BY PAUL MEARA / MARCH 13, 2018

To most, the 2018 Grammys represented a strong field of what Hip-Hop music had to offer in the previous year, but many believed that a few were snubbed in the nominees for Best Rap Album. The decision not to select A Tribe Called Quest was a particular sore spot for those who believed the iconic group’s last ever album deserved consideration. Their 2016 LP We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service, the last to feature vocal from the late Phife Dawg, was among the field of albums eligible for the distinction.

When the nominations were released, Q-Tip made his feelings known publicly and took to Instagram to lambast the Recording Academy for excluding ATCQ from all nominations, particularly given that the group had performed at the 2017 show and made an album that received critical acclaim. “Y’all fuckin busted y’all ass to try and get us out there and perform!” he said in a selfie video on the social media platform. “You think a n***a wanted to f*ckin’ go out there and perform after I lost my man? We closed y’all show and we don’t get no fucking nominations? The last Tribe album? My man is gone! We been doing this sh*t for f*cking years!”

Tip was not the only one in the group with those sentiments. Ali Shaheed Muhammad and frequent Tribe contributor Consequence appeared on Sway’s Universe this morning (March 13) and reflected on not being nominated for a Grammy. Sway began the conversation by playing a sound bite legendary songwriter and producer Jimmy Jam made about why he believed A Tribe Called Quest was not nominated for a Grammy, primarily citing that the competition they were going up against had them on the outside looking in. Ali Shaheed, respectfully, disagreed.

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