7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A portrait of one of the most innovative and influential hip hop bands of all time, the Queens NY collective known as A Tribe Called Quest.
Starring: Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Jarobi White, Michael RapaportDocumentary | 100% |
Music | 98% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English, English SDH, French
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Good things do come to an end.
Music might rightly be defined as "the heartbeat of life." It's as diverse as man himself. It comes and goes, sometimes as fleetingly as a breeze but
sometimes remains as strong as a rock. But for every song, every album, every artist, no matter how widespread, how famous, how unknown,
there's
someone deeply affected by the
words, the beats, the melodies, allowing them to be caught up in a moment, to hear something that speaks to them, soothes their senses,
emotionally
heals them, or influences them to go in a new direction, to rekindle an old passion, to recall an old memory. Music is always changing,
reflective of the times, the lives of those who perform, the world in which they live. As the world metaphorically shrinks, the scope, reach, and
influence of music only grows. It reaches more people, is tuned in on more radios, is downloaded on more devices, is imitated far and wide. Music's
malleability only increases its audience and its audience's appreciation for the artistry and talent behind it, never mind, even, the purpose
behind the lyrics or its impact on those who create it. Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest isn't exactly about the
music, but instead the people who make it. It's not about the fans as much as it is the artists. It's the story behind the music, a look at
the other
side. It doesn't dwell as much on the group's standing with fans as much as it does the group's impact and legacy on one another. It's not a
uniquely insightful
film, but it is a worthy glimpse into the people who make the music and the world that's shaped them and has resultantly been re-shaped by their
contributions to it. There's maybe no better example of how the world gives and takes than may be found in music, and Beats, Rhymes, & Life:
The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest provides a microcosm of the impact of that give and take on the group and the world as it was and is, its
travels from one time to the next and how it's changed along the way.
The guys.
Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest debuts on Blu-ray with another solid 1080p Sony Blu-ray transfer. The movie's primary digital photography translates well to Blu-ray; though noise spikes at times and the image sports a generally glossy overlay, it also yields good stable details and colors. Clarity is strong, which gives way to positive facial and clothing textures, not to mention fairly intricate detailing on urban surfaces such as brick walls and murals. Colors fare very well, whether neutral "urban jungle" shades of gray or brightly-colored clothes. Black levels are generally sound, presenting minimal-to-no crush. Flesh tones appear accurate, too. Blocking and banding are largely absent. The picture contains a good amount of archival footage, much of it coming in the form of years-old music video clips. These, of course, have their visual and technical limitations and don't stand up to today's standards; that said, they do not factor into the overall score. For the most part, this is a solid high definition transfer. It's certainly not eye candy sort of material, but fans will appreciate the clarity and stability the Blu-ray disc yields.
Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest features a positive and energetic DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The only real "flaw" comes in the form of dialogue clarity over the stage microphones during tour stops. Otherwise, this one is excellent all around. The various cuts of the group's songs sound fantastic. Clarity is magnificent from the top down, even in the deliberately scratchy "Can I Kick It." Spacing is seamless, surrounds are supportive, and the bass is wonderfully heavy and tight. Ambience is first-rate, too, notably in the various exterior city shots where the general din of city life really springs to life. Dialogue is clear and focused, save for the aforementioned trouble spots. This one's pretty basic; it's mostly dialogue and music, with the latter really jumping to life and defining the track. Fans of A Tribe Called Quest will love this one.
Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest pumps out a few nice extras, chief amongst them an audio commentary track,
several featurettes, and plenty of deleted and extended scenes.
Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest is a well-put together Documentary chronicling both A Tribe Called Quest's 2008 reunion tour as well the groups origins, with emphasis on the individuals. It's a raw, honest, sometimes exhilarating, and always fascinating look into one of the 1990's most influential and popular Hip Hop groups. Obviously, fans of A Tribe Called Quest will get the most out of the movie. It's not really recommended for anyone going in completely blind, but Michael Rapaport's film is certainly of a quality that even newcomers will find it to be at least an informative and well-made picture. Sony's Blu-ray release of Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest features good technical presentations, supported by plenty of extras. Recommended to fans of the group and their musical genre.
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