What's the Scenario - Posse Cuts and Collaboration
A Low End Theory on the greatness that comes from collaboration.
Here we go, yo, here we go, yo - I am so excited to share this week’s op-ed, featuring Tribe’s “Scenario” from Low End Theory. The final cut on a classic album, it is not only one of the greatest posse tracks in history, but it also acts as a lesson on the power of collaboration.
Scenario features verses from Phife Dawg, Charlie Brown, Dinco D, Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes, and with each verse the energy, tone, tempo and style switches. Yet the underlying beat and the caliber of each MC’s talent holds it together. The piece is my reference point and muse when I kick off an innovation or strategy project.
Let me break it down, innovation and strategy are team sports where superman heroics will leave your output falling short.
Here’s how I use the genius Scenario spells out:
Assemble a posse because 1+1 = 3
Bring together people you respect - people who have skills and experience you want to harness
Include people with whom you are familiar (Phife/Q-tip), but also bring in folks from other groups (Busta)
Give each person his/her verse because each has an important message
Design an experience that gives everyone his her time to speak and input
People have different styles, if someone is a processor create opportunities for that style to shine
Develop a beat (read narrative) that will connect the diversity of thought because the output needs to feel cohesive
You are producer, your job is to develop a beat that brings the disparate ideas and styles together
Sing the chorus together because you’re a team with a shared goal
The diversity of style is beautiful, divergence is critical, but the team must also come together and unite around a common goal and mission
Visualize the collaboration because you give credit where and when it is due
Amplify and show-off the collaboration, call out contributing members when you share it back - it lends credibility to the output