The Renaissance

My first thought was, yuck, another hip hop album. Not my usual fare. About halfway through I was amazed how much I liked it. This is something I wouldn’t have listened to without this site, and I’m glad I did. This is my favorite album discovery this year.

I was initially planning to listen to the first few songs and then finish the rest later, but the album was so constantly engaging that I finished the whole thing in one sitting. I think that deserves 5 stars. I loved how Q-Tip's delivery felt precise but free, how the structure of the songs was loose and not rigidly determined, and how the songs were sequenced in such a way that there was a good mixture of continuity and contrast between songs, keeping up the album's momentum till the end.

This is like the Yacht Rock of rap with a pleasant 70's soul slow jams vibe.

Still one of the sexiest voices in rap along with... hm... Heems? That requires further study. Anyway, while this is a leeeetle too smooth and low key for me, especially considering the heights he hit before and after, it has enough bounce to keep the dangers of easy listening at bay. And I appreciate that he always raps with a point plus one to prove.

I don't know much about hip-hop but it was a good listen, I liked the flow and rhythms and it had a bit of 70s soul inspiration as well. It held my interest throughout. 3+ overall.

Some of the music tracks were okay. Rap just doesn't do it for me, and this entire album was monochromatic.

Q-Tip is just a boss! Excellent sampling and production from one of the best, no thug nonsense here, just mellow beats and rhymes to keep your body moving.

A rap album that I didn’t tire of after 3 tracks! Each track had something new and interesting to offer. Good flow, unique and diverse backing tracks.

getting increasingly frustrated by the amount of terrible music on this list

Very similar to other same genre music but worse, so why would you ever want to listen this?

Not the worst thing ever, but rap and hip-hop aren’t my thing. Sorry

Made it almost to the end of track 6. Really not my sort of music and I am unable to appreciate it at all. 1/5.

Very cool hip-hop album. Q-Tip has a unique flow, very jazzy/R&B instrumentation. Highly recommend.

This is amazing.

idk what it is about him, but i just can never fully get with Q-Tip. Just like with most things I've experienced from him, there are a lot of good things, a lot to like. But it's never the whole thing. Just parts of this song, or this approach, but not the subject matter.

I've heard you're never supposed to put a Q-Tip in your ears, now I know why. Didn't care for it at all. 2 stars.

Very solid production and rapping over a lot of neo-soul and R&B tracks. Q-tip proves that he's very skilled outside tribe called quest as well. Although I prefer most tribe albums, this is still a very diverse and entertaining listen

I liked it when I was listening in my car on the way home from work. I *loved it* when I listened to it on my headphones at home. Just excellent from start to finish. Jazzy, funky, soulful hip hop and that should come as no surprise …the man was in A Tribe Called Quest, after all.

Great album. Huge fan of old TCQ and most Native Tongues stuff from back in the day and I didn't think an album like this was possible anymore. Love the samples, scratch, beats and old skool vibe of The Renaissance. Below are some great highlights that have occupied my ears for the past couple days: Gettin Up WeFight/WeLove ManWomanBoogie Move If this was a solo album it makes me wonder what the other four members of Tribe Called Quest were doing in the studio.

Qtip is one of the best rappers of all time. Love this album

Jazzy and groove-filled - excellent lyrics and flow to the entire production

Damn! This is exactly the kind of hip-hop I love.

One of the best hip-hop albums I've ever listened to. Smooth-- like a good bourbon with sick beats and lyrics to match. Q-Tip taking bodies.

pleasant surprise

The Renaissance I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this, I thought it might be a slightly dated post-career peak album, but I thought it was great. You can really feel the live atmosphere in the music, it's nicely augmented by some superb samples and interpolations and production touches, and it has a lovely, loose feel combining a 70s blue eyed soul jazz feel with an airy late 00s sound. And his voice is great too, still smooth and laid back, but with a nice older edge to it. I don’t think there are any bad songs, but the first four songs and the three in the middle in particular are great. Johnny is Dead is an excellent opener, great organ stabs and bass and a nice, catchy chorus/hook. I really like the vocal hook on Won’t Trade and Gettin’ Up is superb, with excellent bass and piano. I love the groove of Official, with its sound effects and smooth feel. We Fight/We Love has Steely Dan echoes in its feel, Manwomanboogie uses the Can bass and drums superbly, an irresistible groove, and J-Dilla brings his brilliant sampling and production skills to Move. And Norah Jones is really good on Life is Better, sounding a bit like Erykah Badu, with a lovely soulfulness, eschewing her normal blandness. Believe is great too, love the guitar and D’Angelo (RIP) is great on it. Shaka finishes it off nicely, with a reference to Stevie Wonder. I think this ends up as a solid 4, I’ll definitely come back to it for some smooth, soulful, jazzy grown up hip hop. 🍡🍡🍡🍡 Playlist submission: Manwomanboogie

Everything on this could have been a single. Fantastic! 4.75

4.5

Q-Tip is a great rapper but this isn’t his best work. Low End Theory is a 5. Bye

Q-Tip always nails it, I think i like everything this guy has done, and not a lot of other hip hop..

Honestly probably favourite so far

This whole record is enjoyable, but not much stood out to me distinctly. I think “Move” was probably my favorite track on first listen. Q-Tip and I had the same vocal coach and I met him one time between our sessions. He was a nice dude.

QTip is always smooth and even if this album isn’t all full of bangers it is still a great showcase of why he is one of the best.

It's like rap but with smooth R&B. Into it.

What a fantastic album. I'd never heard of Q-Tip before, but boy I've missed out. Just a smooth and enjoyable listen

A very low key hip hop album. Engaging and easy listening. The songs are well made and produced. I recognized Q-Tip from his work with the Beastie Boys.

Q-Tip is always so smooth with it.

Solid album, but somehow disappointed - expected somewhat more from the "lead" of Tribe. WeFight/WeLove, Move, Believe and Shaka are gems, but rest is a bit of a let down for me!

Gear: ZMF Bokeh Artwork: 🕴️🎚️🎭 Production: 🧈😊👌 Music: 🎤🔥🌃 Rating: 🐦‍🔥🐦‍🔥🐦‍🔥(🐦‍🔥)/5

Familiar with Q-Tip from some of his guest spots with other artists and a bit of Tribe and although this started out great it did flag a little in the second half

Enough going on there to be ok even if most sounded the same.

It was a nice listen. I don't think I paid much attention to it, whoops!

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Largely forgettable. Even the singles didn't stand out.

Probably better than most rap/hip hop, but I still didn't enjoy it.

Was okay, mix of rap and electronic but didn't listen much to it

It is fine as background music but I couldn't see myself ever listening to it again.

The production soars near the beginning of this album but quickly loses steam to the point where the last tracks are cloying in their use of samples. Mediocre bars throughout mean this one lands firmly in the disappointment pile.

48. Não há ponta por onde se lhe pegue. MotA: Gettin Up "Sometimes I phase out when I look at the screen / And I think about my chance for me to intervene"

decent hip hop album, can't say that any songs stood out much

Fucking shit

My doctor always tried to tell me Q-Tips aren't good for my ears. This album confirms his theory.

127/1089 A really enjoyable 00s hip-hop album. It’s very emblematic of it’s time and such an easy listen. The groovy nature of the music and the way Q-Tip flows over it meshes so well and there are some very well integrated features. There aren’t any weak links faves: Move, WeFight/WeLove, Johnny Is Dead, Believe, Getting Up 84/100

I prefer this and the final ATCQ album to that groups more heralded earlier albums - I think they took full advantage of the superior production technology available to create a much fuller and more varied sound. Undoubtedly this means heading into over production territory at times here - but this album touches on so much - effortlessly veering into Soul, dance/house, and doing it well. Probably a borderline 4/5 but it also wins the intangibles for me - great album cover and samping/crediting an obscure Can song on ManWomanBoogie, so rounding up.

Smooth flows, fantastic production and it doesn't have the usual downside to hip hop albums of violent and misogynistic lyrics (or stupid skits for that matter). I'm a big fan.

Progressive hip hop? This is one of the guys I've heard before and didn't know I was hearing. Pretty laid back. I enjoyed this.

Never really listened to much hip-hop before but I am really loving this.

90

Dope

Q-Tip is great. This album cover was a little offputting. Gives me Will.i.am vibes. There are many good tracks here - often the production has a slight aroma of 2000s glitz, but its not overpowering. Its a gentle cologne that is tolerable, makes the room smell nicer, though undoubtedly a little tacky. Still I find this whole album very listenable. Something about this album doesn't feel like a 5 star, doesnt feel essential to the 1001, but when I try to pick holes I don't really see them apart from that the production at times seems a little dated. Fave Tracks: Johnny is Dead, Gettin Up, Life is Better, Believe 4.5/5

I love this album so much. It is great start to finish with it continuously finding new ways to surprise and delight. There are back to back songs with Norah Jones and D’Angelo and they are both incredible and fit perfectly in sequence and it’s hard to imagine that working until you listen, but like this whole album, everything works

Another standout album in Q-Tip's discography. Even 20 years into his career, he continued to showcase the strength of both his lyrics and production skills. For being released in 2008, this project offered a refreshing old-school approach to rap during that era. Considering how many classics Q-Tip has contributed to, it's wild that he's still underrated.

Really enjoyed this, wanted to listen again!

Loved this one

Gut 10/10

First impressions is the amazing jazz sampling and rap flow. I can hear where his style has had a major influence in modern hip-hop/rap. Very easy to listen to with effortlessly smooth transitions between tracks. I love his enunciations.

I love q-tip 9.1/10

Nice album, enjoyed the rapping and beats. Easy to listen to Fav tracks - All

Q-Tip has one of my favorite flows ever. I don’t listen to him as much as I should and every time I listen to one of his songs, I always find myself asking why don’t I listen to him more often. He’s not just a rapper, he’s a curator like these are great songs not just good rapping. I’m a fan of this project for sure, now let’s just hope I listen to this & him more often now.

Thought this started really strong and then it just got even better. I don’t know much Q-Tip and definitely not anything outside Tribe, but this was so good. Dance on Glass is one of the best hip-hop songs I’ve heard this year. This is a 5/5 on all fronts. Production is so good, rapping is so good, features are perfect too. Not a dud on this thing.

Incredible album, supremely enjoyed listening

Amazing

Really fucked with this album. Very 2008 and just a generally fun and energizing listen

Do I hear Proto-Kendrick? I liked this a lot.

Really great stuff.

Great

걍 존내 클래식이구만?ㅋㅋ

Listened to before: No This is just wonderfully produced and who could ever resist Q-Tips rapping? I like how the album incorporates large portions of soul and jazz, without compromising on it's Hip-Hop roots. Rating: 4.5

This was an eye opener. Wow. This is a fantastic album. Lots of soul, organic funky beats and original hip hop. Man I’m impressed. Easy 5 stars. This is why I am listening to 1001 albums, otherwise I would never have heard this.

I thought it was a great hip hop album overall. Great songs like Wefight/Welove and life is better were stand outs to me. His flow is a little repetitive but has that 90s hip hop style that is enjoyable for a casual listen. 9/10

This is fantastic. It sounds like 80s hip hop all grown up. The cover image speaks volumes with Q-Tip sporting a silver suit and holding a sampler in front of his face. It's also a bit deceptive, as the sampler plays a diminished role here compared to previous efforts. Instead, Q-Tip brings hip hop back to its roots by forming a band to create a live sound. It owes tribute to 70s funk and soul but creates something new (though samples still feel at home here and there). But it still keeps the flow of classic hip hop. Lyrically progressive, he raps about love and positivity. This is definitely a refreshing album.

Nice vibes, I think some young rappers I’ve seen are emulating his style

This one was kinda awesome. Always liked tribe called quest Will I listen to again: 100%

Grooooove

Loved this!

New favorite hip-hop album

Even without the rest of his Tribe, Q-Tip can rap and produce with the best of 'em. Solid 5 Stars.

From Tribe to this... hell yeah.

Groovy, fascinating, wonky, melodious! As somebody who rarely find hiphop I enjoy, this album shows the vastness of opportunities that exist within this genre.

Love this album. Brilliant beats, great combos of other artists on tracks, usual smooth lyricist!

Q-Tip definitely has it going on. He’s one of those rappers who will always feel fresh and stand the test of time. His voice and flow are so unique that no one can come close to replicating him. His music production is equally one of a kind—laidback, jazzy, and soulful all at once. Every time I hear his music, I’m pulled into this peaceful, laidback vibe that’s impossible to resist.

Absolutely top-shelf (and non-toxic, non-misogynsitc) hip-hop, with half-dozen first-rate cuts – "Johny Is Dead," "Gettin' Up," "You," "We Fight/We Love," "ManWoman Boogie" (if that's not a perfect sequence of songs on gender relationships, one doesn't know what would be), "Life Is Better." Smooth, warm, accessible/approachable, jazzy, flowingly soulful – what's not to like? Indeed, this is a strong contender for one's all-time fave hip-hop record.

vibbinnnn yoooo

Never hear of him before, but this was great. Great beats with an old school feel, nice lyrics and flow.

Never heard of that record but wow, this was amazing! The beats and the lyrics were both great. But what else do you expect from Q-tip?

He's called Q-Tip because his songs get stuck in your ears. The more I listen to this the more I like it. Jazzy, funky, the mix of in-studio instruments and samples, lyrical and nimble rapping, what more could you want? Groovy bass playing? Check. Phat beats? Check. A good time from start to finish? Check.

I love this. Very good album. Great beats, steady progression, excellent raps. Should have realized the Tribe connection sooner. Bomb.

it really blows my mind that Q-Tip doesn't come up more in conversations about the greatest rappers of all time, not to mention how talented he is as a producer. this is so funky and groovy & lyrically dense and cool, especially when you put it up against almost all of its contemporaries

It's been one of my favorite albums since it came out.

Big fan of Q-Tip. Love his voice for rap.

“well what good is an ear if a q-tip isn’t in it?” used to bump gettin’ up at parties, fuckin love this album