Time to officially give it up for A Tribe Called Quest. The kings from Queens scored a no. 1 album with their return to rap, We Got It from Here…Thank You 4 Your Service. The album tops the Billboard 200 with 135,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Nov. 17 and 112,000 of those come from traditional album sales, according to Billboard, a very strong feat in today’s age where streaming typically outweighs buying.
Released on November 11, the project is the group’s second no. 1 after 1996’s Beats, Rhymes and Life scored them a top slot. That 20 year gap between chart-toppers is the longest ever for any rap act. Previously, the distinction was held by Jeezy, oddly enough, who saw his Trap or Die 3 own the charts just two weeks ago after a eight year gap between his new album and 2008’s The Recession, per the report.
The news comes after this Saturday, November 19, saw a block in their hometown officially named after late group member Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor who passed away earlier this year from complications with diabetes. The remaining group members joined Phife’s mother and family for the ceremony. “Everybody in this neighborhood when you go up Linden, and you go right by the LIRR, you see those names up there, when you see Ella Fitzgerald…and John Coltrane…and Jackie Robinson and you come back up the block, and you see Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor up there…These names are to remind us of the purpose that we have, of an anointed-ness that we have inside of us, instilled in us.”
He continued, “This album that came out…tomorrow is Phife’s birthday. This album came out three days after an election. This is no coincidence this is all divine order, so I want everyone to remember your names can join them.” There couldn’t be a better way to celebrate Phife or the group’s legacy than all of the goodwill they’ve seen with their return with them now owning the charts and street blocks.
