"Jazz (We've Got)" is the second single from A Tribe Called Quest's second album '' The Low End Theory''. The original material sampled in the song was provided by Pete Rock, and was then recreated in a similar way by Q-Tip.Wax Poetic interview - Pete Rock - tribe.net
Exclusive: Q-Tip Interview
MOOVMNT.com. Retrieved on 2016-12-16. Although Pete Rock is not officially credited, Q-Tip credits him in the outro of the track, rapping ''"Pete Rock for the beat, ya don't stop."'' ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...

'' lists "Jazz (We've Got)" on their list of 20 essential songs from the group. On their list of 10 lyrics that prove

Phife Dawg Malik Izaak Taylor (November 20, 1970March 22, 2016), known professionally as Phife Dawg (or simply Phife), was an American rapper and a member of the group A Tribe Called Quest with Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (and for a short time Jarob ...

's talent, ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to ...

'' included a rhyme from "Jazz (We've Got)": ''"''Make sure you have a system with some phat house speakers / So the new shit can rock, from Bronx to Massapequa." The article notes that, "these kinds of stunt rhymes may not have been the most common component of Phife's lyrical arsenal, but they were usually the most 'oh shit' moments in any given verse, since they sounded so unexpected without really feeling forced."

Music video

In the

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device ...

, directed by

Jim Swaffield Jim Swaffield is an American music video director and video editor. He has worked with A Tribe Called Quest, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince and Coolio. He is also known for working with R. Kelly on ''Trapped in the Closet ''Trapped in ...

, the group travels around New York City while rapping about the beauty of

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

. Q-Tip starts off the first verse followed by Phife Dawg, 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 ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar, عَلِيّ بْن أَبِي طَالِب; 600 – 661 CE) was the last of four Rightly Guided Caliphs to rule Islam (r. 656 – 661) immediately after the death of Muhammad, and he was the first Shia Imam ...

asks, "Check what out?". Phife answers, "Check ''this'' out", and the video shifts into color for "Buggin' Out" with Phife beginning to rap his verse. This was the first time a track cut into its B-side within a single music video. During the "Buggin' Out" sequence, the two rappers are seen wearing eye caps that make their eyeballs appear to be very large. Half way through the song, the music stops, and the video once again cuts back to black and white, with Q-Tip finishing his rhyme from "Buggin' Out" a cappella.

Remix

A remix (called a "Re-Recording") was done for "Jazz (We've Got)" and was featured on ''

The Love Movement ''The Love Movement'' is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, and their last album released during group member Phife Dawg's lifetime. Released on September 29, 1998, by Jive Records, it is a concept album, explor ...

'' and '' Revised Quest for the Seasoned Traveller''. "Your mic & my mic, come on, yo, no equal”, a Q-Tip verse on "Jazz (We've Got) (Re-Recording)" can be heard on " No Equal" by

The Beatnuts The Beatnuts are an American hip hop group and production duo from New York City. Its current members are JuJu and Psycho Les. JuJu (born Jerry Tineo on December 14, 1968) is a Dominican American from Corona and Psycho Les (born Lester Fernande ...

from their 1993 EP '' Intoxicated Demons: The EP''.

Samples

*" Green Dolphin Street" by

Jimmy McGriff James Harrell McGriff (April 3, 1936 – May 24, 2008) was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader. Biography Early years and influences Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, United States, McGriff started playing pi ...

*"Don't Change Your Love" by

Five Stairsteps The Five Stairsteps, known as "The First Family of Soul" and later "The Invisible Man's Band", was an American Chicago soul group made up of five of Betty and Clarence Burke Sr.'s six children: Alohe Jean, Clarence Jr., James, Dennis, and Ken ...

*"Long Red" by

Mountain A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually highe ...

ample appears on remix only*"Sing a Simple Song" by

Sly and the Family Stone Sly and the Family Stone was an American band from San Francisco. Active from 1966 to 1983, it was pivotal in the development of funk, soul, rock, and psychedelic music. Its core line-up was led by singer-songwriter, record producer, and multi ...

ample appears on remix only*"Suite Sioux" by Freddie Hubbard ample appears on remix only

Charts

Weekly charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jazz, We've got 1991 singles 1991 songs A Tribe Called Quest songs Jazz rap songs Song recordings produced by Pete Rock Song recordings produced by Q-Tip (musician) Jive Records singles Songs written by Q-Tip (musician) Songs written by Phife Dawg Songs written by Ali Shaheed Muhammad Songs with music by Bronisław Kaper Songs with lyrics by Ned Washington