--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For people who love Tribe, I'm the…" description: "\"For people who love Tribe, I'm the defector. They say, 'You should get back with Ali to do the beats.' But a lot of people don't realize I did all the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/q-tip-7839_albums_for-people-who-love-tribe-i-m-the-defect_2467189.jpg" --- # For people who love Tribe, I'm the defector. They say… ![“For people who love Tribe, I'm the defector. They say, 'You should get back with Ali to do the beats.' But a lot of people don't realize I did all the music in Tribe. In the first three albums, I did all the beats!” quote by Q-Tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/q-tip-7839_albums_for-people-who-love-tribe-i-m-the-defect_2467189.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/q-tip-7839_albums_for-people-who-love-tribe-i-m-the-defect_2467189.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/q-tip-7839_albums_for-people-who-love-tribe-i-m-the-defect_2467189.jpg) > “For people who love Tribe, I'm the defector. They say, 'You should get back with Ali to do the beats.' But a lot of people don't realize I did all the music in Tribe. In the first three albums, I did all the beats!” [Q-Tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist admits being labeled a defector by fans, clarifies his primary role in creating beats for the group Tribe, and challenges misconceptions about his contributions. **In simple terms:** He was the main beat maker but fans think he left. Key Takeaway Acknowledge contributions and correct misconceptions. Themes music creation identity fan perception authorship collaboration Mood defensive explanatory Type reflective informative When to use this quote - music production - public statements - fan discussions Key Concepts authorship creative control group dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What drives fan narratives? - How can artists better communicate their roles? A Different Perspective Fans may overlook behind‑the‑scenes work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Defectors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defectors/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribe/) [Tribes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribes/) ## Related quotes > [I heard Q-Tip on the Jungle Brothers' song 'The Promo.' It was very exciting. It was very new. The music and the culture around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rapaport/i-heard-q-tip-on-the-jungle-brothers-song-the-promo-it-was-very/) [Michael Rapaport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rapaport/) > [When we did Beats, we had to begin again. Nobody at Best Buy knew who we were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-iovine/when-we-did-beats-we-had-to-begin-again-nobody-at-best-buy-knew-who/) [Jimmy Iovine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-iovine/) > [Divorce can leave children feeling like defectors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-greene/divorce-can-leave-children-feeling-like-defectors/) [Diane Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-greene/) > [North Korean defectors often find it hard to settle down. It is not easy for somebody who’s escaped a totalitarian country to live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-demick/north-korean-defectors-often-find-it-hard-to-settle-down-it-is-not/) [Barbara Demick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-demick/) > [I don't think the current regime of South Korea will deal actively with the issue of North Korean defectors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-young-sam/i-don-t-think-the-current-regime-of-south-korea-will-deal-actively/) [Kim Young-sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-young-sam/) > [The Yuppies are not defectors from revolt, they are a new race, assured, amnestied, exculpated, moving with ease in the world of performance, mentally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/the-yuppies-are-not-defectors-from-revolt-they-are-a-new-race-assured/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [North Korean defectors can usually tell when other defectors are lying about their past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/north-korean-defectors-can-usually-tell-when-other-defectors-are/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [I've always said, 'I am a selector, I am not defector' - the first few phrases in English I learned. I said I hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-ve-always-said-i-am-a-selector-i-am-not-defector-the-first-few/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [North Korean defectors who speak out against the regime always feel nervous. We never know what the North Korean government is planning. It's really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/north-korean-defectors-who-speak-out-against-the-regime-always-feel/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [Living in China, I found out that the bright new world was not for me, not for defectors. My life in North Korea had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/living-in-china-i-found-out-that-the-bright-new-world-was-not-for-me/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [I feel very sorry for the one or two North Korean defectors who were caught by Chinese police while entering South Korean or foreign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-young-sam/i-feel-very-sorry-for-the-one-or-two-north-korean-defectors-who-were/) [Kim Young-sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-young-sam/) > [“Author interview with Chun Jung-hee, head nurse at Hanawon resettlement centre in South Korea. The government-funded centre has measured and weighed North Korean defectors”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/author-interview-with-chun-jung-hee-head-nurse-at-hanawon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is natural for us to pay attention to North Korea and human rights issues of North Korean defectors but I wish people would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hark-joon-lee/it-is-natural-for-us-to-pay-attention-to-north-korea-and-human-rights/) [Hark-Joon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hark-joon-lee/) > [I met Lee Harvey Oswald, in Moscow just after he defected. One night I was having dinner with a friend, an Italian newspaper cor­respondent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-met-lee-harvey-oswald-in-moscow-just-after-he-defected-one-night-i/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [If defectors say they had high-level connections in Pyongyang or came from an esteemed institution in the North, they can gain better employment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/if-defectors-say-they-had-high-level-connections-in-pyongyang-or-came/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) ## More by Q-Tip > [A thug, a thrill, you as mean as the eyes. I wanna feel you, them big ass thighs. Your Prada dress or your Gucci…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/a-thug-a-thrill-you-as-mean-as-the-eyes-i-wanna-feel-you-them-big-ass/) [Q-tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [I'm a cinephile. I love movies, I love film at every level. I'm a student of it. It informs me as does all art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/i-m-a-cinephile-i-love-movies-i-love-film-at-every-level-i-m-a/) [Q-Tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [A lot of people who curate in the business, and curate the art, don't really have good artistic sense. They may know commerce, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/a-lot-of-people-who-curate-in-the-business-and-curate-the-art-don-t/) [Q-Tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [Can I rhyme? Well you know I gets mine. Sittin round in my abstract car. This abstract thing goin abstract far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/can-i-rhyme-well-you-know-i-gets-mine-sittin-round-in-my-abstract-car/) [Q-tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [Shorty thought she subtle but she really was blatant when she shook her thing and violated. Now these wolf-like thoughts are formulated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/shorty-thought-she-subtle-but-she-really-was-blatant-when-she-shook/) [Q-tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [I read the Koran and it appealed to me. At the time I was agnostic and it really breathed spiritually back into me. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/i-read-the-koran-and-it-appealed-to-me-at-the-time-i-was-agnostic-and/) [Q-Tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [The feelin is true I'm seein me and my crew, you seein black and blue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/the-feelin-is-true-i-m-seein-me-and-my-crew-you-seein-black-and-blue/) [Q-tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [Yo your girl just moved to the joint in the club, in the car if it groove. Broad look, the movement is on. Mild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/yo-your-girl-just-moved-to-the-joint-in-the-club-in-the-car-if-it/) [Q-tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [Satisfaction, I have the right tactics... And if you need em I got crazy prophylactics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/satisfaction-i-have-the-right-tactics-and-if-you-need-em-i-got-crazy/) [Q-Tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [Yo hold the door a-ight? We comin through, Tribe beef, hold it down for the night. Big Moon got the fifth D-Lyfe he got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/yo-hold-the-door-a-ight-we-comin-through-tribe-beef-hold-it-down-for/) [Q-tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [We all have our own takes on things. To being yourself. The abstract, the whole thing that I play with, seems to result in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/we-all-have-our-own-takes-on-things-to-being-yourself-the-abstract/) [Q-Tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [I have a very connected history with Bilal. I heard his demo years ago. I heard all of the magic instantly. He's a master…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/i-have-a-very-connected-history-with-bilal-i-heard-his-demo-years-ago/) [Q-Tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [So pay attention, it's not hard to decipher, And after the horns, you can check out the Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/so-pay-attention-it-s-not-hard-to-decipher-and-after-the-horns-you/) [Q-Tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [Shorty, let me tell you about my only vice: It has to do with lots of lovin', and it ain't nuttin' nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/shorty-let-me-tell-you-about-my-only-vice-it-has-to-do-with-lots-of/) [Q-Tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [So concisely, musically we are the herb So sit back and light me. Inhale... My style's kinda fat, reminiscent of a whale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/so-concisely-musically-we-are-the-herb-so-sit-back-and-light-me/) [Q-Tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) [Explore all 87 Q-Tip quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) ## More Albums quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [The weird thing was that Soft Cell was supposed to have come and gone before I started the album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/the-weird-thing-was-that-soft-cell-was-supposed-to-have-come-and-gone/) [Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/) > [I believe in full albums, and whatever comes out of those full albums will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-ricch/i-believe-in-full-albums-and-whatever-comes-out-of-those-full-albums/) [Roddy Ricch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-ricch/) > [Doing my own album provided me the opportunity to say whatever I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/doing-my-own-album-provided-me-the-opportunity-to-say-whatever-i/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [The album is a definite departure. I haven't written original material before, except for one song on my first album, but Elvis and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/the-album-is-a-definite-departure-i-haven-t-written-original-material/) [Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/) > [I never do any album to beat it. I do it to extend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-never-do-any-album-to-beat-it-i-do-it-to-extend-it/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [I love Katy Perry! She gave me a song for my second album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-love-katy-perry-she-gave-me-a-song-for-my-second-album/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. 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