Beats, Rhymes and So-Called Life

This week, Sony Pictures Classic's documentary on A Tribe Called Quest, "Beats, Rhymes and Life," comes to dvd shelves and Redbox this week. Which means it's a great time to second guess the choices of first-time director Micheal Rapport, now that we're over the joy and wonder of seeing someone treat at a hip-hop group with the same critical perspective reserved for rock bands. So, here are the top 7 things that I would've like to have seen in the movie and didn't thanks to the guy from Zebrahead.

1. Tommy Gun There was a rumor about Q-Tip and Mariah Carey back in the day. Supposedly, her husband Tommy Mattola, a record executive who allegedly knows some tough guys, got wind of this and was pissed. As the rumor goes, a contract was put out on 'Tip's life and he made himself scarce for a few months until things cooled down. I do know of a rapper who was waiting for the abstract rapper to executive produce his debut record around this time, but had to go on without him because he couldn't be found. Just so I know in case I'm on the run from the mob, where was he hiding?

2. Eye Patch Another rumor about Q-Tip, this one about an alleged altercation with Wrecks-N-Effect, a group as dated as their name sounds. Did one of their members nearly blind Q-Tip? Is that really why he wore a mask in the video for "Hot Sex"?

3. Mystery of Q We learned a lot about Phife in the film. We saw his house, his wife and his struggle with diabetes. But what about the group's leader? Q -Tip remains a mystery before and fafter the film.

4. After the Fire Selling part or all of your record collection can be an emotional experience. This guy talks about it on several of his podcasts. Imagine what it's like to have your collection, along with all of your belongings, destroyed by fire. Q-Tip knows, but he's not telling.

5. Who is Ali Shaheed Muhammad? He was almost an background artist in this film about a group he was in.

6. Beats, Rhymes and Life Rapport thought enough of this ATCQ album to name his film after it, but the film barely acknowleges its existence.

7. Rhymes & Fights Phife's brief solo career goes unmentioned, which is odd, since the director seemed driven to exploit the conflict in the band. Aside from the alleged shove in the film, Phife's video for Flawless is the only visual evidence of tribal discord.

Check out the Phifer

Former Tribe Called Quest member Phife is respectful and polite in this 1999 discussion about the dissolution of one of hip-hop's greatest groups. But by the time he finished his solo debut, the five footer was singing a different tune about one of his former bandmates. He mocked Q-Tip's new look in his video for "Flawless," rocking an afro wig and purple bandanna for comic effect. If that wasn't enough, the lyrics included jabs at the group's former frontman: "Sing ballads if it's all about the Maxwell look ... Or a purple bandanna cause it matches your shawl?/Now tell me, what you rhymin' for?/This shit is all about flows, fuck a fashion show." If he felt that the commercial curve Tip's solo work took was tarnishing their legacy as a solid hip-hop crew, it would certainly be a valid concern.

Phife, after his lukewarm first release, faded away from the hip hop scene for awhile. He recently made news when he recovered from a kidney-related ailment and when the crew was honored by VH-1. In addition, he's featured on a mixtape tribute to De La Soul, which can be had here, and he video blogs over here.