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Review
It's hard to imagine what people made of Q-Tip when he first broke through. What late 80's America thought about a rapper named after a cotton bud is anyone's guess. Because nowadays, with the legacy of A Tribe Called Quest following him, Q-Tip commands legendary status.
The Renaissance suggests Q-Tip feels he still has something to prove, which is understandable for a solo album which is only his fourth in nine years - with two of those, Open and critical hit Kamaal The Abstract, never released by his label.
This album - the first for new label Universal Motown - is an easy listen, with a vibe of being refreshed and newly in control. There are samples, Motown vibes (Won't Trade and Move) and some big guest stars - like D'Angelo, Norah Jones and Raphael Saddiq on the stunning We Fight / We Love.
"I'm not a deity I'm far from perfect, me", he commands on opener Johnny Is Dead - perhaps a reference to this shedding of skin, as he was Jonathan before he converted to Islam in the mid 90s and became Kamaal. Whatever the meaning, the track sets a blistering standard.
He doesn't even need backing for a shining sixty seconds on Dance On Glass. And there are signs of other artists' influences here too - Eminem on Move and Outkast's lazy sexuality on You.
Q-Tip is in fine form when spitting solo raps, but also shines on the album's collaborations. Amanda Diva's effortless vocals on Manwomanboogie are pure funk when combined with Q-Tip's rapped verses. D'Angelo track Believe channels old school Prince. And if you can count him as a contributor, excerpts of a Barack Obama campaign speech are reportedly used on Shaka - though you'd struggle to distinguish them.
This is not commercially poppy like Breathe and Stop - though brilliant Norah Jones collaboration Life Is Better leans towards it. But Q-Tip's infectious enthusiasm for being where he wants to be, doing what he wants to do, shines through. Even bonus track Feva feels like an album highlight, rather than a last minute slapdash addition. If this is the renaissance, then forget the early years - Q-Tip has found himself. --Sophie Bruce
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Now I haven't written a review on here in a long time but I really felt like people need to know how good this album really is. Two shelved albums & almost a decade after the release of "Amplified", Q-Tip is back with "The Renaissance". Amplified was an unusual album. Pure Hip-Hop songs such as "Let's Ride" were mixed in with more commercial sounding tunes such as "Breathe & Stop", which were clearly aimed at attracting a broader audience. The results were mixed. Whilst his first solo LP boasts some excellent individual tracks, the album itself feels forced & does not work. This is not a problem, however, on Tip's latest effort. Here you really get the sense that he was free to pursue whatever musical direction he wanted & the result is one of the finest Hip-Hop albums in years.
The album is almost entirely produced by Q-Tip himself. The exceptions are "Won't Trade", which is produced by Mark Ronson, & "Move", produced by the late, great J Dilla (Dilla also produced the UK bonus track "Feva"). It is worth noting that 4 of the 13 tracks - "Johnny Is Dead", "Official", "I Believe" & "Feva" - are re-workings from one of Tip's earlier shelved albums. All four tracks can be heard in there original form on his "Abstract Innovations" mixtape.
The Renaissance has an old school Hip-Hop, dare I say Tribe-esque feel to it. Best songs on the album are the first single "Gettin' Up", "Won't Trade", "Official" & the excellent "Move". But honestly the whole album is good - there are no weak tracks.
Overall, The Renaissance is a true Hip-Hop album for Hip-Hop fans. It highlights just how talented Q-Tip is, not only as an MC but also as a producer. Unfortunately it also serves as a reminder as to just how disappointing it is that this is only his second album (which was released) in almost 10 years. Support Q-Tip, support Hip-Hop & buy "The Renaissance" - you won't be disappointed! Let's hope there is a new Tribe album to come...
The album is almost entirely produced by Q-Tip himself. The exceptions are "Won't Trade", which is produced by Mark Ronson, & "Move", produced by the late, great J Dilla (Dilla also produced the UK bonus track "Feva"). It is worth noting that 4 of the 13 tracks - "Johnny Is Dead", "Official", "I Believe" & "Feva" - are re-workings from one of Tip's earlier shelved albums. All four tracks can be heard in there original form on his "Abstract Innovations" mixtape.
The Renaissance has an old school Hip-Hop, dare I say Tribe-esque feel to it. Best songs on the album are the first single "Gettin' Up", "Won't Trade", "Official" & the excellent "Move". But honestly the whole album is good - there are no weak tracks.
Overall, The Renaissance is a true Hip-Hop album for Hip-Hop fans. It highlights just how talented Q-Tip is, not only as an MC but also as a producer. Unfortunately it also serves as a reminder as to just how disappointing it is that this is only his second album (which was released) in almost 10 years. Support Q-Tip, support Hip-Hop & buy "The Renaissance" - you won't be disappointed! Let's hope there is a new Tribe album to come...
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Q-Tip is a really cool guy. While most hip-hop at the moment seems to be about waving your success in people's faces and the animosity between the various cliched thugs on MTV, still talking about their guns and money like we're perpetually trapped in the 1990s, Q-Tip delivers something truly special.
Hip-Hop is not DEAD, as Nas suggested with his rather mediocre album in the last few years, but alive and well and just as exciting as it always has been. Q-Tip is not bitter, tired, out of ideas or under any pressure to conform to the mainstream view of 'what hip-hop is' and his attitude is what does it.
Mainstream artists today are trying DESPERATELY to 'be hip-hop' and Q-Tip does it effortlessly, unconciously and excellently. He doesn't wear the uniform, promote violence or sexism and he's ahead of the curve by miles. What does that tell you?
Hip-Hop was never dead...just cliched gangster rap. Big wup.
Hip-Hop is not DEAD, as Nas suggested with his rather mediocre album in the last few years, but alive and well and just as exciting as it always has been. Q-Tip is not bitter, tired, out of ideas or under any pressure to conform to the mainstream view of 'what hip-hop is' and his attitude is what does it.
Mainstream artists today are trying DESPERATELY to 'be hip-hop' and Q-Tip does it effortlessly, unconciously and excellently. He doesn't wear the uniform, promote violence or sexism and he's ahead of the curve by miles. What does that tell you?
Hip-Hop was never dead...just cliched gangster rap. Big wup.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Abstract Poet is back for sure! My brother got me this for xmas and I have almost worn the CD out. Excellent, old school hip hop, heavily reminiscent of a Tribe called Quest in the early 90s. Q-tip is a master lyricist/MC/producer without a doubt and this, in my opinion, is his best solo effort. Each track glides effortlessly into the next - my faves are "We fight/we love", "Johnny is dead", "Believe" and "Dance on glass", the latter of which opens with about 60 seconds of 'Tip rapping without any beat or music to speak of then the beat breaks in suddenly and unexpectedly with classic "Tribesque" jazzy sampling/undertones - outstanding! Buy it, buy it, buy it - you will not regret it :-)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Q-Tip in your ear
WOW! After becoming a new fan of 'A Tribe Called Quest' and loving the beats and especially Q-Tips flow and style i decided to buy this and im so glad i did! Read more
Published 2 months ago by marshall man
The blueprint for future Hiphop
This masterpiece is what Hiphop should sound like in 2010 and beyond, it has all of the elements that made rap so exciting back in the 70s, 80s and 90s, uplifting, creative, funny,... Read more
Published 21 months ago by grabme
The formula is simple... Good music - first + last.
Nowadays it seems that every new rapper is touted as 'the one' to save hip hop, and take it back to it's golden years. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Alan Poe
Doing his own thing
The musical artists I like the best - for example, Massive Attack, Super Furry Animals, QoTSA - do their own thing without paying attention to trends. Read more
Published on 11 Nov 2009 by S. C. JONES
Wait Up
It's very rare for me to write about anybody, but this album has touched me. I thought that I'd pop him in while I wrote this too so i hope you're feeling the vibe!! Read more
Published on 26 May 2009 by B. Moseley
Cooler side of Hip Hop
Q Tip once again has shown his versatility in delivering def rhymes and unforgetable beats. The album is a killer from start to finish with every track getting you to nod your... Read more
Published on 27 April 2009 by L. Ajayi
Funky for you
I have to say that Hip-Hop is not the musical genre that calls out the most to me. I usually approach hiphop albums with alot of reservations, although I have came across excellent... Read more
Published on 27 Jan 2009 by lovelocus
Instant Classic from one of the best MC's out there!!
I could go in depth about how each and every track is just perfection and how Q-Tip is just like soul for your ears with his flow and song, but anyone who knows of him and has... Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2008 by P. M. Howard-martiniak
JUST GO BUY IT NOW
Q Tip is back and he ain't playin. if u like your hip hop PROPER u need this album...
peace
peace
Published on 14 Dec 2008 by TROUBLEMAKER
The best thing to come out of Hip Hop and R'n'b in years
My elation surrounding this album is primarily based on the lift it gave me following the absoulte disappointment I felt in listening to Kayne West's "808 and Heartbreaks". Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2008 by D. J. Wolfram
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