Legendary rap group A Tribe Called Quest have confirmed the release date for their new album will be the 11th of November 2016. In a poignant Facebook post, Q-Tip revealed the news and just what started the process of a new record.

A Tribe Called Quest performing in 2008A Tribe Called Quest Rock the Bells in 2008

"On November 11, 2016 we will complete our paths of rhythm," said Q-Tip. The desire to make their first album in 18 years was fuelled by a performance on 'The Tonight Show' with Jimmy Fallon last November, a move which has only become more prominent with the death of Malik 'Phife Dawg' Taylor, after a long battle with diabetes, at the age of 45. 

"It was our first TV performance in 18 years. The energy for us that night was one that we hadn't experienced onstage together in some time."  The performance came the night of the Paris bombings, a fact which further inspired the group. 

"As we left 30 Rock I felt the need, we all did, to get back to the studio and start that cook up. So we got to it and it was coming about nicely."

The loss of Phife Dawg had led to speculation about whether the content produced could match what was made previously, again Q-Tip addressed the issue and assured fans there would be no recycled material.

"No this isn't filled with old Phife bars," he said in the handwritten messaged posted on Facebook. "This is that pure, unstepped on pure. He left us with a blue print of what we had to do."

A Tribe Called Quest rose to prominence in the 90s with the classic album 'People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm', an album which featured classic tracks such as the Lou Reed sampled 'Can I Kick It?' and 'I Left My Wallet In El Segundo'.  

 

The now three-piece broke up in 1998 but got back together in 2006, but the as yet untitled new album represents the first new LP since the reuniting. 

Q-Tip, Jarobi White and Ali Shaheed Muhammad will now release the new record whilst collaborating with long-time friends such as Busta Rhymes and Consequence on the project.

"We completed what will be, obviously, the final A Tribe Called Quest Album."