Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest
Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest Image
Metascore
76 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.9 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 10 Ratings

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  • Summary: Michael 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. As he travels with the band members, Rapaport captures the story of how tenuous their relationship has become; how their personal differences and unresolved conflicts continue to be a threat to their creative cohesion. When mounting tensions erupt backstage during a show in San Francisco, we get a behind-the-scenes look at their journey and contributions as a band and what currently is at stake for these long-time friends collaborators. (Sony Picture Classics)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    Jul 13, 2011
    100
    Poignant and powerful, complex and melancholy, the film ends with rehearsals for yet another money-grubbing comeback tour.
  2. Slate
    Reviewed by: Jonah Weiner
    Jul 13, 2011
    80
    Like "Anvil!," Sacha Gervasi's 2008 documentary about two lovable, bickering metalheads, Beats, Rhymes & Life is a music documentary with a buddy-movie heart.
  3. Arizona Republic
    Reviewed by: Randy Cordova
    Aug 6, 2011
    80
    Thanks to a particularly even-handed job by director Michael Rapaport, the story emerges as compelling, even for non-fans in the audience.
  4. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: John DeFore
    Jul 2, 2011
    60
    Though it may not have much of an audience beyond the band's fan base, it offers enough context to serve as a primer on the hugely influential Native Tongues clique and should have life on home-vid.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Vincer
    9
    Unless you don't like A Tribe Called Quest or you're uninterested in Hip Hop and Rap history, you have no reason not to see this. This movie illustrates the timeline of A Tribe Called Quest from highs to lows. It's a fresh documentary that will certainly put a smile on your face. The only problem with this documentary is the lack of explanation. For example, lack of music construction. While, yes, there is Q-Tip explaining how this or that song started with this or that loop, but outside of that, there isn't really much. Which is a shame because A Tribe Called Quest had some of the best loops and whatnot. Nonetheless, this is a documentary for all. Highly recommended if you were into 90's Hip Hop and Rap. 9/10… Expand
  2. j30
    8
    Fantastic documentary that makes you realize how much you miss early 90's Hip Hop acts like De La Soul and how bad Hip Hop has been since TCQ left the game.… Expand
  3. Sonny_OBicz
    8
    A good watch for someone who doesnâ

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