Q-Tip - The RenaissanceReview #6, post # 8. For this review, we delve into Q-Tip's newest album, The Renaissance.
Q-Tip was a member of what some hip-hop fans would call "A Tribe Called Quest." These fans typically would call A Tribe Called Quest "one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time." And with just their first three albums (People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, The Low End Theory, Midnight Marauders), the Tribe was one of the most critically acclaimed hip-hop acts at that time.
With the release of their fourth album, Beats, Rhymes, & Life, the Tribe brought along Consequence (Q-Tip's cousin) and Jay Dee. Consequence appeared on several of the tracks, making many believe he was a new member. Jay Dee, meanwhile, composed The Ummah alongside Quest members Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. The album featured darker lyrics and production as opposed to the Tribe's previous album.
A Tribe Called Quest followed Beats, Rhymes, & Life with The Love Movement, an album that was announced to be their final prior to the release. In the same vein of as their previous album, The Love Movement featured The Ummah doing production and was received with mixed reception from critics and fans.
After The Love Movement, the artists went their seperate ways. Q-Tip quickly released his solo debut album, Amplified just a year after The Love Movement. Jay Dee provided production. And since I am yet to hear it, I will hold opinions about it until a later date.
Q-Tip then hit a bit of a snag. After releasing Amplified, Q-Tip decided to do some genre exploring and recorded Kamaal the Abstract, which can be compared to Andre 3000's The Love Below and Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreaks as it mainly features him singing as a opposed to rapping. Because Arista (his record company) though the record was too uncommercial, Kamaal the Abstract was shelved with no release date in sight (however, it's been recently announced that it will be released September 15th this year).
Then Q-Tip recorded Open. As you can guess, this didn't get a release either (though, I downloaded a mixtape by Tip called Open the Mixtape: Abstract Innovations, which I presume is songs from that session, but I'm not sure).
Flash forward to 2008. Q-Tip has finally convinced someone to release his second album, nearly nine years after the first. On November 4th, also known as the day Barack Obama was elected to office, but, you know, it's not like that's important or anything, The Renaissance dropped. Finally, Q-Tip had two solo albums to his resume.
But was the wait worth it?
1. Johnny is Dead
Produced by Q-Tip
On the previously mentioned Open the Mixtape: Abstract Innovations, the 13th song is titled "Johnny Died." After a quick check through, I can honestly tell you that the beat is the same and the opening lyrics are the same, but I'm too lazy to listen to through the full song to determine if they're both the same. Either way, Tip apparently had this song in mind for his second album for a while. Anyway, this song rocks. A great opening song to introduce your fans to your long awaited follow up album.
2. Won't Trade
Produced by Q-Tip
Another great song. Wouldn't make that bad of a single, if they decided to release more than two...
3. Gettin' Up
Produced by Q-Tip
Speaking of singles, here's the first one. Somewhere there's a remix produced by Swizz Beatz, featuring Eve. Why the hell would they have to ruin an already good song like this?
4. Official
Produced by Q-Tip
Good song, but nothing really diferentiates it from the rest of the first four tracks here.
5. You
Produced by Q-Tip
This shit is awesome. Plain and simple. I don't really have to go on here, but for the sake of you, I will. See what I do for you?
6. We Fight/Love (feat. Raphael Saddiq)
Produced by Q-Tip
"And it, and it begins..." I don't know why, but I love that opening. I'm not a huge fan of Raphael Saddiq's hook on this, but other than that this song is really good. Also, if you search hard enough on the interwebz, you can find a remix of this featuring Kanye West and Consequence... a remix which I will review at the end of this album for funsies.
7. Manwomanboogie (feat. Amanda Diva)
Produced by Q-Tip
I only know Amanda Diva as "the chick who replaced Natalie Stewart in Floetry." The beat is really good on here. The rhymes on here are weak. And I don't like the chorus. That makes this a meh track.
8. Move
Produced by J Dilla
The only non-Q-Tip production on the album, and it's awesome. This was the second single... for good reason. This rocks. Also, it goes into a hidden track called "Renaissance Rap" which also rocks. AND, there's a remix for the hidden track featuring Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, and Lil' Wayne... which will be reviewed just like the "We Fight/Love" remix. Yayzies.
9. Dance on Glass
Produced by Q-Tip
Tip rhymes acapella for a while, though when the beat kicks in, it's awesome.
10. Life is Better (feat. Norah Jones)
Produced by Q-Tip
In the middle of Q-Tip's verse, he begins randomly listing off MCs names. And oddly enough, it works. Q-Tip's singing at the end of the song is also good.
11. Believe (feat. D'Angelo)
Produced by Q-Tip
Oh, hey, D'Angelo isn't dead. Could've fooled me. It brings up the question: "Where is the guy that once was pretty much naked in a music video?" Well, apparently he's working on his third album, James River, which I believe will never be released. However, it's good to hear him here... he sounds good... it's a good track... yeah...
12. Shaka
Produced by Q-Tip
Good track... yay.
And these are remixes you have to find on the interwebz:
Renaissance Rap (Remix) (feat. Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, & Lil' Wayne)
Produced by Q-Tip
Begins with the same Q-Tip verse. Which is really good, so I'm not complaining. Busta has a really good verse too, which makes you wonder why the fuck he's doing shit like "Arab Money." Rae follows up, and while some people have complained about him sounding uninterested and damn near sleepy lately (he's not as agressive, but it's not like he's ruining any songs with his flow), the beat fits his "sleepy" flow. And then Lil' Wayne. I was fully expecting to absolutely hate his verse... so you can tell why I was pleasently surprised when his verse turned out to be one of the better ones I've heard from him. Only thing that could've made this better was if Tip had gotten De La Soul, Phife Dawg, etc. it had been turned into a Native Tongues posse cut (and Raekwon and Lil' Wayne). However, I'm not complaining as this remix is really... really good.
We Fight/Love (Remix) (feat. Kanye West & Consequence)
Produced by Q-Tip
Kanye leads off this remix with a good verse. This is followed by Q-Tip's first verse with absolutely no changes. This is followed by a good Consequence verse. I should really listen to some of his solo stuff. I have two of his mixtapes, and yet they sit with no listens...
Conclusion: Buy this shit. Go ahead, run along. It's not like you're gonna miss anything in thirty minutes.
Coming Soon
Q-Tip was a member of what some hip-hop fans would call "A Tribe Called Quest." These fans typically would call A Tribe Called Quest "one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time." And with just their first three albums (People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, The Low End Theory, Midnight Marauders), the Tribe was one of the most critically acclaimed hip-hop acts at that time.
With the release of their fourth album, Beats, Rhymes, & Life, the Tribe brought along Consequence (Q-Tip's cousin) and Jay Dee. Consequence appeared on several of the tracks, making many believe he was a new member. Jay Dee, meanwhile, composed The Ummah alongside Quest members Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. The album featured darker lyrics and production as opposed to the Tribe's previous album.
A Tribe Called Quest followed Beats, Rhymes, & Life with The Love Movement, an album that was announced to be their final prior to the release. In the same vein of as their previous album, The Love Movement featured The Ummah doing production and was received with mixed reception from critics and fans.
After The Love Movement, the artists went their seperate ways. Q-Tip quickly released his solo debut album, Amplified just a year after The Love Movement. Jay Dee provided production. And since I am yet to hear it, I will hold opinions about it until a later date.
Q-Tip then hit a bit of a snag. After releasing Amplified, Q-Tip decided to do some genre exploring and recorded Kamaal the Abstract, which can be compared to Andre 3000's The Love Below and Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreaks as it mainly features him singing as a opposed to rapping. Because Arista (his record company) though the record was too uncommercial, Kamaal the Abstract was shelved with no release date in sight (however, it's been recently announced that it will be released September 15th this year).
Then Q-Tip recorded Open. As you can guess, this didn't get a release either (though, I downloaded a mixtape by Tip called Open the Mixtape: Abstract Innovations, which I presume is songs from that session, but I'm not sure).
Flash forward to 2008. Q-Tip has finally convinced someone to release his second album, nearly nine years after the first. On November 4th, also known as the day Barack Obama was elected to office, but, you know, it's not like that's important or anything, The Renaissance dropped. Finally, Q-Tip had two solo albums to his resume.
But was the wait worth it?
1. Johnny is Dead
Produced by Q-Tip
On the previously mentioned Open the Mixtape: Abstract Innovations, the 13th song is titled "Johnny Died." After a quick check through, I can honestly tell you that the beat is the same and the opening lyrics are the same, but I'm too lazy to listen to through the full song to determine if they're both the same. Either way, Tip apparently had this song in mind for his second album for a while. Anyway, this song rocks. A great opening song to introduce your fans to your long awaited follow up album.
2. Won't Trade
Produced by Q-Tip
Another great song. Wouldn't make that bad of a single, if they decided to release more than two...
3. Gettin' Up
Produced by Q-Tip
Speaking of singles, here's the first one. Somewhere there's a remix produced by Swizz Beatz, featuring Eve. Why the hell would they have to ruin an already good song like this?
4. Official
Produced by Q-Tip
Good song, but nothing really diferentiates it from the rest of the first four tracks here.
5. You
Produced by Q-Tip
This shit is awesome. Plain and simple. I don't really have to go on here, but for the sake of you, I will. See what I do for you?
6. We Fight/Love (feat. Raphael Saddiq)
Produced by Q-Tip
"And it, and it begins..." I don't know why, but I love that opening. I'm not a huge fan of Raphael Saddiq's hook on this, but other than that this song is really good. Also, if you search hard enough on the interwebz, you can find a remix of this featuring Kanye West and Consequence... a remix which I will review at the end of this album for funsies.
7. Manwomanboogie (feat. Amanda Diva)
Produced by Q-Tip
I only know Amanda Diva as "the chick who replaced Natalie Stewart in Floetry." The beat is really good on here. The rhymes on here are weak. And I don't like the chorus. That makes this a meh track.
8. Move
Produced by J Dilla
The only non-Q-Tip production on the album, and it's awesome. This was the second single... for good reason. This rocks. Also, it goes into a hidden track called "Renaissance Rap" which also rocks. AND, there's a remix for the hidden track featuring Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, and Lil' Wayne... which will be reviewed just like the "We Fight/Love" remix. Yayzies.
9. Dance on Glass
Produced by Q-Tip
Tip rhymes acapella for a while, though when the beat kicks in, it's awesome.
10. Life is Better (feat. Norah Jones)
Produced by Q-Tip
In the middle of Q-Tip's verse, he begins randomly listing off MCs names. And oddly enough, it works. Q-Tip's singing at the end of the song is also good.
11. Believe (feat. D'Angelo)
Produced by Q-Tip
Oh, hey, D'Angelo isn't dead. Could've fooled me. It brings up the question: "Where is the guy that once was pretty much naked in a music video?" Well, apparently he's working on his third album, James River, which I believe will never be released. However, it's good to hear him here... he sounds good... it's a good track... yeah...
12. Shaka
Produced by Q-Tip
Good track... yay.
And these are remixes you have to find on the interwebz:
Renaissance Rap (Remix) (feat. Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, & Lil' Wayne)
Produced by Q-Tip
Begins with the same Q-Tip verse. Which is really good, so I'm not complaining. Busta has a really good verse too, which makes you wonder why the fuck he's doing shit like "Arab Money." Rae follows up, and while some people have complained about him sounding uninterested and damn near sleepy lately (he's not as agressive, but it's not like he's ruining any songs with his flow), the beat fits his "sleepy" flow. And then Lil' Wayne. I was fully expecting to absolutely hate his verse... so you can tell why I was pleasently surprised when his verse turned out to be one of the better ones I've heard from him. Only thing that could've made this better was if Tip had gotten De La Soul, Phife Dawg, etc. it had been turned into a Native Tongues posse cut (and Raekwon and Lil' Wayne). However, I'm not complaining as this remix is really... really good.
We Fight/Love (Remix) (feat. Kanye West & Consequence)
Produced by Q-Tip
Kanye leads off this remix with a good verse. This is followed by Q-Tip's first verse with absolutely no changes. This is followed by a good Consequence verse. I should really listen to some of his solo stuff. I have two of his mixtapes, and yet they sit with no listens...
Conclusion: Buy this shit. Go ahead, run along. It's not like you're gonna miss anything in thirty minutes.
Coming Soon
- De La Soul - 3 Feet & Rising
- Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030
- Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full
- Outkast - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
- QuESt - Broken Headphones
- Rakim - The 18th Letter
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