Jazz (We've Got)

"Jazz (We've Got)"
Single by A Tribe Called Quest
from the album The Low End Theory
B-side "Buggin' Out"
Released 1991
Format digital download, 12" maxi single
Recorded 1991
Genre Jazz rap
Length 4:09
Label Jive Records
Producer A Tribe Called Quest
Pete Rock (demo)
A Tribe Called Quest singles chronology
"Check the Rhime"
(1991)
"Jazz (We've Got)"
(1991)
"Scenario"
(1992)

"Jazz (We've Got)" is the second single from A Tribe Called Quest's second album The Low End Theory. A segment of the track "Buggin' Out" appeared in the music video. The sequences from "Jazz (We've Got)" are in black and white, while the "Buggin' Out" sequences are in full color. It samples "Green Dolphin Street" by Lucky Thompson's quartet, from the live album Friday the 13th Cook County Jail, produced by Sonny Lester. The original material sampled in the song, was provided by Pete Rock and was then recreated the exact same way by Q-Tip (he is the producer of most of the tracks credited as produced by A Tribe Called Quest).[1] Pete Rock is not officially credited (at the end of the track Q-Tip says "Pete Rock for the beat, ya don't stop.").[2]

Music video

In the video, the group travels around the city while rapping about the beauty of jazz. Q-Tip starts off the first verse followed by Phife, who rhymes after the second chorus. After Q-Tip's second verse, he pauses and says, "now check it out", at which point the music stops and Ali asks, "check what out?". Phife answers with, "check this out" and the video shifts into color for "Buggin' Out" and Phife begins rapping his verse. During the "Buggin' Out" sequence, the two emcees are wearing eye caps that make their eyeballs appear very large. After half of the song is performed the music stops, and the video once again cuts to black and white, with Q-Tip finishing his rhyme from "Buggin' Out" as a freestyle.

Remix

A remix (called a re-recording) was done for "Jazz (We've Got)" and was featured on The Love Movement and Revised Quest for the Seasoned Traveller. It samples the widely used "Long Red" by Mountain. "Your Mic & My Mic, Come On Yo, No Equal" From Q-Tip's Verse On "Jazz (We've Got)" (Re-Recording) Can Be Heard On "No Equal" By The Beatnuts From Their 1993 EP "Intoxicated Demons". It can also be said to be a rack em willie kind of video.

References