At the annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in Cleveland, A Tribe Called Quest was honored with an induction, celebrated by comedian Dave Chappelle. Members Q-Tip, Jarobi White, and the parents of Phife Dawg accepted the award on behalf of the group, as Ali Shaheed Muhammad was absent. Chappelle acknowledged their profound legacy and influence in his speech, followed by a video tribute featuring André 3000, Mike D, and Questlove discussing the impact of the hip-hop pioneers on music and culture. Popular acts like De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, the Roots, Queen Latifah, Common, and Spliff Star took the stage to perform a medley of Tribe’s classic hits.
During his heartfelt speech, Q-Tip emphasized the connection between rock and roll and the blues, recounting the challenges that artists face. He stated, “Just like our predecessors, we had to find spaces on the outskirts… The need to express burns in us with an art-fueled determination. A spark. The spark that embers within many of us in this room, and the spark that burned within the four of us boys in 1985 in New York City.”
Queen Latifah kicked off the tribute performance with the iconic “Can I Kick It?”, soon joined by Black Thought and De La Soul’s Posdnous for “Check the Rhime,” and Common for “Bonita Applebum.” Busta Rhymes, who collaborated with Tribe on the classic “Scenario,” infused the performance with a blend of the original and its remix.
This year’s Rock Hall inductees also include Mary J. Blige, Cher, Kool & the Gang, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, and Ozzy Osbourne.
