Q-Tip and Ali, 1990 Photo: Chris Carroll/Corbis

In 1998, the seminal hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest—whose jazz-infused melodies and whimsical rhymes offered a socially conscious alternative to gangsta rap in the ’90s—mysteriously called it quits. Michael Rapaport’s new doc Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, out July 8, got ATCQ members on the record about their dissolution—albeit separately, since founders Q-Tip and Phife Dawg barely speak to each other. Still, the evocative, head-bobbing film isn’t all Real Housewives–style name-calling and fisticuffs (though both do occur); it’s also packed with archival footage that celebrates the foursome, whose lyrical rap influenced artists from the Beastie Boys to Pharrell. Offscreen, mudslinging began at Sundance, when Q-Tip and Tribe members Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jarobi missed the premiere, accusing Rapaport of limiting their editorial input. Phife broke down in tears at the screening. But by spring’s Tribeca Film Fest, the group had suddenly announced their support. Here, first-time director (and lifelong fan) Rapaport explains.

ELLE: After seeing a rough cut, Q-Tip publicly denounced the film on Twitter. Why?

MR: It wasn’t one thing. It was more of an overall surprise at the intimacy and honesty of what he was seeing. I’ve known Q-Tip for 15 years—he’s a perfectionist and used to being in control. But I wasn’t making a fluff piece. My mantra throughout the film was, “Will ATCQ make more music?”

ELLE: So…?

MR: I would’ve loved for them to do one song for this movie and have it be nominated for best original song. But I don’t think it’s going to happen.

ELLE: You call yourself a “hip-hop dad.” Do your tweenage sons listen to ATCQ?

MR: Yeah, it’s such good music for kids!

ELLE: Until they hear “Bonita Applebum” and ask what “crazy prophylactics” are.

MR: At least they’re aware, right?

ELLE: Which of the guys was the toughest to convince to do the film?

MR: Getting them to agree to do the documentary was the easiest part. And the making of it seemed really, really hard at the time, but in hindsight, that was easy, too. It’s finishing the film that’s been the biggest challenge. Music clearances in hip-hop are really hard because of samples. And then when you’re dealing with a group of four people who are truly four individuals, that’s a challenge. I have to deal with them all four individually, and they need to come together as A Tribe Called Quest to move things forward.

ELLE: Is it true that the film was originally called Beats, Rhymes and Fights?

MR: When we first starting shooting, that was a title that I liked. I thought it was a funny play on words. That was before I really got to the essence of what the film was about, and because there’s a lot of tension, and the dissention among ATCQ was revealing itself on camera, they were like, “We don’t like that title.” And they explained to me why, and I was like, “Cool, no problem.” I understood. When you’re starting something, you have so many different titles. I still think about changing the title.

ELLE: Do you ever wonder if in a weird way all this drama actually brought the group closer together?

MR: Unfortunately, that’s not the case. All the drama around the movie certainly didn’t bring the group closer together. They’ve had trouble internally for years, but they’re like a family. Q-Tip and Phife, they’ve known each other since they were four years old. They’re married to this thing called A Tribe Called Quest. And there’s no divorcing it. And people like, me, fans like me, will not let them divorce it.

ELLE: So after all of this, are you still a fan?

MR: I’ll never not be a fan. The music is the music. And through all of my frustrations and challenges of making the movie, when I would get off the path of why I made it, I would just turn on Midnight Mauraders or The Low End Theory, and that would remind me why I took on this challenge. Because the music still gives you the same feeling, and it’s a positive feeling.