When A Tribe Called Quest released its fifth album The Love Movement on September 29, 1998, it was being touted as the group’s last album. Infighting between ATCQ’s members had eroded some of the brotherhood that fueled the infectious vibe of their first three albums, so they decided to quit while they were ahead.
Though this album isn’t Tribe at its best, you still get a dose of the famous verbal interplay between Tip & Phife on “Hot 4 U,” “Da Booty,” and the Towa Tei-sampling lead single “Find a Way” which managed to break the Top 20 on Billboard’s Rap Charts.
Critics' response to the mostly Ummah-produced set was lukewarm at best. Gone were contributions from ancillary member Consequence, but the sound was a continuation of the innovative but uncommercial Beats, Rhymes, and Life from 1995.
To sweeten the deal for longtime fans, an edition of the album featured a 6-track bonus CD with rarities like “Oh My God (Remix)” and a much-needed remaster on 1992’s “Hot Sex” from the Boomerang soundtrack.