The Renaissance is the second studio album by American hip hop artist Q-Tip, released November 4, 2008, on Universal Motown Records. The follow-up to his solo debut album, Amplified (1999), it was recorded after Q-Tip's Kamaal the Abstract (2009) was initially shelved in 2002 by his former label Arista Records and his proposed effort Open was shelved by Universal Motown, both deemed commercially inadequate by the labels. The Renaissance was produced primarily by Q-Tip and features guest contributions by D'Angelo, Norah Jones, Amanda Diva, and Raphael Saadiq. The album debuted at number 11 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 34,219 copies in its first week. It produced three singles and has sold 131,200 copies in the United States. Upon its release, The Renaissance received universal acclaim from music critics, who praised Q-Tip's lyricism and production aesthetic, and earned him a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Album.
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.
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.
This is like the Yacht Rock of rap with a pleasant 70's soul slow jams vibe.
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.
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.
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.
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.
getting increasingly frustrated by the amount of terrible music on this list
Some of the music tracks were okay. Rap just doesn't do it for me, and this entire album was monochromatic.
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.
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
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!
Скука
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
decent hip hop album, can't say that any songs stood out much
Fucking shit
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.
I adore won't trade the rest is pretty good aswell
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
Track and Flow, what more could you want?
Ayer miércoles dije que era hoy. ¿Hoy es hoy? Toca nuevamente hip-hop, género para seguir curioseando. Siento vibras de Kendrick Lamar, unos años antes que él. Me he dado cuenta que éste tipo de hip-hop, ése subgénero, me agrada más que otros más "gritados" o en los que los artistas se muestran como gángsters. Un gran trabajo con tremendo groove.
Q-Tip might be my favorite rapper. I can understand everything he says. His whole vibe has always been chill. This is really nice. Saving tracks left and right. This is exactly my speed rn. 5/5
Yo Tip, why'd you drive so far for? 5/5
My weekend my start late but it sure started in style!! Super solid album, detailed, creative and fun! Nothing like my usual tunes but I can't score it anything less than perfection tbh
Always a pleasure. Q is qing.
Oh my. A delightful treat for my tired ears. The music has texture and layers! It's playful. The rap is smooth and insightful. Will definitely listen to again.
90s hip hop with a little bit of soul. I should listen to the lyrics more
Outstanding. Catchy. Amazing album.
Great running album, will relisten at some point for the lyrics
I didn’t know Q tip had a solo album
Honestly, loved this album. Not usually a fan of hip-hop but this album reminded me of driving around on a sunny day
Fun
Will be buying this one, never listened to any solo Q-Tip, ATCQ will forever be one of my favorites.
So smooth and chill. I love what Tribe records I've heard, but Q-Tip's solo work was new to me. Always fun to discover a new thread to follow from a familiar source.
The boost I needed on a crappy Monday. Prince-like funky soul with a shot of hip-hop and a slick electronica layer of polish.
funky fresh hip hop for funky fresh individuals. big beats, vinyl flips and luscious lines from q-tip all meld together to create nothing short of a hip-hop masterpiece. the album's title makes perfect sense, this album does feel like a renaissance period when it comes to this kind of material.
Oh man. This is really good. This generator has gotten me to listen to a lot of great hip hop records. God bless. Highlights: Johnny Is Dead, Gettin' Up, You, ManWomanBoogie, Life Is Better
I’ve always said that Q-Tip has one of my favorite voices in rap music. He also happens to be a fantastic producer. And the dynamic he had with the other members of A Tribe Called Quest was second to none. So I was intrigued to hear what he would be capable of by himself. Safe to say I was not expecting something to this level of quality. But why should I really be surprised? This man has been one of the most talented MCs since the groups inception. This was released in 2008, just about in the middle of Tribe’s extended hiatus period, and there is a clear evolution of his sound. Although he was 38 here, he somehow manages to sound younger than he did on his earlier work. Even ten years after The Love Movement, age has not affected this man. And with this semblance of youth comes a new kind of production style. A cleaner one. A kind that is more adjacent to soul than jazz. And while I love the jazz rap work they did with albums like The Low End Theory, I welcome this new sound. And it pays off. Because every beat is amazing. I’m really fond of the bass lines and synth patterns here. It definitely feels like it’s taking inspiration from newer modern pop rap beats. Almost all songs are produced by Fareed, and he even samples great artists like Can, Jackson 5, and Steve Howe from Yes. I do have to give a shoutout to the song Move, especially the first part, since it’s produced by the late but great J Dilla. Even with age, Fareed’s lyricism, writing capabilities, and wittiness hasn’t changed at all. And every feature is stellar, especially the ones from Raphael Saadiq and Norah Jones. They provide a beautifully melodic twist to the slick instrumentals. Fareed even provides some singing himself, like with his vocal harmonies on Gettin Up. I was really blown away by how good this is. There is not one bad song. And although it might be blasphemy that I like this more than something like The Low End Theory, doesn’t change that those are still amazing records. This just happened to go above and beyond for me. Rating: 10/10!
Makes me wish I listened to more Tribe Called Quest back in the day...
Really loved this album! A whole vibe. Classic feel...mmm.
Life Is Better, w Norah Jones! Can’t believe I’d never given this a full listen. Vibey rap
Awesome
Went into this not expecting a ton but wow this was really great. Strong from start to finish. What makes it great: Q-Tip is the only artist on the large majority of the album (something I like seeing, particularly in hip hop, where artists feature other artists on the album so to help fill their album) and no interludes. 9/10.
This is good hip hop! It’s a solid album.
The production on this is so funky and cool. Reminded me of Nujabes at times. Loved it honestly, gonna be coming back to this one.
Bardzo przyjemny chill-hop.
Great surprise. Listened twice.
Fantastic, sexy, fun, interesting, a great listen and my first new discovery
8/10 - Big surprise
Great hip hop album by an artist ive never heard of. Kanye like
The fact that this is literally my 50th album and I am just now listening to a hip hop album is horrendous. Ironic but also shameful. However I’ll let that slide since THIS was the first rap album that was given. Q-Tip is already a legend and an icon within music culture due to his pivotal role as 1/3 of the ATCQ. And it was always a bummer that I didn’t get a chance to explore his artistry outside of that…… UNTIL NOW. This is a bonafide classic. Hip hop at its core is the epitome of spoken soul music and Tip took that fact to the absolute maximum with this one. As a rap fan, if you’re reading this and haven’t heard this then you, my friend, are doing yourself a disservice. NECESSARY HIP HOP LISTENING. 6 stars.
Lyrics, flow and beats all flawless. Everyone since he started has borrowed from him, some more heavily or obviously than others. Even the younger rappers who maybe aren't ripping him off directly, they are influenced by artists influenced by Tip. He is the Prince of hip hop for me - a genius who had success but has also inspired a generation (or two) of a movement.
Anyone who doesn't write this a five is an idiot
Used to own on cd. Very cool still