: The EP".
Samples
- "Green Dolphin Street" by Jimmy McGriff
- "Don't Change Your Love" by Five Stairsteps
- "Long Red" by Mountain [sample appears on remix only]
- "Sing a Simple Song" by Sly and the Family Stone [sample appears on remix only]
- "Suite Sioux" by Freddie Hubbard [sample appears on remix only]
References
- Wax Poetic interview - Pete Rock - tribe.net Archived 2012-02-20 at the Wayback Machine
- Exclusive: Q-Tip Interview. MOOVMNT.com. Retrieved on 2016-12-16.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-02-20. Retrieved 2012-05-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)