Jarobi White’s renown as one of the founding members of the legendary hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest is often overlooked. After the release of People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, the group’s 1990 debut album, White was only occasionally mentioned, and his appearances and performances with the group were even rarer.
Despite long-time references as A Tribe Called Quest’s “mysterious member,” all has been well for the rap veteran; via education and training at the New York Institute of Technology, instead of a full-time life as a performer on stage, White has carved out a very successful career as a chef. “Chefs are the new rock stars now, anyway,” he says.
In addition to his 20-plus years in the culinary game, White founded Eats, Rhymes and Life, the ultimate “collaborative musical and culinary experience” for fans everywhere. BlackDoctor.org recently spoke with Chef Jarobi about the cultural history of combining music and food, what’s next for the brand, and the diabetes-related death of his friend and A Tribe Called Quest bandmate, Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor.
BlackDoctor.org: Your path to becoming a professional chef wasn’t exactly overnight. In fact, your interest in cooking began when you were very young. As the years rolled on, at what moment did you begin to take the possibility of a culinary career seriously?
You May Also Like
Jarobi White: I’ve always taken it seriously because it’s something I love to do. I can’t really put music and cooking in front of each other—I’ve always loved both.
BlackDoctor.org: At its core, Eats, Rhymes and Life is centered on the symbiotic relationship between music and food. Given that they both are deeply rooted in Black culture, what does this mean to you?
Jarobi White: When you have both a dining and a musical experience, they tie together—they evoke memories and emotions. I think that’s why they go hand in hand so well.
BlackDoctor.org: How did being part of A Tribe Called Quest prepare you for your career transition? Are there any parallels?
You May Also Like
Jarobi White: There are a few parallels. As a chef, you’re only as good as your last dish and as an artist, you’re only as good as your last song. When you hear a song for the first time and you like it and you have that immediate reaction and start bobbing your head, it’s the same thing as when you get a nice plate and get that good food in your mouth and you sway, and say “mmmm!”
BlackDoctor.org: As you know, many Black communities in America suffer from food deserts, which contribute to poor health and unhealthy food choices. What are your thoughts?
Jarobi White: I live in Brooklyn and as affluent as Brooklyn is becoming, there’s still a food desert. There’s not a vegetable to be found within a 10-block radius. It’s definitely something I think about all the time because it’s something I have to deal with. It’s a reality.
BlackDoctor.org: Last year, the death of your long-time friend and group mate Phife was a devastating blow to A Tribe Called Quest fans everywhere. Of course, he was diabetic and was a self-admitted “sugarholic.” As a chef, how often did you discuss diet and nutrition with him? What were some of those conversations like?
Jarobi White: Of course, we had those conversations. That was my brother—and my best friend. And because I’m a chef, yes, that was a constant topic of conversation, especially when he really got sick. I moved to Atlanta for the sole purpose of keeping an eye on him and taking care of him. I just tried to give him the tools. I always talked to him about eating healthy.
BlackDoctor.org: Getting back to the relationship between food and music, do you happen to listen to any tunes when you’re prepping or cooking? I can’t get through cooking without groups like The Delfonics or The Whispers in the background…
Jarobi White: First of all, let me just say I love The Whispers! But when I’m really cooking a lot, I have four major “go-tos”: Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Prince. And I also love the Los Angeles group, J*Davey. I picked these people because musically, they take you places. Sometimes, when I’m prepping something, it can really be repetitive—like a robotic process. But having those artists in the background and knowing all the words to their whole catalog distracts me from how tedious it can be. When I’m actually cooking though, I like more up-tempo stuff—that’s when hip-hop [artists] like Public Enemy comes in.
BlackDoctor.org: As someone who has made a successful career transition, what is your advice for people who are contemplating a career or life change but are afraid or hesitant to move forward?
Jarobi White: You have to go for things that you want. If you have passion for something and you focus and make moves towards that goal, there’s nothing you can’t do. There are times where there will be insurmountable obstacles but you just have to keep digging.
BlackDoctor.org: What’s next for Eats, Rhymes and Life?
Jarobi White: More events. I want to branch out to more cities. I’ve done [events in] Los Angeles and New York extensively but his year I want to concentrate on Miami. I also want to prepare for some form of a cooking show. I would like to really take what I do—my concept—and move it forward.
For more information on Eats, Rhymes and Life, please visit the website.
LaShawn Williams is a freelance writer and editor from Chicago, Illinois. She is an arts and entertainment enthusiast who has a serious thing for stand-up comedy, music and dance. Follow her on Twitter:@MsWilliamsWorld.
