YBCA is excited to present the return of UnderCover with A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders – one of the most influential hip-hop albums of all time.
Bridging the gap between hip-hop and jazz, Midnight Marauders continues to attract new listeners even as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. UnderCover honors the album with a genre-bending tribute show featuring thirteen Bay Area bands and music producer Starita. Starita’s collaborators include Phife Dawg and A Tribe Called Quest.
Reflecting the spirit of Midnight Marauders, the show incorporates elements from all four pillars of hip-hop: DJing, MCing, writing (graffiti), and B-Boying (breakdancing), along with the minimalism and free-form nature of jazz instrumentation.
The political issues the group faced at the time of the album’s release, including institutional racism and classism, continue to persist today. Through this tribute, UnderCover invites the audience to think about the ways that hip-hop can break down barriers to foster equality and unity.
Celebrate the legacy of Midnight Marauders, support local music groups, and get down.