Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Smooth
Hverken hoved eller fod formåede at være stille på noget tidspunkt.
*70 Solidt q-tip og dilla - gode soul-y jazz-y beats. Der er dog også nogle sange som ikke helt funger for mig.
Det var fint :)
hvordan har jeg aldrig hørt det q-tip i fuldkommen topform det er så godt og med kanon features 4.4
Yes det er fedt!
Fin vibe - hørte kun 3 numre
Det er jo bestemt stadig lige i min boldgade men jeg synes det er et super lækkert album. Når dog ikke op på højde med The low end theory eller Jazzmatazz så kan ikke blive til mere end 4 stjerner
Another great new discovery for me - the second this week! I knew and loved Q-Tip’s work from his time in A Tribe Called Quest but I was not familiar with his solo work.
This was a favorite of mine from a few years ago. Since then I've gotten a bit tired of it, but upon revisiting it I find it still holds up pretty well. Obviously doesn't beat the classic ATCQ albums, but still worth the listen. Favorite track: Gettin Up 4.5/5
Smooth and jazzy as ever.
Hard to review a Q-Tip solo project without comparing it to his work with Tribe. Overall I think he comes off very well, it's chock-full of his signature sound and style. It does miss a little something without the chemistry between him and Phife etc, but on the other hand, there are fun, melodic, funky, and more fully produced touches that are really nice. Definitely a must-listen, #316.
Quite nice, but not my thing
Didn’t get to listen but will
Yeah, I like the mellow jazzy feel to this. Some great samples and cracking bass lines. I like his voice and he actually seems to view women as more than sex objects. Refreshing. I’ll take this over gangsta rap idiocy any day of the week
Ok, this slapped! I should’ve known Q-Tip would be great, but still so pleasantly surprised with how groovy and fun this is.
No
It was hip, it was hop, it was rap, it was flow, it was vibe, it was chill, it was explicit.
This is a brilliant culmination of everything Q-Tip had worked up to this point as a producer and rapper. Wanting to make hip-hop more dynamic, more textured, he hired a bunch of really talented musicians, as well as guest appearances from J Dilla, Norah Jones, D'Angelo, and Raphael Saadiq. This oozes with sound and feel; it's juicy and creamy and fun. It has a bit of everything that makes a great soul or R&B album, only as hip-hop. And it still sounds fresh today. I think, thanks to this list, Q-Tip has become one of my favorite artists ever, not just for hip-hop. This is simply genius, and the contributors were awesome to add this. 5 stars.
One of the first albums I listened as a teenager when I was getting into hip-hop. While at the time I loved the production, lyricism, and themes, as I've grown older the latter two became much weaker in my mind. Not because Q-Tip is a bad rapper, mind you. He's just a bit corny. The lyrics scream early-mid 2000s conscious rap, and that genre as a whole has not aged well in my mind. Despite this, the album is still good, and production is still top-notch. It is Q-Tip after all. Overall a good album, with some... eye-rolling flaws. Highlights are Johnny is Dead, Official, and Move.
This was good. A lot more r&b feel than hip hop.
Dug it
Not bad
I liked the A Tribe Called Quest album with the Lou Reed sample better
Great beats, great samples, great rhymes, thoughtful and intelligent songs.
80's hip hop vibes with a little modern flavor. I like.
🎧Tip is one of the best ever to do it
Great album, huge fan of Tribe
I can’t wait to listen to this one again! What a great album!
Boring rap album. Pretty generic
So cool.
Þetta var allt í lagi hjá þessum eyrnapinna. Nær því sem ég hef hlustað á í rappheiminum en samt afskaplega auðgleymanlegt. Eiginlega bara ekkert sem situr eftir.
I guess it was ok? I like rap, but this seemed so boring. I gave it two stars only because it at least had a few songs that I found the music to be enjoyable.
I quite liked this one lol
I’m not usually into hip hop but enjoyed this album quite a bit. It’s really ahead of its time
Some catchy songs but not the best.
Incredible. The production is unreal. Q-Tip got one of the best flows in hip hop and he has top tier lyricism to go with it. The features on this album are also great
not my taste
sounds like a Tribe record from the 90s, which is fine by me
Rap, with a good bass beat, but not my thing
Nice beats. Would be good background music for an event
Q-Tip has amazing flow, he's the best. This album is fine, it has some interesting tracks. I can't give it 5 because it doesn't blow my mind. A solid 3 though.
Fun, as all Tribe related things are. Not very outstanding, but fun and relatively consistent. Nothing stood out after the first couple of songs, though, unfortunately. Ill be returning to some songs, but this isn't the highest caliber of hip hop for sure.
Overall a fantastic funky hip hop album
2,3/5
Loved it. Never would have listed to this without this project. So glad I discovered this.
This was great, not usually a fan of jazzy hip hop but really enjoyed this
Yeah
Excellent beats and samples from a member of A Tribe Called Quest. There was not a single song that I wanted to skip. Tracks I particularly enjoyed: Johnny Is Dead (very strong opener) Gettin Up You We Fight/We Love Move
This was fun. I think with repeated listens it would score a 4. Will have to revisit in the coming days this week.
What a great album. A Tribe Called Quest always put out great albums, and this solo effort is no different. It's smooth, it's flows together so well, and it's both old school yet feels newer than something that came put in the 90s. Just a wonderful listen.
OK how did I miss this man? This morning I'd heard his name before but never his music. Now I'm at work listening to his entire discography, and reading he was in Jungle Brothers and A Tribe Called Quest! Now I know why I love his stuff. This album somehow feels old and modern at the same time. The mix and lyrics are amazing, his flow on this album is great. It's a solid album that is not only in my library but I'm adding him to my Bands in Town list as well. OK I've listened to this twice more now, as well has his first album twice. I
Can't imagine anything better to listen to in the sunshine, just like a real life q-tip deeply satisfying.
Smooth like butter and the kind of funky that heals the soul
I'm not normally a hip hop lover but, and I can't believe I'm writing this, it's a banger. Maybe not much that's groundbreaking but it's bad ass from start to finish, some different musical approaches that are totally worth hearing again.
Très sympa
i like the cover. i like the beats. his voice is nice. sounds relatable like he could be a friend… umm manwomanboogie… misogynistic?? homophobic? hmm. mostly positive messages throughout.
I dont usually like rap but this was good
great beats and samples are fire. There's a ton of great head bop grooves and overall a really good listen. I liked the mixture of genres where there were songs that had things from R&B, pop, rap, and more. 8/10
Nothing really outstanding, but it was a nice experience.
Just cant get into this at all
q-tip a legend for a reason. so chill and dope, loved this
Q’s flow and lyrical acrobatics are up there with the very best hip hop artists, so there’s plenty to like here. I found the production a little lacking though, and some of the features I was excited to hear didn’t really get used to their best potential.
Ok vibe
OK.
Not for me, but it was alright
2 of my fave rappers 2 days in a row? Hip hop Christmas truly did come early this year
It sounded pretty basic to me. Didn’t have an outstanding song but the album was ok in my opinion.
Fine but forgettable.
It was fine
Wasn't familiar with the Tip's solo works. Typical world class shit
This one surprised me. Was never a Q-tip fan, but this has some really groovy sounds played by real instruments. Not to mention some good sampling and also a good combo balance of singing and rap vocals. A nice change of pace for the rap genre that helps it standout.
This one caught me by surprise, really enjoyed it and would prob listen again
Nice flow. Nice rhymes. I enjoyed it but not sure it was super memorable. Some of the late songs weren’t great. 3.25
Mr. Tip always hits me right in the vibes. Original and very listenable. I like. 3.75/5
old school hiphop. great discography. i did enjoy a lot
I tried to like this but, man, hip-hop and R&B; just really isn't my thing although I've tried. Two stars.
Johnny Is Dead 3 Won't Trade 3.2 Getting' Up 2.8 Official 2.8 You 2.5 We Fight/We Love 3.1 Manwomanboogie 2.9 Move / Renaissance Rap 2.8 Dance on Glass 2.4 Life Is Better 2.4 Believe 2.6 Shaka 3 Score: 2.791666667
2,7 Highlights: Official, Believe
Solid 3
Decent hip-hop. I only know him from when he did “Got Til’ It’s Gone” with Janet Jackson, the song based on Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” — if you’re not familiar with it, give it a listen.
top 3 - Johnny Is Dead, Official, Move. I don’t have much to say but it’s solid.
And now Q-Tip? Really? My review track to track will just be yes and no’s. No Yes Yes No No Ahhh no And so on. I fell into the trap of this just being background music. Which is never good.
This was a very very good album, and an enjoyable listen. My gripe with this though? Q-TIp's solo stuff is insanely overshadowed by A Tribe Called Quest. It's not even close to me, Q-Tip's flow in Tribe is so unique and cool, and it's almost funny. On here it feels a LOT more generic and, while talented, it doesn't apply as much appeal. This isn't a negative review though, I still had a great time listening to this. Very groovy and great production, just not as good as Quest. Life Is Better was a banger tho.
Very, very well produced and pretty listenable. But ultimately, it's all a bit lost on me. I enjoyed this a lot more than I did the two Quest albums that I listened to on this project so far, but that's a low bar. Very slick, but forgettable music for me.
lots of upbeat hip hop songs that i rlly enjoyed
solid
Not my usual cup of tea, but it was enjoyable. The highlight song was definitely Move. Solid 3 stars.
Had no idea this style of rap was still extant in 2005, like old fashioned hip-hop had evolved free of the ravaging influence of Gangsta. It's kind of refreshing, but the trouble is it's just ... not very interesting. A lot of the mixing is very repetitive, and doesn't even manage to build a particularly compelling groove. Q-tip's raps are better but without the foundation of great production they get lost too easily.
Yeah, I liked it but didn’t love it. Prefer Q-Tip as a feature artist.
Not bad. It's clear it's rap, but the backing instrumentals is not bad.
Harmless.
Ca va pour du Hip hop 2.5
Starts strong but drops off.
Heard
Ambivalent to this me
Отличный альбом в своём жанре. особенно хорошо здесь звучит именно бас, создавая грув, он не перегрузает музыку, а лишь делает ее интереснее. также на альбоме очень интересные драм партии. вцелом альбом, как бы развиваясь, постепенно меняет звук от песни к песне.
You have to Move to this. Believe me, this is a Good Thing.
I have no problem with this. I enjoy each song as they're playing. Nothing sticks in my memory. I even own it on CD. I've played it dozen of times. Each time the same result - enjoy it while it's on, forget it when it's gone.
Pretty mediocre album for me, but on the good side of mediocre with some nice music
Kind of dumb.
I liked it.
Not my usual genre but still enjoyed it.
When this album first played I didn’t like it. I felt th first couple of songs let it down. But the more of the album you listen to the better it gets. I would have loved this album about 8 years ago and I still love the sound of Q tips voice, very melodic and the way he flows is great. I do think this sounds very 2000’s in its more chill rap offering. I did enjoy this, I just think it could have been stronger.
This was alright, a reasonably enjoyable listen. Maybe lacked some edge but I found it inoffensive with some decent songs. Nice to have on in the background.
I've not listened to this album for well over a decade and I should have. I'm not the biggest hip-hop fan in the world, but this laid back, smooth album is good, relaxing, fun.
Relaxing and upbeat!
like the 70s influence but it felt like there were unfinished thoughts which would’ve benefited from a couple songs being 30 seconds longer.
went into this thinking I was gonna hate it, but by the end I actually kinda liked it - just like a q tip 6.5 / 10 Best track/s: You, Life Is Better
2/3. Old-school aesthetic with a modern sound. Really groovy, great percussion and sounds, overall a fun listen. Not familiar with TCQ so I hadn't heard him before either, but I can tell why he's a legend.
was alright, MANY other rap albums i would rather listen to
the beat from "Johnny is dead" materialises and I'm nodding instictively, the chorus comes and goes and the groove returns. A full-on head-nodder leaving me excited about the rest of the album. "no trades" keeps the nodding and drops in some awesome samples over a hypnotically chopped beat with q-tip's clipped and rapid delivery slotting in mechanically behind the beat and i'm off to my music library to add this album immediately a little distant hint of g-funk in "gettin up" and a very smooth jam indeed with a surprisingly harmonised chorus and I reckon people are likely getting jiggy to this one from time to time, that beat thumping away right on time... oh and those flute-type sounds in the choruses are cool as hell that scratching outro and matching intro to to "official" are pretty neat but mildly offensive to the ear and the song itself came into my ears a little confused although the lyrics grew on me as we went along "you" didn't do much for me "wefight / welove" is a stone cold groove and the chorus vocal is just lovely. Fantastically bouncy bassline and cool minimalism throughout. "ilove" this one "manwomanboogie" was just a bit meh really the setup for "move" produced a pretty cool drop into a a propulsive groove that kicked me repeatedly in the rear and the filtered samples through the later verses are neat as the song builds and builds, fantastic track and probably my fave so far "dance on glass" wandered around a bit but the flow is neat and the production tricks are certainly interesting I nearly fell asleep through "life is better" but it itself got better as it went along and I didn't dislike it by the end despite the slightly irritating nasal vocal but then Norah came back and I nearly fell asleep again and wanted very much to skip but held on "believe" was pretty neat but nothing too much to say "shaka" is a lovely closer with a very retro-sounding set of chords over the verses, I liked it. Overall I'd give it a 7 - strong songs, some less interesting but the really good ones were very listenable. I will play this one quite a bit!
didnt pay too much attention cause i got really focused with work but maybe this helped me do that idk favorite song: won't trade
As a non rap/hip-hop person, I actually really enjoyed this. Music was far better than most rap albums
This is a mid-level q-tip album. It's not bad, there are some great tracks. But I'm not sure why its in here when we already have tribe records on the list.
Wasn't expecting anything heading into it, but it turned out to be a tight hip-hop album. Sometimes they're way too long, but this one was the right length, had some good beats, and impressed a bit.
Very unique, not what I was expecting.
Pretty good, found a few songs that I liked.
Based on the beats and the lyrics, this deserves a 4/5. Except I don't like Q-Tip's voice. This is a case where with the right singer this would be stellar, but I found his voice grating. For that, it's a 3/5.
The first 3 ATCQ albums are some of my absolute favourites, I listen to them regularly. I don't know why but I didn't really follow any of the collective did outside of quest. In respect of Q-Tip I was aware of Breathe & Stop, but that's about it. This was a really strong album, you could heard the quest influences, but it was also sufficiently different that I didn't think it was an extension of their style. Any way, I enjoyed, plenty of good tracks, nothing that jarred with me. I will be listening again. It wasn't 5 stars level, but still very good.
Unfortunately—although there are some interesting ideas & collaborations on here—so just find Q-Tip’s voice too annoying to listen to for any prolonged period of time.
It’s Q Tip without tribe. Not bad, but sometimes overproduced
This is so incredibly listenable. A gateway hip-hop album.
Pretty good.
Mostly forgettable rap.
Fun and groovy, an unassuming album that brings some smooth and playful tracks for the listening
One of so many hip-hop albums which all sound the same ... except for a few good songs with other artists (D'Angelo, Norah Jones)
A very nice homage to earlier hip hop. Good samples like the Jackson 5s dance machine in "move". Really good flow and just satisfying hooks. Standout tracks personally were "gettin up", "dance on glass" and "move". Overall I think a very well done return to original hip hop whilst still keeping modern elements creating a really smooth, clean, sonically soothing album
1. weight/welove 2. move 3.dance on glass
Would not buy
RnB/Rap blandat intryck. Några bra samarbeten bl a med Norah Jones. En trea
Dig the vibe, just not my daily driver type thing.
Haven't heard this album before. Honestly it's pretty cool. The beats are fun and the flow is nice to listen to. No massive bangers here but it was a vibe anyway 3/5
Q-Tip is great and I really like A Tribe Called Quest, but this didn't hit for me like I'd hoped. It was good, but not great. The beats were good, Q-Tip has a great flow, and the guest spots worked really well, but something about it just didn't quite engage me like I'd wanted. It's still a very good album. I'd give it a 3.5 if I could, but I'm rounding down.
If it’s Q Tip, it’s gonna be worth it and this definitely is. Didn’t know this one and I am glad I now do.
This is quite a well made late 2000s rap album from an artist who doesn't seem to be relevant anymore. It has a bunch of guest appearances and is overall well made. However, I don't think there is a standout song on here and I probably wouldn't listen to again.
Ok, not really my genre, but it was fine.
Not too bad, but not really something I enjoy too much.
hmm
BEST ALBUM EVERRRR
Won't Trade is the most stand out song but that just because of the strong mixing track.
Great instrumental, lyrics l, and a slick down home vocals.
This was such a nice find. Amazing hip-hop album.
Hip Hop you say? Ok. I did the full listen with an open mind. Honestly can't hate the rhymes, and the sections of singing are good. Do I understand all of the inner meanings? No. Can I appreciate the delivery? Yep. 'You' was sad. Listened before? N Saved tracks? Y Favorite tracks? Getting Up, You, ManWomanBoogie, Life Is Better, Believe ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Liked a lot. Who knew.
One thing I really appreciate about doing this project is the opportunity to discover good hip-hop. That's one genre I'm woefully lacking in. I grooved and thoroughly enjoyed this from beginning to end.
Was always told never to put Q-tips in my ear, but this was a blast. What else have I been "protected" from? I think I'll stare at the sun next. A high 4 from me.
Slightly funky, pretty decent. It comes in, does what it does, and then promptly buggers off.
Sonically good again couldn’t finish
It’s good! But it also feels really out of place in hip hop. Here’s this legacy act making REAL hip hop! None of this…Lil Wayne shit
Абстракт звичайно легенда. Просто неймовірне відчуття ритму та груву. Завжди топові бас-лінії підрізає на семпли. Флоу у нього досить лаконічний, але все в купі це завжди працює. Цей альбом мені скоріше на 4.5. На своїх пікових моментах, то це просто 6 з 5, дуже яскраво. Але й вистачає просто хороших пісень, а від Q очікування високі. Заслужено в цьому списку в контексті року виходу, бо кінець нульових не найяскравіший період в хіп-хоп музиці. А це така яскрава пляма.
Q-tip це персонаж, якого поважаю буквально всі. Я якось сольне його не слухав, але мені зайшов альбом, все як я люблю у "позитивному" хіп-хопі. Залишу в себе в бібліотеці.
Chad-Tip
Q-Tip is a good one. Several certified bangers on this album. And if you’re on Spotify, let it play on after the album is done and it’ll take you on a journey.
I really liked this album! It was just a smooth listen.
The production style on this is, frankly, incredible. I guess Q-Tip picked up a trick or two being in one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time. Not every track is an all-timer, but plenty to enjoy.
One of the benefits of this exercise is reclaiming the good ol’ three (3) star. Feedback in the modern world seems to be binary - either a gushing five (5) star or it’s worse than hogshit. The humble three (3) to me now means “that was pretty good. I enjoyed it”
This album is so warm and lovely. It’s hot cocoa on a rainy day, a throwback to the ‘90s jazz-inflected stylings of cool-cat hiphop, with Q’s delightful wordplay. I didn’t hear it at the time and am now richer for knowing this album. 4 big stars!
That was cool. I've always enjoyed Q Tips rhymes.
Sick Power Man reference, bro.
Another banger album I’d never heard before. I can’t quite give it 5 stars because there weren’t any standout mind-blowing tracks, but everything was at a consistently high level and I’m definitely going back to this one in the future
Mid hip hop
Oh, more hip hop! Not my bag but favourite track was “Good Thang”. Glad it’s over. 3
I'm not the most versed in rap/hip hop, but this was alright and easy to listen to. The beats/music tracks bump this up to a 4* for me.
I enjoyed many of the melodies on this album. And adding singers like Nora Jones worked out well.
Low replay value for me. It's not bad. I wouldn't mind putting it on in the background.
**The Renaissance** – Q-Tip Released: 2008 | Label: Universal Motown Genre: Neo-soul / Jazz-rap / Progressive hip-hop --- ### 🔍 **In-Depth Review** #### 1. **Lyrics** Q-Tip’s pen is in elder-statesman mode: reflective, relationship-focused, and deliberately hopeful. - **“You”** dissects the minute cracks in a dying romance without misogyny or self-pity, achieving a complexity rarely heard in rap love songs . - **“We Fight / We Love”** uses a call-and-response structure to contrast conflict and affection in one breath, mirroring real-life volatility. - **“Believe”** packages self-help maxims (“Believe in your friends, don’t believe in your enemies”) inside internal rhymes that avoid preachiness because they’re grounded in lived experience . - **“Move”** (the J Dilla tribute) hides double-entendres about hip-hop’s heartbeat inside workout metaphors, keeping tribute and braggadocio in balance. **Overall tone**: optimistic, but never naïve; every positive line is earned by admitting past mistakes. #### 2. **Music & Production** - **Live-band core**: Tip formed a small ensemble (bass, keys, guitar, horns) and built grooves from human feel first, samples second. This gives the record a 1970s-soul warmth that 2008’s Fruity-Loop era lacked . - **Sampling still matters**: Can’s “Vitamin C” bass-line powers **“ManWomanBoogie”**; Steely-Dan-style chord voicings float through **“We Fight / We Love”**; dusty snares on **“Dance on Glass”** nod to Tribe’s MPC past. - **Layering**: Strings, Fender Rhodes, analog synths and stacked background vocals are arranged so that nothing crowds Tip’s voice—every element breathes. - **Sonic palette**: mid-tempo swing (90-100 BPM), rounded low-end, crisp but unobtrusive hi-hats, and lots of Rhodes sparkle. It’s “coffee-table hip-hop” that still knocks in headphones. #### 3. **Themes** - **Mature love**: romantic commitment, break-ups, make-ups, and self-work. - **Spiritual renewal**: constant references to belief, destiny, and cleansing. - **Generational bridge**: proudly 38 in “hip-hop dog years,” Tip positions himself as a mentor, not a relic—praising new energy while modeling grown-man grace . - **Post-Obama euphoria**: the album bottles 2008’s optimism; even the minor keys feel hopeful. #### 4. **Influence & Legacy** - **Blueprint for “adult” rap**: Jay-Z’s *4:44*, Common’s *Black America Again*, and Rapsody’s *Eve* all borrow the template—jazz-soul loops + vulnerable storytelling—popularized here . - **Neo-soul crossover**: helped re-legitimize live instrumentation for rappers after the late-90s shiny-suit era. - **Critical sleeper**: landed on decade-end lists (*Pitchfork*, *The Guardian*) and is now routinely cited by younger artists (Anderson .Paak, Smino, Kota the Friend) as a sonic reference. --- ### ✅ **Pros** 1. **Cohesive maturity** – no forced club single or radio bait; every track serves the narrative arc. 2. **Top-tier musicianship** – real-time bass, guitar and horn overdubs create a tactile richness. 3. **Positive without corniness** – optimism rooted in self-critique, not slogans. 4. **Feature curation** – Norah Jones, D’Angelo and Raphael Saadiq blend in organically rather than stunt-cast. 5. **Vocal delivery** – Tip’s nasal tenor has aged into a smoother baritone-tenor hybrid; enunciation remains razor sharp. --- ### ❌ **Cons** 1. **Low dynamic range** – the album hovers in the same 80-90 BPM pocket; some listeners find it “too cozy.” 2. **Repetitive cadence** – Tip’s double-time-then-slow-down flow recurs song after song; a few more rhythmic switch-ups would help. 3. **Lyrically narrow** – once the love/life-lesson theme is set, there’s little socio-political edge (compare to *The Low End Theory*’s industry critiques). 4. **Second-half lag** – tracks 9-11 (**“Life Is Better,” “Believe,” “Shaka”**) are strong individually, but sequence back-to-back ballads that can blur together on casual listens. 5. **Under-promoted singles** – radio-friendly cuts like **“Gettin’ Up”** lacked video budgets; consequently the album never reached the cultural saturation it deserved. --- ### ⚖️ **Verdict** **The Renaissance** is Q-Tip’s **“grown, sexy, and self-aware”** masterpiece. It sacrifices the youthful urgency of *The Low End Theory* for lush sophistication, and in doing so charts a viable path for hip-hop aging gracefully. Flaws are minor and mostly cosmetic; the album’s consistency of vision, musical warmth, and lyrical honesty make it essential listening for anyone who believes rap can evolve without losing its soul. **Stand-out tracks**: - “Johnny Is Dead” – gateway opener with Stevie-Wonder clavinet stabs. - “Gettin’ Up” – feel-good lead single; perfect Rhodes loop. - “ManWomanBoogie” – Can-sample boogie that still rattles trunks. - “You” – arguably the most nuanced break-up song in rap. - “Move” – J Dilla tribute; drums chop like *Donuts* dipped in cocoa butter.
Gillar't!
For the amount of ATCQ I’ve listened to I have never listened to the solo acts ATCQ is greater than the sum of its parts
Just couldn't get into it
Enjoyable
2008 feels like a long time ago but it’s still refreshing to hear hip hop that is connected to the history and tradition of the genre while simultaneously sounding fresh. Q-Tip’s voice is maybe my favorite in hip hop and it never wears out its welcome.
Credit for this not being the worst music I’ve heard, but it’s close.
7 maybe 8/10
Lots of variety, good lyrics, great production, and a focus on the music/melodies. It does get a tad boring towards the end, but mostly this is great. 4.0/5.0: Great
one or two songs i really enjoyed the rest were fine. consistently good production but starts feeling a little too samey towards the end
Really enjoyable with great features! Sent it to Dylan and will fs be sharing with my friends who are rap fans
This was great, completely passed me by at the time this was released
Enjoyed it but pretty far below the benchmark set by ATCQ. Maybe that’s an unfair comparison.
The funky beats aren’t enough for me. I think where I went wrong was paying attention to the lyrics and realising just how banal they are. Q Tips has a decent, if very regular flow but the album mixes it up with quite a few different influences/backing tracks. But once you dial in to the lyrics you quickly forget that and wonder what on earth he is going on about. “Won’t Trade” was a low point on this front. Maybe I’m just feeling uncharitable but I just wondered why am I listening to this nonsense.
Lets start with the bad. "You" - Was dire It was just repeating gibber. OK so some songs suck but it is quite a varied album to its credit and infused with some fairly funky backdrop which does lift it slightly. "ManWomenBoogie" is decent rap and many other songs in fairness. Just not for me. I just find most of it a little odd. I just have visions of a muscle clad rapper in a haribo advert. Or hanging out in a 70s rap live lounge. Neither of which I care for much.
Another hip-hop album that is pleasant to listen to and has themes beyond the usual gangster rap genre. As usual though, my enthusiasm was waning by the end of the album. Although it was upbeat and enjoyable, it still felt quite repetitive by the end. There is probably more depth to the lyrics than I was able to pick up on a first pass, but lacking any visceral reaction to it I'm unlikely to revisit.
I've never listened to any of Q-Tip's solo work before, but I remember a friend of mine in college saying that she could listen to Q-Tip read the phone book, so I have reasonably high expectations for this album. The renaissance will be my last album from 2008 to review, and I'm hoping it can send that year out with a bang! I thought The Renaissance was very good, and I really enjoyed listening to it. The production, beats, samples, and live instruments all sounded great, and I loved how each song flowed seamlessly into the next. Q-Tip’s rapping was great too, and I really enjoyed the way that his flow and rhyme schemes felt so deliberately constructed around the musical elements. This was one of those albums that was simply a treat for my ears, and I found the beats to most of these songs really infectious. My only critiques of this album is that some of my least favorite songs on it felt really drawn out, and I think that’s just because some of these songs (“Official,” “You,” and “Believe”) just weren’t my taste musically. Even though I enjoyed Q-Tip’s flow and rhyme schemes, I wasn’t that drawn into the lyrics on this album. It’s not that they were bad, they just weren’t my jam. Some notes on my favorite songs on the album: I loved the bass and programmed loops on “Johnny Is Dead.” I noticed right off the bat that the beats and Q-Tip’s flow meshed together really well, and it was incredibly pleasing to listen to something so melodic and precise. “Gettin Up” was my favorite song on the album. The beat was awesome, and I loved the overall punchy sound. The keyboards and bass were excellent together, and I liked the sample usage too. I loved the soulful sound of “We Fight/We Love.” The sample usage was great, and the guest vocals from Raphael Saadiq are awesome. Another great beat, and just an overall beautiful sounding song. “Move/Renaissance Rap” was absolutely infectious. The beat was great, and Q-Tip’s flow was awesome once again. The Renaissance was a solid album, and a great example of Q-Tip’s talents as a rapper, producer, and musician.
chill vibes
Not really my cup of tea
Q-Tip von A Tribe Called Quest. cooler sound, vielschichtig, auch wenn (teilweise) wenig eingängig. vielleicht nochmals hören?
Furchtbar dieser funky groove. Da kann es noch lange Hip-Hop sein.
sos amor a la deriva
Great grooves chill flow
Und wieder wird gestottert und gepöbelt! Mist!
A Tribe Called Quest is on of my all-time favorite hip hop acts, but I've never really sat down and listened to a Q-Tip record. I guess I've feared that the magic wouldn't be there without Phife (RIP) and Ali Shaheed Mohammed. And truly, Q-Tip solo isn't quite the same; I do miss the chemistry that Tribe had. But Q-Tip solo is still pretty enjoyable, and I still love his whole vibe. The Renaissance has a lot of that classic Tip flow that I love so much. It's a bit more mellow across the board than I might prefer, but I'm enjoying the record a lot more than I thought. If I had my way, Q-Tip, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli would release a whole album together. One can dream, I guess. Anyway, this is a solid record, and I'll be inclined to check out solo Q-Tip in the future. 4/5
This was a solid album from one of the co-founders of A Tribe Called Quest.
Favorite Track: ManWomanBoogie
Q Tip is one of my faves and definitely top 4 out of Tribe Called Quest lol. This was a chill, enjoyable album
Didn't know any of the songs but not bad.
day 2 of begging for the generator to assign me kimono my house tomorrow because of my post-show hangover 3.5/5
this is a nice listen i never would have found on my own.
enjoyable but nothing super stood out to me
Feels more like 1998 than 2008... in the best way.
87/100. Q-Tip’s flow is one of the most enjoyable in the business, and paired with jazzy boom bap production, it makes for a truly enjoyable listen. Great lyrics, clean beats.
This is one I can see growing on me, but considering that A Tribe Called Quest are one of the most legendary hip hop artists of all time, I feel just a bit underwhelmed by this. Q Tip is extremely talented, obviously, and that definitely does come through. However, I just find the writing and production on this album to feel maybe just a bit boring and generic. But maybe it's also down to expectations, I did go into this expecting to hear A Tribe Called Quest, so once I get more used to his sound as a solo artist I can see myself getting a lot more out of listening to this.
This is not for me
Pleasantly surprised. Not a huge fan of Q-Tip's voice but his flow is pretty great and the music is top notch. Favorites: Gettin' Up, ManWomanBoogie Would I listen to it again: Yes
GREAT ALBUM. Always love soulful samples like this. Songs do kinda get worse in quality after move :( pros: great instrumentals, good flow, polished and innovative production cons: the second half of the album is bad (womp)
Will listen to more of him - Sian
This guy has got an incredible flow. So impressive. Great melodies and isn't too reliant on a sampled hook to take him through. Also the lyrics are brilliant, totally unexpected for a rap record (well for a complete rap outsider)
Good
I don't understand hip hop.
chill, güzel
This isn't bad. It's smoother than most rap, somewhat R&B/soulful occasionally. A couple of songs show a 70's sound influence. Overall, a fair listen. As a rapper, his style is easy on the ears, flow-y. Just can't understand about half of what he's saying though. Was this at the beginning of that mumble rap thing? Honestly, after a few songs, he starts sounding a little Donald Duck to me. Overall, this is sort of meh. Nothing great. Nothing bad. I never felt I had to skip out of something, but nothing really called me to listen intently either. As for the music, my first question is Does his drum machine have just 2 settings?? I guess the bass on "ManWomanBoogie" was fun. Otherwise, just simple keyboard backgrounds that don't warrant much attention. It's about a 2.5 for me. But i can't imagine pulling it back up again ever and I don't recall even 30 seconds from listening to it 3 times. I have to call it a 2
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
Really smooth, chilled out rap / Hip Hop. Not my usual taste but enjoyable.
2000s hip hop. Jazzy, soulful rap. Very melodic.
3.5/5, great album but i'll probably not re-listen to it
There were some good tracks. Still don't engage with the rapping.
Soulful laid back rap with tinges of jazz. Works mostly, e.g. on You, We fight / We Love and that one with Nora Jones. But, a few not so good, such as Getting Up - not great - more R&B than rap and Official, too smooth. Won’t Trade was strong track. And enjoyed the increased tempo initially in Move - though this was 2 different tracks pasted together (and he needs to work on his Renaissance pronunciation). Final track was a little bit Princey. On the whole sits between 3 and 4 (again!). Going with harsh 3 as don’t think it will be revisited.
For me this didn't really get going until the end. Quite liked Shaka and Feva
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.
A peculiar offering. I like Q Tip’s lyrics and flow, though it does sound a little dated in places for the year of release. I found the opening four tracks to be underwhelming, but then in the middle it soars with four bangers, before tailing off once more in the home stretch third. ManwomanBoogie the absolute highlight for me - what a chooooon! One I will listen to many times again I’m sure. I wanted to give it four stars but couldn’t quite justify it. Definitely preferred the ATCQ album on the list as it was more consistent.
Around 2008 some hip hop artists started to get funky and use live-instruments to produce albums that were actually more funk and soul than hip hop. Q-Tip's second album is a great example of it. Every track grooves and has good features on it to make them standout. It's definitely one of the best hip hop albums of that time.
Das Album setzt auf klar strukturierte Grooves und eine eher organische Produktionsweise, die Q-Tips ruhigen, rhythmisch fein gesetzten Vortrag betont. Die Stücke wirken entschlackt und fokussiert, oft mit souligen Linien und leicht jazzigen Harmonien, die an frühere Arbeiten anknüpfen, ohne sich nostalgisch anzufühlen. Besonders auffällig sind Gettin’ Up, Move und We Fight / We Love, die die Mischung aus entspanntem Flow und detailverliebter Produktion gut abbilden. Die Aufnahmen entstanden vor allem in den Legacy Recording Studios in New York und im privaten Abstract Ranch Studio in New Jersey. Q-Tip ist US-amerikanisch; stilistisch bewegt sich das Werk zwischen Hip-Hop, Alternative Rap und Neo-Soul. Insgesamt ergibt sich ein geschlossenes, handwerklich sauber produziertes Album, das eher auf Beständigkeit als auf Überraschungsmomente setzt.
I can't speak strongly to Q-Tip - I just know he's damn talented.
Heerlijke smooth rap. Melodieus en leuk om te luisteren, maar daardoor soms een tikkeltje saai
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.
4 stars
Although I'm not into this genre at all, I thought this album might be a little different. It was a little different, but not much. I didn't listen to it all the way through. But at least I didn't turn it off right away. 2/5
I’m not a massive fan of rap, but I like Q-Tip. His lyricism is beyond most other rappers. The variation was good. I didn’t find myself getting board or annoyed with listening to the same old tropes from lazy rappers.
There is no album I’ve listened to more than Midnight Marauders. Sadly, this is not Midnight Marauders.
Вайбики ATCQ присутствуют
The abstract returns to my awareness Like 2 decades after! He's still got it, this is pretty good.
2+ Stars (6/15)
Why is there yet another Hip-Hop album in this list? I don't care if it's Progressive Hip-Hop or Regresive Hip-Hop, it's still pointless, boring crap. The universal acclaim from music critics doesn't seem to be reflected in the low sales and the low number of listens on Spotify, so I think the critics (and this list compiler) have got it wrong.
Pretty decent
Exactly what I needed today. Great rhymes, strong beats and a mood that made the day go by a lot more quickly.
not my bag
Decent chill hip hop
All right but doesn't seem worthy of this list.
Strong album, full of heart and things to say with an intersting blend of genres. It is sometimes going down a treacherous path, (man and women are different species) or quite simplistic (at the end of the day, it is you) but I can give that grace easily.
5.5/10
Really nice jazzy hiphop album
Dope album. Love his flow. Track with Norah Jones was great. Her voice is perfect for hip hop.
This put a smile on my face.
Another Hip-Hop.
Smooth Hip-Hop / Soul
This was fine. Nothing really stood out to me as excellent.
Okay
What good is an ear if a Q-Tip isn’t in it?
Pedestrian
Good
Listens: 2.5 Standout Tracks: Won't Trade, Life Is Better I had no idea Q-Tip put out solo albums, and comparatively recently to when Tribe produced Low End Theory and People's Instinctive Travels. I like it. It has the same themes and approaches to hip hop that Tribe had. It's definitively not gangsta rap, still, which continues to be refreshing.
This hip-hop album (the authors of the list really have a penchant for hip-hop, haven't they) is one of the more enjoyable ones in the genre, for me. ManWomanBoogie is my favourite and has an addictive bass groove - not surprising because it is Can's (fabulous band). I always struggle deciding how much credit I need to give the hip-hop artist for good tunes that really rely on other people's work. Yes, I get the idea of hip-hop, but really - what would Q-Tip (or US3 etc.) be without samples? Of course, it's also a skill to sample tastefully and do something creative with it. Yet, I can't rate this as highly as truly original work. Also, I don't like it very much even if it was all original. A generous 3.
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.
Ok men varför är den här?
Great record wow!!! He is so fucking good he is def in my Mount Rushmore of rappers. The production was so good too and shoutout Norah Jones and dangelo for two great Dion waiters. Also this was def a tribute to j dilla which was beautiful.
this was fun! the beats were great and some of the cuts were absolute HITS. I'd have to listen a few more times to have a real opinion... but this was good!
More from a period of hip hop that I was not familiar with at all, other than the names and general gists of who was doing what. I am very thankful for this project, as I missed a ton of really good stuff while I was busy raising kids and not as focused on music as I was before and after that time in my life. I've said it before about a few other hip hop artists, but this is the stuff that's exactly in my wheelhouse. Really good R&B with some excellent rapping and singing and sampling. And bonus points for making Norah Jones way more tolerable. Looking forward to discovering more music that went below my radar, especially when I was focused on life and not nearly as much of the arts (aside from what my kids were watching and listening to of course).
At first I thought it sounded kinda modern for an old piece of rap, but then I saw the release year and realised it was the other way around Not a fan either way
I fell 4 days further behind because I have just been listening to this album whenever I have had the opportunity
Zzzzzzzzzz
Not a rap fan
No no no
Ok, this was really a pleasant surprise. I love tribe, but have never bothered to check Q-Tip's solo discography. Oh boy was I wrong! Super good mix, relaxing, interesting hip-hop. Love it. probably even go for 4 stars.
The backing music is really good, but his voice is so thin and monotone, it’s a shame. The guest star appearances are by far the best parts of this album. Thank you Norah Jones and D’Angelo, may you RIP.
It's cool. Not really a standout for me, but I enjoyed it. Q-Tip is so smooth. Favorite songs: WeFight/WeLove, Believe, Shaka, Official
Great album. Soulful hip hop style, a little funk, lots of R&B. Smooth. Liked almost every track. Favorite tracks include Johnny is Dead, Gettin Up, We Fight/We Love, ManWomanBoogie, Believe, Shaka.
This is fine. Generic hip hop. I didn’t know it was the guy from a tribe called quest but it makes sense now.
Pues más de lo mismo. Aburrimiento y total desconexión con el hip hop y toda la cultura que le envuelve. Pero el programita de marras se empeña en convencerme de que uno de cada diez álbumes que no puedo dejar de escuchar antes de palmarla es de rap. Ya empiezo a pasar del tema.
I had it on as background music, completely uninterested and ready to score it a 2. About halfway through I moved it to earphones where I could listen more actively and thought, nope this shit ain’t worth a 2. All American hip hop is the same old trash.
Never really listened to much hip-hop before but I am really loving this.
Started strong, but the charm wore off a bit by the end of the album. Still enjoyed it.
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 like Q-Tips smooth delivery and lyrical content. Problem for me is that the beats for majority of the tracks are a little insipid and lacking groove/funk so it makes it a bit of a forgettable experience.
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
Those opening min7 chords of 'Johnny is Dead' are some sweet jazz funking. It's undoubtedly influenced by throwback pop-funk - it sounds like a more adult Justin Timberlake. The album provides classic Q-Tip melody and flow, but put through a 2000s production filter. Superb lyrically and melodically, but with a pop-sheen that dates it a little. The Timbaland/Timberlake aesthetic of synthetic hyper-clean production is an annoyance - but it's a small distraction to what is a great collection of tracks. The lyrics are on a different plain to contemporary hip hop. The melodies are superior. It works as an album.
Очередной, довольно типичный и не очень примечательный хип-хоп. Не хорошо, не плохо. Нормально. Есть пара четких треков, биты очень даже ничего, но, откровенно говоря, ничего особенно выдающегося. Хороший такой, крепкий рэпчик своего времени.
Well varied hip hop album. Stayed interesting the whole way through, with a handful of standouts.
Not my thing, but pretty cool
Hip Hop, 44eme album =>1/5
Big ATCQ fan, somehow never listened to a solo Q-Tip album. Fun listen
is it rap. .is it soul. .is it original. ..3 no's from me ...let's move on
I had hard time getting into it.
Groovy. Somehow the sound is both retro and timeless
I definitely would have given this a 3 if it weren’t for the random preachiness in the middle of the album where he starts trying to explain the history of the USA or something. I feel like I’ve heard this on multiple rap songs, and I really have no idea what motivates cosplaying as a 2nd-grade teacher. Otherwise this is fine. The production is really good, and for that reason I can sort of see why it was nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammys (not that it matters obviously, it’s the Grammys). Also I wasn’t looking at the tracklist and didn’t realize until after listening that Norah Jones & D’Angelo were on this album???
90
2/5
Even more hip-hop that I don't hate. Remarkable what I've learned from this project.
One of the smoothest voices of all time.
Dope
Nice warm production and Q-Tip's enjoyingly laconic rapping
A solid, clean artsy and simple hip hop album. I feel like the super tight bass / snare / high hat drum beats carry you through the whole album. The whole thing feels tight and sophisticated, a style that seems to be hard to find. Tribe Called Quest we're probably the first group to get me into rap music. I do think Q-Tip is at his best alongside Ali and Pfife but this album still screems old school cool and was a great soundtrack to my drive home today.
I was kind of struggling to get into this album at first. Something about his voice was getting on my nerves; I think it's just a little too high pitched for my tastes. However, something clicked during the track 'You', I think it was the bassline specifically, and I started to really feel the jazz-y, soulful tracks and appreciating his smooth flow. By the end of the album I was totally invested and ended up enjoying it quite a bit. I went back for a second listen and thoroughly enjoyed the whole album. I guess it just took me a minute to get into it.
Underrated!
Fine but no business anywhere near this list
Meh
Ok. Not offensive. Just not my thing. 2.5
not for me
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
Pretty good
HH tranqui muy agradable. 7
Solid rap album. I’m big on a Tribe Called Quest so Q-Tip’s right up my alley. I think Gettin Up and and Life is Better were my favorites. The rest had some solid samples and some of the songs were right up there with the rest of Quest’s music. Good stuff.
This list has taught me that I like rap/hip hop more than I thought. Loved every Tribe Called Quest album on the list, so it’s no surprise I like this too.