Q-Tip/The Renaissance

Even as a 90's baby, (yes a 90's baby) I can still confidently say I grew up on A Tribe Called Quest. When most kids my age were falling out of love with Nickleback and Eminem, I was bumping Award Tour out of my mom's car... on the weekends. One of the most nostalgic moments of my present childhood was going to a record store that actually held The Low End Theory or Midnight Marauders and paying full price for both of them (remember I'm a 90's baby). Once I copped those albums I would play them inside out, back to front, and cover to cover until I knew the song better than Phife and Q-Tip. Needless to say, I'm a fan! Shortly after exploring the Tribe discography, I decided to investigate Q-Tip's short-lived solo career (until now anyway). As a huge jazz rap and abstract hip-hop head, I was somewhat dissappointed with the debut. So here's hoping to a better go-round the second (err..third) time around (Hear, Hear.)

1. Johnny Is Dead
If there's one thing that I really enjoy about Q-Tip it has to be his beautiful flow (no homo not even necessary). This isn't a bad song per se' but I couldn't really get into it because of the choppy flow equipped here. Everything else is pretty average too, the instrumental didn't really catch my ear and the hook is very ehhh... But it's a rap intro (fingers crossed).

2. Won't Trade
Had me nodding my head for the whole 2:41. The lyricism is pretty sick, and the whole song flows really well together. It's a concept track based on basketball (I think), and even though I'm not a fan of songs like these, I'll admit that this track is pretty hot. And I can't even imagine how many crates of records Q must have dug through before finding the vocal sample for this track.

3. Gettin' Up
Q-Tip's what 38? When he was 20 and making tracks like Electric Relaxation for the ladies it was cool. Not as a 40 year old though. "We can be like Martin and Coretta"... ehh. A cute sentiment, but your trying way too hard homie. This was an easy skip for me.

4. Official
Mess of a song. Choppy flow again, a vocal sample that doesn't fit the rhythm at all, and too much singing (I've never been a fan of Kamaal the singer). I had a hard time listening to this track.

5. You
This is more of the beats I was expecting to hear. Not a bad song, not much more than singing though. I'm not complaining though, I was feeling this track after a few listens.

6. We Fight/Love
A soft instrumental complements Tip's great storytelling, and Raphael Saadiq stops in for the hook. This is definitely a song for the grown-ups, so I wasn't really feeling it, but it's got potential... I've got potential to enjoy it soon!

7. Manwomanboggie
On this song he tries to explore man and woman's evolution. I don't know that this instrumental was the ideal platform for such an exploration. Wasn't really feeling this track.

8. Move
Double-sided song, the first half of the song is a dance track: "Here they come yo, here they come". A song clearly targeted for the ladies, but the second half of the track is a deeply introspective song. The instrumental sounds Renaissance-esque (like 15th century Europe), and is accented by some amazing story-telling. On some old school Tip ish. I'm disappointed these songs weren't separated, because the second half is amazing.

9. Dance On Glass
You know what? Props Q, he rocked the shit accapella for more than a minute and killed it! This song is put together very strangely, but is definitely worth a listen. I don't know about the singing at the start though.

10. Life Is Better
Life would be better if Q-Tip didn't make songs like this. Maybe it's just me but this seemed like a half-assed hip hop ode. Just me... I have a snaking suspicion John was feeling this track.

11. Believe
I wanted to love this song, but I just couldn't. The beat is magnificent, but the message that ties the song together is somewhat lacking.

12. Shaka
Another poignant production, and this is a great way to finish up this album. No matter how the material before it sounds, this song will leave you wanting more Q-Tip.

And that will conclude this album. To tell the truth, I was somewhat dissapointed. The album itself was to be expected. Lately Q-Tip among numerous other rappers has begun singing more than rhyming. This album is somewhat similar to his second LP Kamaal the Abstract, in terms of singing. But this is Q's finest produced album to date. Considering he produced or co-produced almost the whole album, that is quite an achievement. There's something here for everyone, so check it! "Here they come yo, here they come...."

0-20: Terrible listening experience

21-40: Maybe one good song

41-60: A few good songs

61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak

81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs

I give this album a 73.

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A Tribe Called Quest/ The Low End Theory

I just saw "Prison Song" last night and as I thought about it, I remembered an album that needs to be on a site called "Hip hop album reviews". What is hip-hop without "The Low End Theory"? What is conscious rap without "The Low End Theory"? And what is rap music without A Tribe Called Quest? All harrowing questions when you realize the breadth of people influenced by "The Low End Theory"... it is literally an album every rapper should be able to recite word for word. It is an album that defines conscious hip-hop, it evokes all the feelings of real hip-hop, and it is the album all others are compared to. What hip-hop head can honestly say they don't have this album? After all this album's fanfare, I, like most of the hip-hop community was amazed with "Fiascogate"... I love Lupe, Lupe is my generation's conscious rap, but how do you cover a Tribe song and not know the words? Damn... that's more than not showing respect for your elders, that's called tourism... making your money and being out, not caring at all about the culture your profiting from. Only this album could evoke so many feelings from hip hop purists...

The Good: (I know it's pointless)

1. Excursions- One of my good friends quotes Tip's opening line every time we talk hip-hop. This track is on the top of Q-Tip's resume for "Best MC ever".

2. Buggin' Out- Proof that Phife Dawg is more than just complementary to Tip. Together they unleash some crazy vibes that bring you back to New York in 1991.

3. Rap Promoter- I've never loved this song... I'll admit that it's alright, but not much more.

4. Butter- Smooth as butter, and Phife shines on his solo verse. Maybe the basis for Dane Cook's jokes... drawing inspiration from everywhere now (or maybe copying from everywhere).

5. Verses From The Abstract- Always been one of my favorite cuts, 4 minutes of perfection. Q-Tip at his absolute best.

6. Show Business- It's hard to appreciate this track to the fullest because of it's placement... but it's ill as hell. More upbeat than the rest, and the posse cut sounds awesome.

7. Vibes And Stuff- And we drop off again to a more chill instrumental, and it's another great back-to-back effort by Q and Phife. The jazz meshes with the lyrics and creates an super relaxed vibe.

8. The Infamous Date Rape- Same jazzy instrumental, same flowtastic rhymes, and the same song with different lyrics.

9. Check The Rhime- Probably the song you can always listen to. The instrumental bangs, and the hook which consists of jazz samples is amazing... and the lines are crazy fresh.

11. Jazz (We've Got)- Probably my favorite song off this impeccable album... this instrumental makes there superb lyrics sound heavenly.

12. Skypager- These are the abstract sounds and hooks that A Tribe Called Quest would later transform into... personally, I'm lovin it.

14. Scenario- This song is a lot more obnoxious and arrogant than the ones that preced it... yet it's not bad, a good introduction to Busta Rhymes who would prove to be an average rhymer. Not a bad outro...

I've heard this album countless times, I assume most people interested in hip-hop have heard this album before so this review should be pointless... but if you haven't this is an album you have to acquire through any means. I'm no advocate of anarchy, but if you have to steal, it might be worth it...joking of course. A very chill album the whole way through and a true gem to listen to.

0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs

I give this album a 94... it's truly something everyone must here at least once.

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