Tone Deft

Exploratory and ground-breaking rap legends A Tribe Called Quest released their sixth and final studio album, "We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service" on Nov. 11 after an 18-year hiatus.

Released days after the election, the double album delivers a narrative exposé of the chaotic condition of modern society and uses dark-humored warnings regarding intolerance and the perception of words.

In addition to the album’s palpably biting political statements and hard-hitting, opinionated versus, "We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service" is shrowd in a shadow of one of the group’s late members, Phife Dawg, who passed away earlier this year from diabetes.

The tribute to Phife can be heard as a far-reaching theme covering every inch of the album, with the remaining members honoring Phife on multiple tracks.

Phife material can be heard on the album, which was recorded only months before his death, creating an epically haunting piece of rap history.

Group member Q-Tip even delivers an honorary verse posed as Phife himself on the track "Black Spasmodic," staying true to the flow Phife has coined so well.

The flow of the group’s lyrical delivery has only improved over time to form a complex, modern take on the delivery of conventional 90’s MCs.

This contemporary illustration of rap history and culture blends seamlessly with guest appearances from Busta Rhymes, Jack White, Elton John, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Talib Kweli and Andre 3000.

A Tribe Called Quest modernizes their sound dramatically and executes that sound perfectly, throwing a shoutout to the modern rappers they have influenced on the tracks "Dis Generation" and "Conrad Tokyo."

Every track on this album is unique and includes sets of thematic nuances and even theatrical subtleties that exemplify A Tribe Called Quest at their most musically complete.

Although Q-Tip has put out several solo works since Tribe went on their hiatus, there is nothing like hearing Q-Tip and Phife paralleling verses and showing off the chemistry they seemingly never lost.

This chemistry can be heard on the track "The Space Program," which makes a scorching indictment of the hatred that this election has revealed.

"We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service" has created a new statement of purpose for A Tribe Called Quest, confirming their resilience and guaranteeing their influential discography will last another generation.