Artist: Q-Tip
Album: The Renaissance
Release Date: 11.4.08

They tried to tell me he wasn’t hip-hop no more. They said “He’s out of touch” and “he ain’t wit it no more”. “Who does he think he is?” they said, followed by “Better yet, who do you think he is?” Well, he’s Q-Tip, and he is hip-hop. Remember everything you liked about Tribe? How they could make you scratch your head while shakin your derriere? How they gave birth to concepts and grooves at the same time? On The Renaissance, Q-Tip brings you back to the happy medium between consciousnesses and partying. It’s another dose of electric relaxation, folks.

The Renaissance is Q-Tip’s first album in years but he’s still got that musical methodology of the groove. From the lead single Gettin Up it’s apparent that the time away from the mic didn’t slight his flow at all. The album opens with the piano-led Johnny Is Dead, which also includes more of Raphael Saadiq weathers a stormy relationship on We Fight/We Love, which chronicles a stormy relationship. Other cameos include Amanda Diva on the vibrant Manwomanboogie, D’Angelo on Believe, and Norah Jones on the feel-good Life is Better. Other highlights I’d recommend are You and Dance On Glass, one of the most true-to-form cuts on the album.

I often consider Q-Tip the predecessor to today’s more lyrically advanced artists, namely Lupe Fiasco. His eclectic grooves, lyrical genius and overall musical ability put him in a category rarely touched by today’s mainstream artists – but then again, Q-Tip has never really been a main stream swimmer. He’s a niche artist, and he found his following – or rather they found him years ago. It’s sad that we had to wait so long for this album, but The Renaissance is here.

-Mack-