July 4, 2003 12:40

TRIBAL GATHERING

The album would be their first since 1998...

Tribe Called Quest have started laying down tracks for a reunion album.

The album, which would be Q-Tip, Phife Dawg and Ali Shaheed Muhammed's first since 1998's 'The Love Movement', is under threat from the group's contract with long-time label Jive, which has yet to be fulfilled. As reported on NME.COM last month, the label released an 18-track Tribe Called Quest career retrospective calle, 'Hits, Rarities & Remixes'.

Also putting the project on hold is principal member Q-Tip, who is busy working on his next solo album due out early next year. According to Billboard, the rapper, who has just signed a new deal with DreamWorks, will be backed by a full band on the project, which sources describe as "the next step beyond" his jazz and soul-influenced 'Kamaal The Abstract'.

Muhammed, meanwhile, is currently working on his debut for ArtistDirect Records, expected in November.