Elton John has used his radio show to share his love of hip-hop icons A Tribe Called Quest, calling them “the seminal hip hop band of all time.”
With one of the most acclaimed and storied careers of any iconic musician on the scene, it’s fair to say that Elton John has seen and done it all.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of his debut album this June, Elton has undoubtedly been around the block a few times, making him a rather highly-regarded authority when it comes to music.
In fact, Elton has used his Rocket Hour radio show in the past to sing the praises of some of his favourite artists, including plenty of Australians.
Names such as Alex The Astronaut, The Babe Rainbow, Winston Surfshirt, Angus & Julia Stone, Pnau, and Sarah Blasko have all been celebrated by the icon, making him a pretty huge fan of Aussie music.
However, it seems that Elton John can’t solely live on Australian artists, using his most recent episode to interview Q-Tip, the frontman of iconic American hip-hop collective A Tribe Called Quest.
Referring to Q-Tip as “a legend in music,” Elton went on to refer to A Tribe Called Quest as one of his favourite hip-hop acts of all time.
“A Tribe Called Quest are probably the seminal hip-hop band of all time, I think,” Elton John began in his interview of Q-Tip. “They had a great start then you disbanded right?”
“Yeah, you know it gets to the point like it’s a marriage as everybody says,” Q-Tip responded. “It got a little funky there but we always loved each other, we all grew up with each other, and plus the times were changing.”
“When we started it was more of a group thing, and then years later it’s a very trendy thing in hip-hop where it got to be a solo man’s game. It just happened, but we did okay.”
“There’s something about A Tribe Called Quest that was so cool,” Elton John noted. “It was so kind of laid back but it was so funky. You were unlike any other hip-hop band, I think.”
“I remember starting out seeing bands like N.W.A and Public Enemy in London at the Hammersmith Odeon,” he recalled. “And then De La Soul and people like that. And it’s just, there’s something wonderful about you guys coming together and all the different members.”
Later in the interview, Elton John paid tribute to the now-defunct collective by playing Midnight Maruders’ ‘Electric Relaxation’, calling it “one of [his] favourite tracks.”
“If you don’t know A Tribe Called Quest, you’re stupid,” he joked. “But if you listen to [‘Electric Relaxation’], you’ll understand why I rave about them.”
Of course, such praise from Elton John should come as no surprise to fans of A Tribe Called Quest, with the English musician featuring on ‘Solid Wall Of Sound’, a track from ATCQ’s final album, We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service.
While A Tribe Called Quest called it quits back in 2017, fans will get the chance to wave goodbye to Elton John later this year, when he touches down for his final tour of Australia.
Check out A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘Electric Relaxation’:
Elton John Farewell Yellow Brick Road Australia 2019-2020
Saturday, November 30th, 2019
HBF Park, Perth, WA
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Sunday, December 1st, 2019
HBF Park, Perth, WA
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Wednesday, December 4th, 2019
Botanic Park Adelaide, Adelaide, SA
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019
Botanic Park Adelaide, Adelaide, SA
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Tuesday, December 10th, 2019
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
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Wednesday, December 11th, 2019
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
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Saturday, December 14th, 2019
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
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Sunday, December 15th, 2019
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
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Wednesday, December 18th, 2019
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019
ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney, NSW
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Monday, December 23rd, 2019
ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney, NSW
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Tuesday, January 7th, 2020
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW
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Thursday, January 9th, 2020
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW
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Saturday, January 11th, 2020
Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, NSW
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Sunday, January 12th, 2020
Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, NSW
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Tuesday, January 14th, 2020
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW
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Thursday, January 14th, 2020
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
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Saturday, January 18th, 2020
A Day On The Green
Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, QLD
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Sunday, January 19th, 2020
A Day On The Green
Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, QLD
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Wednesday, January 22nd, 2020
Carrington Park, Bathurst, NSW
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Saturday, January 25th, 2020
Hanging Rock, Woodend, VIC
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Sunday, January 26th, 2020
Hanging Rock, Woodend, VIC
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Wednesday, January 29th, 2020
A Day On The Green
All Saints Estate, Rutherglen, VIC
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Friday, January 31st, 2020
A Day On The Green
Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley, VIC
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Saturday, February 1st, 2020
A Day On The Green
Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley, VIC
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