At tonight’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in Cleveland, A Tribe Called Quest was inducted by Dave Chappelle. Q-Tip, Jarobi White, and Phife Dawg’s parents accepted the honor on behalf of the group, though Ali Shaheed Muhammad was absent. Chappelle honored their legacy, followed by a video featuring André 3000, Mike D, and Questlove reflecting on the group’s impact on music and culture. A star-studded performance of Tribe classics ensued, with De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, the Roots, Queen Latifah, Common, and Spliff Star taking the stage.
In his speech, Q-Tip reflected on the origins of rock and roll, linking it to the blues and noting how A Tribe Called Quest found their own voice in New York City in 1985. He spoke about the creative drive that pushed them forward, much like their musical predecessors.
The tribute performance kicked off with Queen Latifah performing “Can I Kick It?,” followed by Black Thought and De La Soul’s Posdnous joining in for “Check the Rhime,” and Common for “Bonita Applebum.” Busta Rhymes then performed a mix of the original and remix versions of “Scenario,” the 1992 hit he collaborated on with Tribe.
This year’s Rock Hall inductees also include Mary J. Blige, Cher, Kool & the Gang, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, and Ozzy Osbourne. Check out Pitchfork’s full coverage of the event.