Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Chicago Tribune
Entertainment Weekly	A−
Los Angeles Times
NME	9/10
Pitchfork	10/10
Rolling Stone
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Source	5/5
The Village Voice	B+

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm is the debut album by alternative hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, released on April 17, 1990 on Jive Records. Though the album was well-received critically, it had little mainstream appeal. The album did earn the group a devoted following, however, within the alternative hip hop community. People's Instinctive Travels was praised for its inventive lyricism and production.

A Tribe Called Quest formed in Queens, New York in 1985. After establishing a friendship with hip-hop act Jungle Brothers, both groups formed a collective dubbed Native Tongues, which also included De La Soul.

Group member Q-Tip would have his first studio experience while recording with Jungle Brothers on their debut album Straight out the Jungle (1988). Although this was a learning experience, he acquired more recording and producing knowledge being present at all of De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising (1989) sessions.Recording engineer Shane Faber taught Q-Tip how to use equipment such as the E-mu SP-1200 and Akai S950 samplers, and soon-after, renown producer Large Professor taught him how to use other equipment, for which he would expand upon on People’s Instinctive Travels.

Initially, record labels wouldn't sign A Tribe Called Quest due to their unconventional image and sound, but took interest after the success of 3 Feet High and Rising, which featured appearances from Q-Tip. The group hired Kool DJ Red Alert as their manager, and after shopping their demo to several major labels, they signed a contract with Jive Records in 1989.

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