A Tribe Called Quest released their second album The Low End Theory September 24, 1991

A Tribe Called Quest released their second studio album, The Low End Theory on September 24, 1991, on Jive Records. The album was primarily produced by group member Q-Tip. The album features social commentary, word-play, humor, and interplay between group members Q-Tip and Phife Dawg. The Low End Theory debuted at number 45 on the Billboard 200 chart.

The lead single “Check the Rhime” garnered acclaim from fans, but upon its release, the album’s commercial potential was doubted by music critics and Jive record executives. Follow-up singles, “Jazz (We’ve Got)” and “Scenario” quickly changed perceptions about the project’s potential. On February 19, 1992, the album was certified gold by the RIAA, and on February 1, 1995, it was certified platinum, with shipments of one million copies.

In the years since its release, the album has garnered recognition from music critics and writers as a milestone in alternative hip-hop. It is also regarded as Phife Dawg’s breakout performance. The album and single “Scenario” is credited for helping launch rapper Busta Rhymes’s successful solo career. The album’s production influence has been attributed with bridging the gap between jazz and hip-hop. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, appearing on many best album lists by music critics and writers. In 2022, the album was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.