Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest (2011)

91% of critics liked it
(56 reviews)
91% of users liked it
(3,284 ratings)

A documentary film directed by Michael Rapaport about one of the most influential and groundbreaking musical groups in hip-hop history. Having released five gold and platinum selling albums within eight years, A Tribe Called Quest has been one of the most commercially successful and artistically… More A documentary film directed by Michael Rapaport about one of the most influential and groundbreaking musical groups in hip-hop history. Having released five gold and platinum selling albums within eight years, A Tribe Called Quest has been one of the most commercially successful and artistically significant musical groups in recent history, and regarded as iconic pioneers of hip hop. The band's sudden break-up in 1998 shocked the industry and saddened the scores of fans, whose appetite for the group's innovative musical stylings never seems to diminish. A hard-core fan himself, Rapaport sets out on tour with A Tribe Called Quest in 2008, when they reunited to perform sold-out concerts across the country, almost ten years after the release of their last album, The Love Movement. -- (C) Sony Classics

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Michael Rapaport
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Documentary

In Theaters: Jul 8, 2011 Limited
On DVD: Oct 18, 2011
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

Critic Reviews

Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader
This authorized documentary is more of a celebration of the legendary Queens quartet than a serious exploration of their art. But considering how brilliant they were at their peak, it's hard to disagree with the general sentiment.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Rapaport gets at the dynamics of a group that struggles even now to get along well enough to get paid - again.
Jennie Punter, Globe and Mail
A combination of timing, access, a visual aesthetic that reflects ATCQ's Afrocentric "surface philosophy" (as the crew's look is described) and, most importantly, story-conscious editing elevates the doc above the norm.
Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic
Thanks to a particularly even-handed job by director Michael Rapaport, the story emerges as compelling, even for non-fans in the audience.
Adam Graham, Detroit News
The movie gets the beats and rhymes down pat, but the life part is a little messy. Oh well, two out of three ain't bad.
Dan DeLuca, Philadelphia Inquirer
The emotional honesty Rapaport captures on screen comes off as real, a cut above standard-issue Behind the Music drama in terms of believability.
Eric Melin, Scene-Stealers.com
Rappaport covers a huge spectrum of voices and opinions, and the themes he explores get into personal relationships -- something everyone can relate to.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Rapaport, clearly a fan, is able to capture both the ongoing love and the tension within the band.
John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
Warning: The bassline Ron Carter contrived for the classic cut 'Buggin' Out' is about as easy to dislodge from your brain as a 'Night Gallery' earwig.
Simon Miraudo, Quickflix
Maybe I'm just a sucker for good old fashioned hip-hop, but I found Michael Rapaport's totally-by-the-numbers music doco [Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest] absolutely compelling.
Thomas Caldwell, Cinema Autopsy
This documentary therefore did exactly what a good music doco should do: brought people like me up to speed and, according to reports from more serious hip hop fans in the audience, provided lots of information that wasn't previously well known.
Mike Scott, Times-Picayune
An adoring, though enlightening, look at the tumultuous run of the influential hip-hop group.
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
That mood of musical unity, of a sonic movement, is incredible, vibrantly recounted in Beats. It's more than just a documentary, it's a time capsule of hip hop originality and confidence.
Josh Bell, Las Vegas Weekly
The movie's value is in informing and illuminating, not provoking.
Justin Strout, Orlando Weekly
It's difficult to get a grasp on just what audience this documentary is made for.
Kevin C. Johnson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Despite accusations of nearly succumbing to spotlighting beefs over beats, the film comes off as an honest representation of a great group that's not to be forgotten.
Sarah Boslaugh, Playback:stl
Even if you think you don't like hip-hop you may find yourself captivated by the musicality of A Tribe Called Quest, and that alone is reason to watch this documentary...
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
Respectful but not idolatrous, this is one 'Behind the Music' piece that even those who have never heard of the group can appreciate.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
If you want to know what hip-hop is all about, this 'rapumentary' is a fine place to start.
Tim Basham, Paste Magazine
It tells a real story that is both complex and coherent, putting ATCQ's impact on the level of what Dylan and The Beatles provided in their respective moments in musical history. And the argument is well made.

Read all 22 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Idrees K

A well-rounded, even documentary that provides the viewer with some insight to how people sometimes spawn dissension from what seems like nothing. There's nothing mindblowing here, but it's definitely an interesting watch, even if you're not a fan. You just might have… More
A well-rounded, even documentary that provides the viewer with some insight to how people sometimes spawn dissension from what seems like nothing. There's nothing mindblowing here, but it's definitely an interesting watch, even if you're not a fan. You just might have a bit more appreciation for the contributions of the group to hip hop if you are.
Sunny D

'Beats, Rhymes and Life' does a great job of not only explaining the origins and history of A Tribe Called Quest, but also the influence that they had on hip-hop as a whole. The relationship between two leading members, Q-Tip and Phife, is fascinating to see on film, and… More
'Beats, Rhymes and Life' does a great job of not only explaining the origins and history of A Tribe Called Quest, but also the influence that they had on hip-hop as a whole. The relationship between two leading members, Q-Tip and Phife, is fascinating to see on film, and Rapaport does a great job of capturing the brotherly relationship between the two band members. This documentary is not just for fans of ATCQ, but should be required viewing for all fans of hip-hop. Grade: B+
Michael G

Music documentaries generally make cringe because they always seem to diminish any regard for the band in question. Beats, Rhymes and Life had the opposite effect on me. It was informative and comprehensive, not to mention very well made and has had the songs of A Tribe Called Quest… More
Music documentaries generally make cringe because they always seem to diminish any regard for the band in question. Beats, Rhymes and Life had the opposite effect on me. It was informative and comprehensive, not to mention very well made and has had the songs of A Tribe Called Quest stuck in my head for days afterward. A lot of the interviews are great but there are a few dipshits around. Interviewing Pharrell Williams before Prince Paul? Seriously...?!?!
Aaron N

I really dug this film a lot. It helps, of course, that I am a huge fan of A Tribe Called Quest, so getting the chance to watch a music documentary about the group and all they've been through and where they'll go to from here was already a giant plus for me. However, what… More
I really dug this film a lot. It helps, of course, that I am a huge fan of A Tribe Called Quest, so getting the chance to watch a music documentary about the group and all they've been through and where they'll go to from here was already a giant plus for me. However, what helped further was the skill that first-time director Michael Rapaport had in assembling this thing. He made a lot of good choices that provided for a film that is insightful, entertaining, quite funny at times, and most of all a great listen in terms of hearing musicians both speak and perform. I enjoy a good documentary, especially one with subject matter that I have such a fondness for.
Alec B

What I liked most was that rather than spend most of the film having other artists and critics talk about their work and why it was so influential and important (although there is some of that), they instead decided to focus on the group dynamic which produces some rather candid… More
What I liked most was that rather than spend most of the film having other artists and critics talk about their work and why it was so influential and important (although there is some of that), they instead decided to focus on the group dynamic which produces some rather candid discussion about some of the serious personal problems they have with one another.
Philip P

I love music just about as much as I do movies and the genre of hip hop holds a special place in my heart. To see these two meshed so beautifully into a telling documentary is truly a gift. I found everything director Michael Rapaport explored here an interesting reason for why A… More
I love music just about as much as I do movies and the genre of hip hop holds a special place in my heart. To see these two meshed so beautifully into a telling documentary is truly a gift. I found everything director Michael Rapaport explored here an interesting reason for why A Tribe Called Quest were the group they became and why they became who they are now. To be honest, I had not listened to much of their music before seeing the film. I was more familiar with De La Soul from that generation or Run DMC and LL Cool J of the one just prior, but the funk, the feelings that hip hop embodied in the early 90's is something you can't deny. It is exciting to see the process of songwriting and the what is now ease of rising to the top of the rap game. It was most certainly more of a slow climb in reality, but Rapaport doesn't just make this an extended "Behind the Music" like documentary, no, this is an in depth look at what motivated these guys and what still brings them together despite their personal differences: music. Hit makers of today could learn a few things from these guys as it isn;t really about the level of fame, but the music that you make to get you there.
matt s

Pretty good documentary that makes me want to listen to everything A Tribe Called Quest has ever done, which can't be said about other music documentaries. The film is a little slow and Reading Rainbow-esque. I hate the shaky cam style too. Some of the shots could have been… More
Pretty good documentary that makes me want to listen to everything A Tribe Called Quest has ever done, which can't be said about other music documentaries. The film is a little slow and Reading Rainbow-esque. I hate the shaky cam style too. Some of the shots could have been perfect had Rapaport invested in a fucking tripod. However, the drama between Phife Dawg and Q-Tip towards the end make this one you shouldn't miss.