The Low End Theory (studio album) by A Tribe Called Quest

The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
Year: 1991
Overall rank: 133rd   Overall chart historyOverall chart history
Average Rating: 
85/100 (from 1,128 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution   Average rating historyAverage rating history
Accolades:
Award Top 10 albums of 1991 (6th)
Award Top 50 albums of the 1990s (29th)
Award Top 200 albums of all time (133rd)
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TEST PRESSING A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory 2LP midnight Instinctive
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A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory Glow In The Dark Box Set Factory Sealed
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A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory (VMP 45rpm Red/Green Vinyl Me Please)
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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 (133rd) Lower ranked (409th) »
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The Low End Theory track list

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

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1.
Track pick
Rating: 90 (264 votes)Comments: 1
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2.
Rating: 88 (240 votes)Comments: 1
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3.
Rating: 82 (200 votes)Comments: 0
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4.
Rating: 85 (206 votes)Comments: 0
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6.
Rating: 85 (200 votes)Comments: 3
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12.
Rating: 80 (186 votes)Comments: 0
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13.
Rating: 83 (196 votes)Comments: 0
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14.
Track pick
Rating: 90 (248 votes)Comments: 3
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Track pick Top-rated track as rated by BestEverAlbums.com members.

The Low End Theory rankings

The Low End Theory collection

The Low End Theory ratings

Average Rating: 
85/100 (from 1,128 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 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 1,128 ratings for this album.

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RatingDate updatedMemberAlbum ratingsAvg. album rating
 
100/100
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06/20/2025 17:44 mjp11  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 88277/100
 
65/100
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06/09/2025 15:31 Invader666  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 2,62765/100
 
95/100
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06/04/2025 06:08 miltiadis2001  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 66985/100
 
90/100
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05/31/2025 06:42 ironjaiden  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 8789/100
 
90/100
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05/26/2025 16:28 ShenBapiro  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 16787/100

Rating metrics: 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 84.8/100, a mean average of 83.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 84.9/100. The standard deviation for this album is 15.9.

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The Low End Theory comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 66 comments |
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Rating:  
100/100
From 07/11/2024 16:46
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
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
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
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
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.
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Rating:  
100/100
From 02/01/2023 05:46
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
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Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -3 votes (0 helpful | 3 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 03/01/2022 12:19
Best rap album of the day
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 12/07/2021 12:52
Muy buen disco!!!!!
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Rating:  
85/100
From 05/18/2021 12:50
As inserções de jazz são insanas! Obra-prima!
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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. Trompe Le Monde by Pixies
16. Temple Of The Dog by Temple Of The Dog
17. Use Your Illusion II by Guns N' Roses
18. Yerself Is Steam by Mercury Rev
19. Woodface by Crowded House
20. Gish by The Smashing Pumpkins
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