Ali Shaheed Muhammad

Last updated

Ali Shaheed Muhammad
Ali Shaheed Muhammad 2008.jpg
Muhammad performing in 2008
Background information
Also known asMr. Muhammad
Born (1970-08-11) August 11, 1970 (age 54)
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. [1]
Genres
Occupations
  • Disc jockey
  • record producer
  • rapper
  • songwriter
Years active1985–present
Labels
Formerly of
Website alishaheed.com

Ali Shaheed Muhammad (born August 11, 1970) is an American hip hop DJ, record producer, rapper and bass guitarist, best known as a member of A Tribe Called Quest. [1] With Q-Tip and Phife Dawg (and sometimes Jarobi White), the group released five studio albums from 1990 to 1998 before disbanding; their final album was released in 2016. He was also a member of the R&B group Lucy Pearl, and is known in recent years for his jazz collaborations with producer Adrian Younge.

Contents

Early life

Muhammad was born in Brooklyn, New York City, and was raised in the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood. [2] [1] He began to DJ at age eight, and began programming music at age 13. [3] He befriended Q-Tip as a freshman at Murry Bergtraum High School in Manhattan, and in 1985, they began making demos together, using recording equipment provided by Muhammad's uncle. [3] [4] Shortly thereafter, Phife Dawg and Jarobi White joined the duo, forming the hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest. [3] Muhammad is a Muslim. [5]

Career

Muhammad speaking at Apple Fifth Avenue in New York City in 2006 Ali shaheed muhammad.jpg
Muhammad speaking at Apple Fifth Avenue in New York City in 2006

Together with Jay Dee and Q-Tip, Muhammad formed the music-production collective, the Ummah. [1]

After A Tribe Called Quest disbanded, Muhammad formed the R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl with Dawn Robinson, formerly of En Vogue and Raphael Saadiq, formerly of Tony! Toni! Toné!, releasing one album in 2000. [1] On October 12, 2004, he released his debut solo album, Shaheedullah and Stereotypes . [1] Muhammad co-hosted the Microphone Check radio show, which ran on NPR until 2016, [6] and on Spotify until 2019. [7] [8]

In 2013, Muhammad moved to Los Angeles to work with producer Adrian Younge on the Souls of Mischief album There Is Only Now , as the album's narrator. [9] [10] Since then Muhammad and Younge have collaborated to co-produce the soundtrack for both seasons of the Luke Cage TV series, [11] [12] and they have toured together since 2018 as the Midnight Hour, releasing an album by the same name. [13] [14]

In 2019, Muhammad contributed to Saadiq's fifth album, Jimmy Lee . [15]

In 2020, Muhammad and Younge launched the Jazz Is Dead album series, in which the two of them collaborate with jazz musicians. Album partners in this series have included Roy Ayers, Marcos Valle, Doug Carn, Gary Bartz, João Donato, and the trio Azymuth. [16] [2] Muhammad is the main bass guitarist for the project.

In 2024, Muhammad was selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of A Tribe Called Quest. [17]

Discography

Studio albums

with Lucy Pearl

with Adrian Younge

Selected solo production credits

1991

A Tribe Called Quest - Check the Rhime 12"

  • "Check the Rhime (Mr. Muhammad's Mix)"
1992

Fu-Schnickens - F.U. Don't Take It Personal

Fu-Schnickens - True Fuschnick 12"

  • "True Fuschnick (Shaheed's Fix)"

Boogie Down Productions - We in There 12"

  • "We in There (Remix)"
1993

Greg Osby - 3-D Lifestyles

  • "Raise"
  • "Hardcopy"
  • "Flow to the Underculture"

Shaquille O'Neal - Shaq Diesel

  • "Where Ya At?"

Young MC - What's the Flavor?

  • "We Can Do This"
  • "Foulin'"
  • "Bob Your Head"
  • "Open Up the Door (and Let Me In)"
1994

Gil Scott-Heron - Spirits

  • "Don't Give Up"

Ice Cube - What Can I Do? 12"

  • "What Can I Do (Eastside Mix)"

Simple E - Colouz Uv Sound

  • "Neck Work"

Da Bush Babees - Ambushed

  • "We Run Things (It's Like That)"
1995

Faith Evans - You Used to Love Me 12"

  • "You Used to Love Me (Ali Mix)"

D'Angelo - Brown Sugar

Naughty by Nature - Feel Me Flow 12"

  • "Feel Me Flow (Ali Shaheed Muhammad Mix)"

Stepchild - Hangin' Around (Sicka Gettin' Treated) 12"

  • "Hangin' Around (Sicka Gettin' Treated) (Remix)"
1997

Jon B. - I Do (Watcha Say Boo) 12"

  • "Cool Relax (Remix)"
1998

Various artists - Ride soundtrack

  • "Never Say Goodbye" (Adriana Evans and Phife Dawg)
1999

Angie Stone - Black Diamond

  • "Bone 2 Pic (With U)"

Shola Ama - In Return

  • "Lovely"

Eric Benét - A Day in the Life

  • "That's Just My Way"
  • "Lamentation"
  • "Why You Follow Me"

Scritti Politti - Tinseltown to the Boogiedown: The Variations

  • "Tinseltown to the Boogiedown (Ali Shaheed Variation)"

Various artists - The PJs soundtrack

Mos Def - Black on Both Sides

  • "Got"
2000

Laurneá Wilkerson - II

  • "Groovin'"
  • "She's Hurtin'"
2001

Angie Stone - Mahogany Soul

  • "What U Dyin' For"

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Tribe Called Quest</span> American hip hop group

A Tribe Called Quest was an American hip hop group formed in Queens, New York City, in 1985, originally composed of rapper and main producer Q-Tip, rapper Phife Dawg, DJ and co-producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and rapper Jarobi White. The group is regarded as a pioneer of alternative hip hop and merging jazz with hip hop, influencing numerous hip hop and R&B musicians.

<i>The Low End Theory</i> 1991 studio album by A Tribe Called Quest

The Low End Theory is the second studio album by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, released on September 24, 1991, by Jive Records. Recording sessions for the album were held mostly at Battery Studios in New York City, from 1990 to 1991. The album was primarily produced by group member Q-Tip, with a minimalist sound that combines bass, drum breaks, and jazz samples, in a departure from the group's debut album, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990). Lyrically, the album features social commentary, word play, humor, and interplay between Q-Tip and fellow member Phife Dawg.

The Native Tongues were a collective of late 1980s and early 1990s hip-hop artists known for their positive-minded, good-natured Afrocentric lyrics, and for pioneering the use of eclectic sampling and jazz-influenced beats. Its principal members were the Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Monie Love, and Queen Latifah. The collective was also closely tied to the Universal Zulu Nation. Rolling Stone cites the track "Doin' Our Own Dang" as "the definitive Native Tongues posse cut".

<i>Midnight Marauders</i> 1993 studio album by A Tribe Called Quest

Midnight Marauders is the third studio album by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, released on November 9, 1993, by Jive Records. Recording sessions for the album occurred at Battery Studios, Platinum Island Studios and Scorcerer Sound in New York City. Its production was mainly handled by Q-Tip, with contributions from Skeff Anselm, Large Professor and the group's DJ, Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A culmination of the group's two previous albums, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm and The Low End Theory, it features an eclectic, gritty sound based on jazz, funk, soul and R&B samples, in addition to socially conscious, positively-minded, and humorous lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Q-Tip (musician)</span> American rapper and producer (born 1970)

Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American rapper, record producer, singer, and DJ. Nicknamed the Abstract, he is noted for his innovative jazz-influenced style of hip hop production and his philosophical, esoteric and introspective lyrical themes. He embarked on his music career in the late 1980s, as an MC and main producer of the influential alternative hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest. In the mid-1990s, he co-founded the production team The Ummah, followed by the release of his gold-certified solo debut Amplified in 1999. In the following decade, he released the Grammy Award-nominated album The Renaissance (2008) and the experimental album Kamaal the Abstract (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raphael Saadiq</span> American contemporary R&B singer

Raphael Saadiq is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He rose to fame as a vocalist for the R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, which he formed with his brother D'Wayne and cousin Timothy Christian Riley in 1986. Along with his groupwork and solo career, he has produced and written songs for other R&B artists, including Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Total, Joss Stone, D'Angelo, TLC, En Vogue, Kelis, Mary J. Blige, Ledisi, Whitney Houston, Solange Knowles and John Legend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phife Dawg</span> American rapper (1970–2016)

Malik Izaak Taylor, known professionally as Phife Dawg, was an American rapper and a member of the group A Tribe Called Quest with Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. He was also known as the "Five-Foot Assassin" and the "Five-Footer," because he stood at just 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m).

The Ummah was a music production collective, composed of members Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest, and the late Jay Dee of the Detroit-based group Slum Village. Occasional members included Raphael Saadiq, and D'Angelo. In addition to producing nearly the entirety of A Tribe Called Quest's fourth and fifth albums, the Ummah provided backing tracks and remixes for a notable array of hip hop and contemporary R&B artists, including Busta Rhymes, Whitney Houston, Keith Murray, the Brand New Heavies, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Jon B. The group was so named because two of its members are devout Muslims. The word "ummah" is Arabic for "community", "nation", or "brotherhood". Generally, the term refers to the global Muslim population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot Sex</span> 1992 single by A Tribe Called Quest

"Hot Sex" is a single by hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest. It was released in 1992 on the soundtrack for the film Boomerang and was later featured on European editions of the group's third studio album Midnight Marauders one year later in 1993. The track was also featured as a bonus track on the group's fifth album The Love Movement in 1998, and on the 1999 compilation album The Anthology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarobi White</span> American rapper (born 1971)

Jarobi White is an American hip hop artist, chef, and a founding member of alternative hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, alongside members Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. He left the group after the release of their debut album, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm in order to pursue culinary arts, before returning for their last album, 2016's We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service. In the early 2010s, Jarobi formed evitaN with Dres, formerly of Black Sheep. Their first album, Speed of Life, was released in October 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Tribe Called Quest discography</span>

A Tribe Called Quest was an American hip hop group, formed in 1985. They released six studio albums, five compilations, sixteen singles and two extended plays. The group was made up of rapper/main producer Q-Tip, the late rapper Phife Dawg and DJ/co-producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Phife Dawg was only persuaded to join when a fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, joined the group. In 1989 they signed a demo deal with Geffen Records, but not given a full-fledged recording contract. After receiving many offers, they opted for the Jive Records label, an independent rap label. In under a year, they managed to produce People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm to critical acclaim, but lukewarm sales, reaching #91 on the Billboard 200, though it did eventually achieve gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Schmoove</span> 1992 single by Fu-Schnickens featuring Phife Dawg

"La Schmoove" is a song by American hip hop group Fu-Schnickens. The song, which features A Tribe Called Quest member Phife Dawg, was recorded for the group's debut album F.U. Don't Take It Personal and released as the second single from the album in April 1992. A portion of the song can be heard briefly in the film Falling Down.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">True Fuschnick</span> 1992 single by Fu-Schnickens

"True Fuschnick" is a song by American hip hop group Fu-Schnickens. The song was recorded for the group's debut album F.U. Don't Take It Personal and released as the third and final single for the album in August 1992.

Adrian Younge is an American composer, arranger and music producer based in the Los Angeles area.

<i>Luke Cage</i> (soundtrack) 2016 soundtrack album by Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad

Luke Cage (Original Soundtrack Album) is the soundtrack album to the 2016 first season of the streaming television series Luke Cage, featuring music composed by Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. The soundtrack was released on October 7, 2016, digitally and with a vinyl release by Mondo.

<i>We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service</i> 2016 studio album by A Tribe Called Quest

We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service is the sixth and final studio album by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest. It was released on November 11, 2016, by Epic Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We the People.... (song)</span> 2016 single by A Tribe Called Quest

"We the People...." is a song by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, and the first single from their sixth and final album, We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service. Produced by Q-Tip and co-produced by Blair Wells, the song contains a sample of the drum break of "Behind the Wall of Sleep" by Black Sabbath. The name of the track refers to the first three words of the Preamble to the United States Constitution. The chorus of the politically-charged song parodies Donald Trump's presidential campaign. "We the People...." was critically acclaimed and included on several year-end lists by publications.

<i>The Midnight Hour</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge

The Midnight Hour is a 2018 studio album by American musicians Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge.

"The Space Program" is a song by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, from their sixth and final album, We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service. Produced by Q-Tip and co-produced by Blair Wells, it is the opening track on the album, and includes posthumous vocals by group member Phife Dawg, who recorded the song with the group before his death in March 2016. Praised as the "triumphant return of the Tribe", it is a political hip hop song that addresses gentrification and racism in the United States.

Jazz Is Dead is a record label and live music project based in Los Angeles, founded by Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Muhammad is one of the co-founders of A Tribe Called Quest, and Younge has worked with the Wu-Tang Clan, among others. The trademark dates back to the first concert in 2017 and Younge's real frustration with ticket sales for his Midnight Hour show, but expresses the opposite of what he says the studio project is about: working with and paying homage to frequently-sampled jazz masters. The first CD, recorded at Linear Labs, was released in March 2020 and included the work of Roy Ayers, Marcos Valle, Azymuth, Doug Carn, Gary Bartz, João Donato, and Brian Jackson.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Torres, Andre. "Ali Shaheed Muhammad – About" Archived January 23, 2021, at the Wayback Machine , Linear Labs, Accessed February 27, 2019. "The soft-spoken and contemplative Brooklyn native began a life of music at an early age, spending years DJing parties in his Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood before co-founding Tribe in 1985."
  2. 1 2 "Ali Shaheed Muhammad – Discography". AllMusic . Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Del F. Cowie "A Tribe Called Quest – Verses From the Abstract". Archived from the original on April 16, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) Exclaim! February 2008
  4. "Q-Tip – Red Bull Music Academy". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  5. [ permanent dead link ]
  6. Janssen, Mike (September 30, 2016). "Reshuffling of NPR Music includes farewell to 'Microphone Check' team". Current.org. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  7. "Wrap Up Episode". Frannieandali.com. February 26, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  8. "About Microphone Check". Npr.org. June 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  9. "The Midnight Hour is giving a jazzy nod to soul and hip-hop in upcoming Charlotte performance". QCityMetro. September 13, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  10. Rys, Dan. "Adrian Younge Talks New Concept Album With Souls Of Mischief, Narrated By Ali Shaheed Muhammad – XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  11. "Luke Cage (Original Soundtrack Album) by Various Artists". Itunes.apple.com. October 7, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  12. "Luke Cage season 2 soundtrack revealed: who are the musical acts in Netflix's Marvel series?". Radio Times. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  13. Madden, Sidney (July 18, 2018). "The Midnight Hour: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR.org. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  14. "Ali Shaheed Muhammad / Adrian Younge: The Midnight Hour". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  15. Strauss, Matthew (June 7, 2019). "Raphael Saadiq Announces Jimmy Lee, First New Album in Eight Years". Pitchfork . Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  16. "Ali Shaheed Muhammad / Adrian Younge – Jazz Is Dead 001". AllMusic . Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  17. "2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.