The Low End Theory
by A Tribe Called Quest

The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
Year: 1991
Release date: 1991-09-24
Overall rank: 129th   Overall chart history
Average Rating: 
85/100 (from 1,144 votes)
  Ratings distribution   Average rating history
Accolades:
Award Top 10 albums of 1991 (6th)
Award Top 50 albums of the 1990s (28th)
Award Top 200 albums of all time (129th)

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Sony A Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory
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A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory 7", Get56045-7 *SEALED*
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A TRIBE CALLED QUEST THE LOW END THEORY VINYL NEW! LIMITED RED GREEN LP SCENARIO
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A Tribe Called Quest bestography

The Low End Theory is ranked as the best album by A Tribe Called Quest.

A Tribe Called Quest album bestography « Higher ranked
-
This album (129th)
The Low End Theory
Lower ranked (391st) »
Midnight Marauders

(N.B. Bestographies include all albums by an artist (and their variations), but do not include albums ranked outside the top 100,000).

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The Low End Theory track list

  Track ratings The tracks on this album have an average rating of 85 out of 100 (all tracks have been rated).

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Track pick (1000 - 100 votes) Top-rated track as rated by BestEverAlbums.com members.

The Low End Theory rankings

Rankings summary
Overall rank: 129th | 1990s rank: 28th | 1991 rank: 6th
Filter Filter
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YearSourceChartRankRank Score
2026 sszwalbenestTop 100 Music Albums of the 1990s19/100 -
2026bonnequestionBest albums from '85 to '9415/100 -
2026 seb7Top 99 Music Albums of the 1990s77/99 -
2026OFarrioTop 18 Music Albums of 19913/184
2026 LiedzeitMost listened to Albums by BEA members 202543/100 -
2026VascoTop 58 Music Albums of the 1990s48/58 -
2026 EyeKanFlyTop 79 Music Albums of 19914/795
2026 LebowskiRamsTop 100 Greatest Music Albums18/10082
2026jnmaylesTop 100 Greatest Music Albums61/10040
2026stareaterogni0nTop 100 Greatest Music Albums50/10050
2026araidernomoreTop 62 Music Albums of the 1990s38/62 -
2026 DommeDamianScaruffi Best Albums of 199134/86 -
2026 BozoTyrannusTop 100 Greatest Music Albums10/10091
2026 videoheadcleanerTop 75 Music Albums of 199154/751
2026 JMGL95Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s45/100 -
2026FlapJackJoeyTop 100 Greatest Music Albums35/10066
2026sunnydhammTop 100 Music Albums of the 1990s37/100 -
2026leniadTop 100 Music Albums of the 1990s24/100 -
2026 AAL2014Top 47 Music Albums of 19911/475
2026FlapJackJoeyTop 29 Music Albums of the 1990s10/29 -
Total Charts: Help The total number of charts that this album has appeared in. 1,012
Total Rank Score: Help The total rank score. 6,479
You can include this album in your own chart from the My Charts page!

The Low End Theory collection

The Low End Theory ratings

Average Rating: 
85/100 (from 1,144 votes)
  Ratings distribution Help Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.

Showing latest 5 ratings for this album.  | Show all 1,144 ratings for this album.

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RatingDate updatedMemberAlbum ratingsAvg. album rating
 
90/100
 
04/13/2026 11:58 Liks_on_music  Ratings distribution  57880/100
 
70/100
 
04/08/2026 21:45 araidernomore  Ratings distribution  44870/100
 
100/100
 
03/25/2026 11:02 kinginsomniac12  Ratings distribution  54099/100
 
50/100
 
03/21/2026 23:50 djirons  Ratings distribution  74872/100
 
80/100
 
03/20/2026 19:06 melisandre  Ratings distribution  26184/100

Rating metrics: Help Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some albums can have several thousand ratings)

This album is rated in the top 1% of all albums on BestEverAlbums.com. This album has a Bayesian average rating of 84.6/100, a mean average of 83.1/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 84.7/100. The standard deviation for this album is 16.1.

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The Low End Theory comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 67 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Positive Sentiment First | Longest Comments First
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Rating:  
95/100
From 07/14/2025 05:16 | #310103
I like the off-kilter samples and keyboards, and the ultra low rumbling bass is perfect with the relaxed but hard beats. The tempo is near constant on most tracks, which is good because the groove they get into is so good, you want them to just keep it going. Cool lyrics and storytelling. An album that manages to be quite daring and hugely enjoyable at the same time.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 07/11/2024 16:46 | #304242
Best hip hop album of all time
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 01/10/2024 15:03 | #301050
Listening to 'The Low End Theory' through for the first time, I'm struck by the raw energy and politically charged lyrics that define this golden age of hip hop. The tracks 'Excursions' and 'Scenario' particularly stand out with their blend of rhythmic complexity and socially conscious messages that resonate even decades later.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 07/08/2023 22:34 | #298006
Great jazz-rap record with amazing beats and flow and mostly fantastic creatively written lyrics. My favorite tracks are more chill ones - Excursions, Vibes And Stuff, Jazz (We've Got It), but I also like more dynamic ones such as Scenario, Buggin' Out and Show Business.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 06/08/2023 16:39 | #297468
One of the best produced rap albums ever, the layers to these beats are incredible. The flows and bars might sound dated but I think there is real charm in that and they are still great to listen to, brings an easiness to the album.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 04/04/2023 12:40 | #295770
An interesting and enjoyable listen that can sound a little dated on some tracks but it still has a lot of quality. What impresses me the most with this release is just how well it flows with it transitioning from one song to the next brilliantly. This makes the record feel like a grand and complete experience for us which also makes the music feel very cohesive. The lyrics are fantastic as well and the delivery is very impressive throughout. However, what holds this album back is the inconsistency of the beats with some sounding great and others sounding quite repetitive and dated. This leads to an up and down listen which struggles to captivate me for the full run time. Overall, there are some fantastic highlights on here but the filler lets it down and holds back the music.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 02/01/2023 05:46 | #293464
I had always really enjoyed The Low End Theory, but it wasn’t until 2020’s lockdown that I returned to the entire Tribe discography, a much needed endeavor. It was then that my love of this record really blossomed.

There is an aura or vibe or mojo or something about The Low End Theory that I’m not sure I can get from any other album. The sound and aesthetics are timelessly vintage and perpetually inviting to the ear. Mix that with the mindset these guys had at the time for what Tribe was and what it represented. The Low End Theory is the sound of youth meeting experience.

This album is easily one of the great hip hop records. And it’s one of my very favorite albums of all time.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
70/100
From 08/31/2022 03:50 | #289168
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Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -3 votes (0 helpful | 3 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 03/01/2022 12:19 | #282079
Best rap album of the day
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 12/07/2021 12:52 | #277205
Muy buen disco!!!!!
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Best Albums of 1991
1. Nevermind by Nirvana
2. Loveless by My Bloody Valentine
3. Ten by Pearl Jam
4. Spiderland by Slint
5. Achtung Baby by U2
6. The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
7. Laughing Stock by Talk Talk
8. Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers
9. Metallica by Metallica
10. Blue Lines by Massive Attack
11. Screamadelica by Primal Scream
12. Out Of Time by R.E.M.
13. Badmotorfinger by Soundgarden
14. Dangerous by Michael Jackson
15. Yerself Is Steam by Mercury Rev
16. Trompe Le Monde by Pixies
17. Temple Of The Dog by Temple Of The Dog
18. Woodface by Crowded House
19. Use Your Illusion II by Guns N' Roses
20. Gish by The Smashing Pumpkins