Reviews (page 5 of 8)
I don`t know?!?
Smooth and groovy hip-hop that you inadvertently bop your head to. Stand-outs: You, WeFight/WeLove
This really impressed me. Cool from start to finish.
Everything on this could have been a single. Fantastic! 4.75
4.5
eerste nummer klinken best goed, normaal gesproken geen muziek voor mij maar we gaan het zien. begin was wel het sterkste kant van het album, vind het daarna allemaal beetje in elkaar opgaan.
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!
Q-Tip is a great rapper but this isn’t his best work. Low End Theory is a 5. Bye
Скука
Q-Tip always nails it, I think i like everything this guy has done, and not a lot of other hip hop..
getting increasingly frustrated by the amount of terrible music on this list
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.
I had a feeling I’d enjoy this album more than typical 2000s-era hip-hop, and I was right. The 70s jazz, soul, and funk influences really stood out, complemented by the smooth, liquid flow of the vocals. I’m giving it an extra star for the Manwomanboogie track—sampling the Krautrock band Can was a brilliant touch... that bassline from Holger is absolutely sick
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.
Largely forgettable. Even the singles didn't stand out.
Not a genre I like, not an album in this genre that changes my mind. I was completely bored listening to this.
Gear: ZMF Bokeh Artwork: 🕴️🎚️🎭 Production: 🧈😊👌 Music: 🎤🔥🌃 Rating: 🐦🔥🐦🔥🐦🔥(🐦🔥)/5
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.
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
This was such a catchy album. I enjoyed it! Slightly repetitive towards the end but if you like one song, then you like them all 4 ⭐️
Enough going on there to be ok even if most sounded the same.
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.
It was a nice listen. I don't think I paid much attention to it, whoops!
Really good album. More of a fun/party tone compared to a lot of Tribe albums. Q-Tip is a genius. 4.5/5 Will definitely listen again
Probably better than most rap/hip hop, but I still didn't enjoy it.
Q-Tip is always so smooth with it.
No real standouts but pretty fun thorough.
It's a good album, but it just doesn't stand out. Still enjoyable!
I can't say I will come back to this album, but that sure is a nice one. Great vibes all the way!
Ok
The fact that this came out 10 years after Tribe and it still sounds as fresh as it did back in the day is a testament to Q-Tips genius. Vastly underrated album.
Man, if you want me to get hyped up about an album, have the artist hold up an MPC on the cover. This is a solid Q-tip album. It's not at the level of the Tribe albums, but it's still really solid all the way through. Not a huge amount to say about it, the samples are really mellow 4/5
Not a hip-hop fan but this was pretty cool. Definitely a pleasant surprise. Q-Tip has great flow and a very diverse range of abilities.
Exceptional flow and lyricism. The beats are tight but not overly stated or engineered. This is pure hip hop and well done. Not typically my vibe, but I don’t dislike this. It’s similar to Lupe Fiasco style, but not quite as polished.
#488. Pretty decent, but nothing stands out as being particularly interesting. 3/5: acceptable Song added to playlist: Shaka I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
p919. 2008. 1 star. Hip-hop, so wrong audience. Seems well done but... meh. It speaks volumes that the best tracks are those with samples from other artists.
I'm old, so the Native Tongues-style hip hop resonates with me. After that heyday, I sort of wandered off from hip hop. Q-Tip has also moved on from that old style a bit, but the leanings are still there, and it's still quite welcome.
Meh. A little boring.
While it wasn't especially gripping, the beats and bars fall easy out of Q-tip and make it a classic. It gets better to learn that he fought hard to get this music out there and put out something humble, vibesy, and self-conscious instead of hateful
Better than some of this genre but ultimately not for me
I fail to understand how many of this albums classified as something that should be listened to before one's death...
Eh like 1 of them was cool not my type
Love this album. Brilliant beats, great combos of other artists on tracks, usual smooth lyricist!
Generic hip hop album, neither here nor there
This was actually quite good. I knew nothing about it and I quite enjoyed it. Well done Q-Tip.
Sounds like a Q-tip album. No songs had any great hooks and it was nothing new.
Enjoyed
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.
You know what? I don’t like Q-Tip’s voice. I thought that I’d slept a bit on TCQ but I have given them a decent chance and his tone just annoys me. Sure, decent flow, nice lyrics, smooth production, a few catchy hooks but he’s too high pitched and nasal for me to enjoy.
A jazz-influenced hip hop records that just oozes cool. Q-Tip produced some of the best sounding material of the 90s, so it's no surprise that he delivers on a solo effort. The result here manages to encapsulate what made groups like Tribe so good while still adding a modern sound (for the time) without relying on nostalgia.
Conscious, crafty, and effortlessly cool, Q-Tip combines his signature smooth delivery with rich, jazz-infused production to craft a compelling vision of mature hip-hop.
phd in boring music💯
Interesting. Liked it.
I thoroughly enjoyed the vibe. Full disclosure, I did not listen to the words. But I’m on my second lesson now and I dig it. 4
This 1001 Album Generator thing has exposed me to so much rap/hip hop, and Q-Tip becomes one more person added to my favorites list. I enjoyed him.
Really solid album from an all time great. Doesn't live up to the ATCQ albums but it still has its highs Best Song: Official Rating: 7.0/10 3 Stars
Uh, I like this one! It has the chillin' vibe that I love on hip-rop/rap music... I'm gonna give it 4 stars today.
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.
The opening track hooked me, the whole album was just joyfully smooth flows, samples, and production.
That was largely alright ! 3*
Seemed entirely generic to me.
yikes, hogwash washed up kids rap. this dude is not good and his lyrics are something to be desired. dont be redundant and then tell me youre a legend. horseshit.
Not too bad, though not sure mid 2000s hip hop is my jam in 2025. High 2s
Pretty nice really - he's got good flow with minimum thuggery and aggression. It had some good grooves, but actually faded into the background a little. Honestly, what do I want? I clearly don't like abrasive rap, but then complain if it doesn't offend my ears.
The Good: Attention given to ear hygiene! The Bad: turns out this is not about a cotton ball on top of a little plastic stick… The Ugly: or is it???… I shall be a skipping record here and state that I don’t particularly care for Rap… And this record has not changed my mind… Yes, some of the tracks are not bad to listen to, however, half-way through I was too tempted to hit the skip button… So, I will give 2* because I didn’t want to stab myself repeatedly in the ear with a Q-Tip...
Solid hip hop album. You can definitely feel the 90s influence on this. It flows well and has a great feel to it. I was pleasantly surprised on this one. The album reminds me of the Black Eyed Peas album Behind the Front (1998 - pre Fergie).
I appreciate how smooth some of the tracks sound. But for me, that’s about as far as this album goes. Every song just sort of blended together for me and made this 40-minute album feel like an eternity. The songs do have their moments, which makes this album more decent than bad, but it’s nothing special for me. Favorite track: Johnny is Dead Other hits: We Fight/We Love, Shaka, Move, Life is Better
vibbinnnn yoooo
Incredibly solid record, loving the sample work and flows. Some songs aren't clicking for me as much as others, but I enjoy the vibe overall.
It’s funny a competent album from one of the all time greats feels like a flop. It’s fine.
no me gusta nada!!
Had no idea this existed, what a treat. Really smooth, without being too obvious. Funky and warm. Move and Manwomanboogie are bangers. Good shit
Not a big rap guy but this was a fun listen
Zweiter Song sehr gut Overall gut aber halt kein Tribe called quest
3.5
This is a decent album. Its lyrics were good but were kind of simple. Its music was good though. Overall a decent album.
This album has good beats, if that's what you are looking for. his style is very smooth, as it comes naturally to him. not my type of music but I guess I would listen to it? out of five stars I would probably give it a 2.5 but since that's not possible I give it a 2.
have you ever heard bad like this I think the album move Q tip is a bad album I don't like the lyrics or instruments the the sounds that were being made by the singer were annoying and the instruments didn't fit I felt that they didn't fit cause it was kinda random I didn't even know what was going on in the lyrics I think this album is bad and don't recommend listening to it
Do you like boring hip hop? If so, then this is the album for you. His voice is too boring for the background, and the background is just plain boring. The songs are also just boring in general. The lyrics are also boring. So anyway I recommend that you DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM!!!
Do you like hip-hop/rap music? If so, this album is for you! I really like this album. I love the smoothness of the singer's voice and the background music. I highly recommend this album.
ok
One of the best rappers and producers there is.
A very very easy listen! Good flowing and nice sound.
I first got into A Tribe Called Quest earlier this year while going through Apple’s Top 10 Albums countdown, and I was hooked. Naturally, I had high hopes for The Renaissance, and Q-Tip definitely delivered. You can really hear his influence as the main producer — the beats are smooth, jazzy, and laid-back, just like you’d expect from him. The whole album has a great vibe. It’s polished but never overdone, and Q-Tip’s flow is as smooth and effortless as ever. He doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel — just gives us smart, feel-good hip-hop with a ton of soul. Also, gotta give him some bonus points for his cameo in one of the best Chappelle’s Show skits of all time: Knee High Park Favorite Song: Will Trade
Never was a big fan of hip hop, but the mixing up with laid back groovy soul and RnB elements makes a difference here. There is a nice vibe going on throughout this album, so not so bad I guess…
This was a decent album, nothing crazy.
Generally not a hip hop fan but this was such a good listen. Q has the nicest flow and a unique voice. Good lyrical content a d production.
I like the beats, the rap does nothing for me.
Decent rap album, but it doesn't feel timeless at all to me.
Jua... cava nog. Ik ben sowieso geen hiphop-fan (had wel een fase rond m'n 16e), dus dit was wel effkes buiten mijn comfort zone. 3.0
Generisk hiphop. Inget som fångade mig
Generic modern hip hop. Nothing to really write home about. Favourite songs: Move, Official, Dance on Glass, Life Is Better, Won't Trade, Johnny is Dead Least favourite songs: ManWomanBoogie 3/5
Not as silly as his Tribe Called Quest stuff, but it was a fun album
I dont think I gave this album the attention it may have deserved regarding lyrics, but Q-Tip's flow is a retro delight. Playful and speedy lines that were an immediate throwback to A Tribe Called Quest, but the lyrics didn't tickle me as much as ATCQ on a first listen.
listenable
It's not the worst rap album I've heard but wouldn't listen again
Pretty decent actually, with some nice, laid back hip-hop. The sort of thing I'd be able to listen to multiple times.
I listened to this twice because I couldn't remember what I made of it. ...and I still can't remember. So it didn't make much of an impression
Phat beatz
I liked this, but did think that there wasn't a lot of variety in the sound between the different tunes.
I’ve listened to a lot of Q-Tip through a tribe called quest and various features. Although I’d never even heard of this solo album. This album is a pretty cool blending of styles. You some decent early 2000s pop soul stuff, but the J Dilla tracks are for sure my favorite. It’s a good albulm, but nothing really exceptional, especially in the context of a tribe called quest. Favorite Song: Move Least Favorite Song: Won’t Trade
First listen. Familier with some of A Tribe Called Quests work, but not with Q-Tip's catalogue. It was pretty good.
Never hear of him before, but this was great. Great beats with an old school feel, nice lyrics and flow.
This was a refreshing change from the usual British dad boomer bops. The beats were great and the mixing, and electronics were really nice, I'm just not big into Q-tips flow or presence. It was just a bit one-dimensional for my taste, and he was easily outshined by D'Angelo and Norah Jones. All around a good listen. 3/5
4-
This album was truly a pleasant surprise. I liked it way more than I thought I would.
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?
11/7/24. Q-Tip the legend! Loved the beats and sampling here, very jazzy. And just overall well crafted songs. Enjoyed this one.
Not bad, but given how much I generally like Tribe, I found the overall sound of this disappointing. 3/5
Okay so I was gonna go on a rant on how the a tribe called quest albums were enough and q tip didn’t need a solo album but I liked it. It’s first listen so later on I may change my mind and think it’s too generous but 4/5 for now
Gillar den här skivan. Skönt sound. Uppskattade den mycket. Gillade Q Tip från A Tribe Called Quest så kul att få höra den här skivan.
Helt ok album. Men en smula intetsägande, ingen låt som riktigt sticker ut. Men skönt bakgrundsljud.
Aldrig varit något superfan av TCB, men Q-Tip är ju rätt bra. Det är välproducerat och väl genomfört, men lite tråkigt och inget som sticker ut. Förstår inte riktigt hur den här plattan har hamnat på listan (eller det förstår jag visserligen eftersom gubbjävlarna i panelen definitivt inte kan något om hip-hop) - det finns så mycket annat som hade förtjänat platsen.
3/5
Admittedly, not my preferred genre of music, so it would have to be something really unique and special to draw me in. This was neither. It was ok. Nothing that offended the ear, but not one thing I really enjoyed about it. 2/5
Just a cool sounding modern rap feel with enough added production and creativity to keep it engaging
pretty solid, a few bangers but all dope Tribe-esque lounge hip hop
pretty good but not for me
Enjoyable voice
I want to like q-tip but it feels too technical and not really very emotional. Which I think hip hop needs a bit of?
3.5★. Consistently good, but that praise is double-edged and might serve as an indictment given that its consistency also amounts to a monotonousness. (Still really good though.)
Average hip hop album. Nothing stood out as revolutionary
Geinige country
"The Renaissance" is the second studio album by American hip-hop artist and A Tribe Called Quest MC Q-Tip. Progressive hip hop. I'll agree. The album was the first album after an eight-year hiatus. It was primarily produced by Q-Tip. The album reached #11 on the US charts and had universal acclaim. A soulful synth, slow beat and Q-Tip rapping fast start "Johnny is Dead." Nice background female singers. This has a more soulful/R&B feel than hip hop. It's tough figuring things out for a young man. Johnny is Q-Tip's real name. The first single "Gettin' Up" continues the R&B vibe. A piano, soft rapping. A catchy melody and chorus in a love song. Scratching begins "Official." A mid-tempo beat. Q-Tip singing more than rapping in this soulful song. "Manwomanboogie" gets the groove and funk going with a deep bass. Great rapping by guest Amanda Davis. He samples the drums in Can's "Aspectacle." Unique song. Nora Jones guests in "Life is Better." She sounds different but very good in this R&B style. Q-Tip eventually joins in. The last song "Shaka" is loud with a hip hop beat. There's swirling/scratching synth sounds. Very Mac Miller. There's also echoing and eerie sounds.. very trippy and pyschedelic. The song is a salute to all the people that have helped Q-Tip out especially producer J Dilla. This album has just as much an soulful/R&B sound as it does hop hop. There's also elements of psychedelia and jazz. Q-Tip covers a variety of subjects not always heard in hip hop...romance, tributes, philosophy of life and a young man struggles. It's an easy and smooth listen. The songs are solid and really no fillers. It's another hip hop album that uses (not overuses) guest appearances appropriately. This is a strong album. Strong recommendation too.
Rap version of elevator music? It's OK, I guess, I can't really remember
Caught off guard by how good this was! I don't listen to a lot of rap, and I wasn't familiar with Q-Tip. I know A Tribe Called Quest but I don't know any of the members by name. The first song kind of felt a little off-kilter and I was pretty sure that this album was going to be sitting in 2 star territory, but the second song immediately turned things around, and it stayed that way!
I found this bland and boring but I really don't like or get rap so just 1 star or F.
Fluffy grooves and bombing samples. Reminds me a bit of Mos Def‘s Ecstatic.
Classic production on this made for a very funky album. Something of an old-school style with tight rhymes.
good lyrical wordplay, great beats. just all around great stuff from Q-Tip who I admittedly know very little of, I'd like to hear more.
Immaculate production! I love Q Tip but in general I think he’s stronger with other people. This album is good but I wouldn’t say great. “Life is better”, “Gettin up”, “We Fight/We Love” are all great tracks! Also this is probably not anything but 808s and Heartbreaks released the same month as this and changed music forever. It’s weird that both albums were essentially showcases for drum machines (it’s literally on the cover of this one) and both artists rocked a similar asthetic (seriously look at the cover of this album then go look at how Kanye dressed at the time) but Kanye’s is the one people connected with more. Imagine a world where this album ACTUALLY caused a musical renaissance the way “808s” did?
Admittedly I've never heard much of Q-Tips solo stuff, very pleasantly surprised at the 'modern' sound he got while still keeping pretty true to the boom bap sound
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.
Q-Tip's The Renaissance sounds like your typical 2000s rap, heavily laden with one-bar loops over a monotone vocal delivery, miscellaneous DJ/quirky techy sound effects, and (unnecessary) nods to other contemporary hip-hop artists. This "triple threat" has been done to death, and it doesn't get particularly better over time, no matter how many artists give it a whirl. With this record, Q-Tip tries to go for a sort of "smooth jazz" approach to the hip-hop genre, in particular making use of crooning vocals, some interesting instrument harmonies, and some fun piano and bass lines here and there. If these had been a little more varied, my rating would've been raised to a 3 (or even higher). The track Gettin Up is the standout in terms of instruments, having some pretty good backing vocals, an infectious piano riff, and one of the best/funkiest bass parts I've heard in hip-hop. The album never really reaches this height again, and is mostly repetitive monotonous filler. The album cover is pretty cool. Nice 70s/80s "future-teque" vibe. 2/5 Key tracks: WeFight/WeLove, Get Up, Johnny Is Dead
hip hop sur sample
It's pleasant, but I'm apparently missing the genius that other people hear in it.
I like this a fair bit; Q-Tip sounds good as usual, and the beats are good. It isn't quite as good as the Tribe Called Quest stuff though, IMO. A high end three
Boom bap at its finest. The Renaissance has a great mix of sample based and live instrumentation. Q-Tip’s lush production yields some melodic and funky head-nodders with additional production on “Move” provided by the late great J.Dilla serving as a cherry on top. As time has gone on I have grown to love this album more than Amplified, which still holds a lot of nostalgic value for me. “Life Is Better” makes me wish there was a Q-Tip produced Norah Jones album. D’Angelo sounds silky smooth as usual on “Believe” and blends in beautifully with the Rhodes. Top to bottom this is a hip hop classic worthy of its praise.
Huh... As much as I like Tribe, I have never listened to Q-Tip's solo stuff. I have news for him, Johnny 5 is Alive! I like this, right of the rip. Should be a fun one. The music doesn't disappoint. It sounds like an alternate universe version of Tribe. I will need to listen to the rest of his solo albums. This one gets a 4.1.
The Renaissance feels and sounds both like the past and present. It has late 80's, early 90's feel and samples, with more sophisticated lyrics and chords for that time. It's not pushing the boundaries of what hip-hop can do for the future, but it has fine-tuned the genre into much of the best it has to offer. "You" isn't bad, but the rest of the album maintains a groove that is interrupted only by this slower track. "ManWomanBoogie" is my favorite here. This is an easy album to like.
I love Q-Tip's voice--it's so distinctive...brainy and chill--as well as his signature flow. It has such a quirky yet calming, hypnotic quality, and so it went with this album. Sort of an updated old school vibe.
It's just tough to go wrong with Q Tip man. The guy seems to always give you a solid performance and raps as though he is a fan of hip hop and wants other people to enjoy hip hop and not just trying to pick up a pay check.
I really liked this. Q-Tip is one of the most unique voices in hip hop. He's a legend for a reason.
okaaayyyy q-tip i see you
Can I Kick It? (My own ass.) Weird to come across so much good hip hop in my sixth decade, but here we are. When this came out, I was firmly a Rock Guy -- aside from the occasional video on MTV or some such, I was completely oblivious to how good so much of this stuff is. No exception here. I'm in awe of the bars Q-tip has. And just the whole mellow flow that he perfected with the Tribe. Just a whole genre that I stupidly missed out on.
Q-Tip’s comeback album that revisits the past with solid contributors.
Didn’t mind this. It’s not rare for me to check the album every now and then to see how long there is left to go. Not the case this time.
Very Scalextrix.
Enjoyed this album, saved most to a playlist. Enjoyed You, Offical, we fight we love and Norah Jones is on here! Also heard a ref to Britney and Federline(sp?)
This album is great! Q-Tip’s lyricism and production is fantastic. A hip hop album I missed when it released but love that found on this list. 4/5!
I enjoy his early work with ATCQ immensely but I found the sound of this album to be overall generic. I didn’t mind it but it did not meet my expectations from a production standpoint
I really liked this album but I think that this project is flagging up an issue for me. When an album too smooth and flawlessly produced, I find it a bit emotionally distancing. This was a slick, jazzy, nearly flawless listen though.
I didn’t love this album, but I didn’t hate it either. It’s cohesive in style and a solid production. Worth a listen, as it’s a good album… but not something I’d come back to.
Rap. I thought about it for a while and then decided to try it out as I normally don't like rap. This was a bit of a surprise. Milder rap and bearable. Very repetitive and throbbing beat as is usual with rap.
That cool black character who wears glasses and is ‘conscious’ in every early 2000’s show is definitely listening to this album. Good rhythms and flow, was definitely head bobbin to a few
# 333 : I don't love it, I don't hate it. I thought it was very ordinary and Quiet forgettable. I probably won't go back to this.
Love tribe but wtf was this seriously, 1-2 good songs
Tranquille, assuré, sans fla-fla, groove minimaliste
A very enjoyable mellow vibe
It was okay but nothing memorable. Solid 2 stars.
I love this. Very good album. Great beats, steady progression, excellent raps. Should have realized the Tribe connection sooner. Bomb.
You can't help nodding your head to the funky bass lines and drum beat loops on this record. If you like Old School Hip Hop, then give this a spin.
I have one play for Q Tip in my library... an Elton John cover. This is kinda cool though, jazzy influences, the kind of hip hop I’d listen to if I could only listen to hip hop.
I quite like this, even though it is a genre I don't normally listen to
I've always liked Q-Tip. His performances always seem smooth and effortless. I liked this album, but I was hoping for a bit more. Liked Songs Added: - Official - You - Life Is Better - Believe
Mellow jazz infused hip hop I would call this. I really got into it. I was constantly engaged. It's a really interesting album
I almost like Johnny Is Dead, Renaissance Rap, Manwomanboogie; lyric issues
Fun rap, really liked it
Q-Tip’s flow is exceptional and made for a really chill listen on The Renaissance. Won’t Trade was a little cheesey but still entertaining. Decent beats to keep things interesting all the way thru, Norah Jones was a surprise. I liked this. Not quite 4… 3 stars
I adore won't trade the rest is pretty good aswell
Excellent
Heurlijk
Won't Trade is a tune!! the rest of the album isn't as great unfortunately
The sounds of my least favourite GTA V radio station. There's probably a lot lyrically here that I'm missing but I find it dull musically.
85% Best: Gettin Up; WeFight/WeLove; ManWomanBoogie; Move/Rap Renaissance; Believe Must-Hear? Sure
Always loved Q tips voice- great album no big standouts but loved listening
Lowkey like this more than Low End Theory (am I allowed to say that)
The sampling/beats were great. I enjoyed it well enough, but it doesn't stand out. This tracks with the other times I've tried listening to Tip's solo work. I LOVE Tribe, but this is just fine.
Never realized Q-Tip had a solo career. And this one is produced with some support of J-Dilla -- ought to be interesting. Opens on a sort of weird note with Johnny Is Dead. Classic Q-Tip flow, but the instrumental leans electronic with a pop-like sung chorus. I actually really dig the instrumental, but something about the combination doesn't work for me. Won't Trade on the other-hand flips a soul sample and Tip's quintessential buttery flow to a greater success. I love "You." The instrumental is so lush with fat 808s, layered keys and sounds, and snares that remind me of early Kid Cudi (for all I know Plain Pat sampled them). WeFight/WeLove keeps the 808s running forward in a bit more of an up-beat soul track (complete with skittering guitar harmonics and sung chorus). This one weaves a poetry about relationship conflicts and military conflicts and beyond. Move absolutely shines here for its J-Dilla instrumental and flip half-way through. Opens with a propulsive soulful beat that is dense and groovy and flips halfway into a more somber "scratched" track rooted around a whistled melody. The a Capella intro of Dance On Glass is a hell of a juxtaposition to the production work on Move. Impressive and really slick production in its own right. This was a remarkably solid album with beautiful production. I never tire of how effortless Q-Tip sounds weaving words around different instrumentals. His delivery is so clear and nimble. The opener was the weak point in my eyes. Otherwise, I found this highly enjoyable and worth coming back for another listen. High 4.
Never head of Q-tip. Not bad rap/hip hop. 3.5 stars
Like the funky beats and flow in this one. The first half of "Move" was pissing me off with that vocal sample. Lost me a bit in the middle-end, but came through strong to finish with Believe and Shaka.
I have never heard of Q-Tip before, but my goodness that was some incredible flow. After reading it looks like he was part of Tribe Called Quest which makes sense now. That was a completely unexpected awesome album which absolutely flew by and I wish kept going. Each song had such incredibly unique beats. And I love when hip-hop has live drums and guitar built into the songs. Especially ManWomanBoogie which was such a dope funky track. This was an extremely solid and high 4
Q-Tip's delivery is so effortless and fun with his voice. Can't wait for some tribe on here. This was a real easy listen I really enjoyed it.
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
Quite good beats and flow, but all in all the songs are too reptetititve, nothing much happening there. I liked Won’t Trade, but won’t listen to the other songs again
this was chill and I enjoyed the groovy elements
This hits. The beat is pretty heavily laid out, and everything has a pretty clear rhythmic base to it. That can have a negative impact on some of the singing/raping/lyrics, just emphasizing being on beat more than have free expression of the words. But that only happens a few times and doesn't generally take away from an entire song. This is pretty high floor/low ceiling hip hop. I think it's kind of held back by its sub-genre and less than stellar instrumentation, with exception for the bass. The bass is probably the best part of the album. With the exception of "Move" and "Believe", the album starts with its best stuff, and gets a little worse with each song, until the end, which is pretty forgettable. And honestly, the second half of "Move" follows the pattern of the rest of the album. The Norah Jones part is also an exception. Honestly, this whole album is mostly just good moments put in disappointing songs. The songs are just less disappointing at the beginning of the album. Favorite Song(s): Gettin Up, Move, Believe
It's been one of my favorite albums since it came out.
Big fan of Q-Tip. Love his voice for rap.
Smooth. 4/5
If your hip hop album isn't groovy to the point where my left buttcheek is subconsciously vibrating like I'm driving through the most well-kept road in Poland, I don't want it. Q-Tip delivers like always. Silly man. Never look up the lyrics for "Georgie Porgie" though.
Surprisingly old school hip hop sound for 2008, but solid nonetheless. Must hear before you die? I guess so?
“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
Soulful, funk, jazz, hip-hop. Q-tip comes back to define his sound for the future.
Q-Tip on kovasti arvostamani räppäri, mutta nämä uudemmat soolotuotannot eivät pääse lähellekään A Tribe Called Questin tasoa. Pitäisi ehkä kuunnella vaan enemmän, niin ehkä aukeaisi nämäkin paremmin.
I like this, it sounds like it came from the early to mid 90's, instead of 2008. I'm glad he stuck with that sound instead of trying to modernize it.
Awfully close to "as good as it gets" territory, a near-ideal for hip-hot. It keeps it real with its focus on real playing, warm and accessible flows and a bare minimum of tired hip-hop tropes and posturing. It grooves easily and jazzily and soulfully, the tracks coalesce smoothly and cohere meaningfully, fine complements each to each. "Better" might now be one's top NJ song. Though one barely knew this record, it seems destined to become one of one's hip-hop faves.
- sounds similar to anderson .paak!
Great hip hop album with a jazzy sound
I went into this album feeling judgmental. I was kind of in a specific mood and was "oh, I don't want a rap album right now." But Q-tip goes way beyond that and it was evident from the first song. Lyrically, instrumentally, and just overall Q-tip is smooth, silky smooth at times and their hip-hop groove is undeniably pleasureable. This album was over WAY before I was ready to stop listening. Yes, at first, the silly name threw me... but I, as well as anyone on this planet, ought to know not to judge a book by its cover, and Q-tip is just ... mmmm...
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.
Fun. Very chill
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
Favourite tracks: life is better; we fight we love; shaka
I feel like the rating could definitely go up on multiple listens
One of the best. I have always loved Q-Tip as a lyricist and his delivery is just so smooth. This is a great record.
Raw, real, innovative, but I won’t listen to again. Not pleasant to listen to.
pleasant
Decent album.
Not bad
Yo Tip, why'd you drive so far for? 5/5
Not my typical music I listen to but I like Q Tip. This was a good album, enjoyed it
Great, Hip Hop another album filled with incredibly annoying "singing". Gave up after track 3 as life is just too short to waste listening to this crap.
This is good. I've enjoyed listening to it, but it's not gripped me enough to want to keep going back again later.
This was really strong. Transports you to NY.
Nope
Pretty ok
Smooth as butter
Awesome flow
Something about melding jazz and rap music just sends the white people crazy. Don't get me wrong this is great. Q is on fire with a lot of these bars. Tapping into the golden age of hip hop. Nice, safe, digestible. Hi hop. 8/10
It's a pretty solid album from one of my favourite rappers. Q-Tip's production is at its finest. The album tracks are on par with the singles which is a good sign. I think the guest stars also did a great job. I'm surprised this album took 5 years to record. 4 stars for "The Renaissance".
Anderson Paak
The last couple songs got my attention lyrically
até meio injusta, mas preciso parar de 4 estrelas pra tudo que aperta minha mente
3.64 rym la voce di questo tizio mi dà abbastanza fastidio 1/5
I love q-tip's vocal style though today I found the overall production a bit meh. Probably need a repeat listen or two to get into it
Boring hip hop
It wasn't bad - but it wasn't good. Just not my thing, I guess.
4.5
++: We Fight/We Love, Manwomanboogie, Move +: Johnny Is Dead, Won't Trade, Gettin' Up, Official, Dance On Glass, Life Is Better, Believe, Shaka +-: You 8,5/10
Cool interesting bit of hip hop. Feels like some Beck tracks where he focuses on hip hop. Lots of sound effects and such used quite well. 3.5
It wasn't bad, but it was forgettable.
I would have never even considered listening to this artist but I glad I did because I loved it!
Enjoyed this one more than I expected. 70s feel and smooth vocals. Wish I could say more, but I don't remember any of the tracks.
Super smooth, but thought it was boring overall
Does Q-Tip have the market cornered on smooth rap? It's like having a low key conversation with someone. Feels like a 3.5, but going to 3 because the music interrupts the flow sometimes and I can't understand what he's saying. Over time, could climb to 4.
3/5. I can hear the major influence on conscious and progressive rap even for today. Although yes, it is mostly a hip hop album but there are a lot more signing and pop choruses, much different from his Quest days. I do lose interest after some songs so it's not perfect but I do like this genre and creates a well-polished and complete album. Best Song: Move, ManWomanBoogie, Gettin' Up
Interestingly, I actually expected to like this more than I did. It’s good but started a little slow for me, overall though it’s a good album.
Really enjoyed this one. This is what I've been looking for in these 1001 albums. Something that I wouldn't seek out, but given a chance to listen, I'm really impressed. I love Tribe, but I don't usually go for "solo" rap albums. Really looking forward to going back for another listen.
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
Amazing. So so close to 5 stars
Q-Tip was no stranger to solo endeavors at this point in his career, although "The Renaissance" came after a nine year hiatus since Q-Tip's first solo album. Q-Tip doesn't really miss a beat here and while I was not really familiar with this album prior to listening, I was/am very familiar with Q-Tip as a lyricist in a group many know as A Tribe Called Quest. There's honestly nothing super groundbreaking going on here, but the album is still pretty engaging as a whole whilst being a mellow listen thanks to Q-Tip's usual clever lyricism and smooth production. It just goes to show that the jazz-rap, progressive hip-hop sound is pretty timeless. Is this 2008 or 1991? 3.5/5
It has some similarities to Tribe, although I prefer those albums over this one. There are some nice grooves to be found here and the pacing of the rhymes is right in the pocket for my taste. Several songs have melodic riffs in the chorus, which I appreciate. And D’Angelo, yes please and thank you. 3.4
Some good beats and tasty bass lines on a few songs. Norah fits in perfectly; admittedly I liked the songs with featured guests more. It's the classic Q-Tip sound but with a refresh. He's pretty timeless . 3.5
Hyvät taustat!
June 9, 2024 HL: "Life Is Better” (featuring Norah Jones), "Shaka", "We Fight/We Love" (featuring Raphael Saadiq), "Official", "Move" Smooth I wouldn't say it's a giant step forward from ATCQ, but Q-Tip's jazz-rap styling updated for the sounds of 2000s hip-hop isn't as dated as I figured it would be. The inclusion of old-school-sounding soul works for me, and the guests (Jones, D'Angelo) are pretty well pitch-perfect for the album's stylings. Today my heightened interest in the Soulquarians (sparked by listening to Common & D'Angelo last week), meant I paired this album with J Dilla's kaleidoscopic album Donuts (J Dilla produced "Move” on this album according to Wiki). And that was a good move- both that and The Renaissance further prove that there is a lot more to modern hiphop than I assumed at the start of this journey.
Always a pleasure. Q is qing.
Preferred this to some of the heavy gangsta shit.
Q-Tip is one of my favorite MCs of all time. Never got into his solo stuff before other than songs on mixtapes.
I like this! Melodic, melodically and lyrically interesting.
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.
Funky goodness!
I didn't hate it, but it didn't blow me away. Decent.
Wat krijg je als je het brein achter A tribe called quest een solo album laat maken? Degene die voor een groot deel verantwoordelijk is voor de beats en een groot deel van mn favoriete verses? Dan krijg je The Renaissance. Fantastisch, dit is echt een hiphop album dat vibet. De bass is vaak moddervet, de lyrics van Q-tip zijn heerlijk, zijn stem is sowieso echt geweldig en de features zijn echt perfect hierop aansluitend. Het beste voorbeeld hiervan is naar mijn mening Life is better met de Norah Jones feature. Dat is echt hiphop in optima forma. De productie van Q-tip laat de vocals echt shinen, zijn verse is een soort positieve opsomming van alle collabs door de jaren heen. Het laat dit album bijna perfect zien wat het is: Een soort positief laid back hiphop album. Is het perfect? Nee, sommige nummers zijn een beetje saai en daarom krijgt het niet de perfecte score, maar god je maakt sowieso geen slechte keuze als je dit album aanzet als de zon schijnt of gewoon als je wat relaxte hiphop wilt horen. FAVO: Won't trade, Gettin up, We Fight/we Love, Move, Life is better, Believe
sucks
Love Q-Tip!
Such a pleasant surprise!
Another lousy rap album. Why so many?
Good lounge rap album. Seems like one of those albums that gets better with subsequent listens.
really liked this one! good flow, i was bopping my head without even realizing it.
interesting album. q-tip is a good rapper and has some creative ideas for composing/arranging/producing, so i appreciate that. however, on the whole (and after two full listens) the songs all kinda just blended together for me. i liked specific parts of some songs, but once it segued into a different section, it lost me. some of the instruments and samples felt really repetitive and grating after a while, so definitely a mixed bag for me. favorites: johnny is dead, won't trade, gettin up, life is better, feva
Bring the Noise
3.5
Wasn't really for me, I did enjoy some tracks but didn't find most memorable.
Sonntags Hiphop: Sommer Sonne gut vibes. Gute Mischung - leichte Kost.
Hip hop bastante rollo. Sin nada que me llame la atención.
Rap.. no
Sanoituksia yhtään arvioimatta oli viihdyttävät jamit tämän levyn kanssa. Oma suosikki oli Move.
Laadukas setti, mut ei ollut tajunnanräjäytyksiä
It’s always hard to rate an album that I recognize is just not made for me. I think this is well produced. Some of the lyrics are great. There’s a smooth quality to it. But I’ll never listen to this again. It’s not terrible it just isn’t my thing. 3/5
idk kind of cheesy
Really different from what I expected from Q-Tip, but musically this is a nice, soulful album that's easy on the ears. Enjoyed it. Fave Songs: Life Is Better, We Fight/We Love, Move/Renaissance Rap, Manwomanboogie, Gettin' Up, Official
perfectly good hip hop album. wasn’t blown away by it but was nice background music.
Hip hop bastante rollo. Sin nada que me llame la atención.
3.5/5. Really enjoyed this. Very easy to listen to. I still like Tribe's projects more, though.
2008 solo project outside of ATCQ
Everything sounds the same. Not impressed. 2 stars
I liked this.
нормальный вроде; много от хип-хопа воспоминаний не сохраняется
A handful of the songs stuck out to me, but I honestly did not listen closely enough to give this an accurate rating. Will most likely come back to this album and adjust the rating.
I liked it alright, but I can't say I'll ever return to it. "Move" is quite good though.
Rap, einigermaßen melodisch. Nicht mein Ding 2/5.
It's OK - just flows past - nothing stood out for me
Very good
Loving that classic Q-Tip delivery and he always sounds so fresh and light on wax. And lest we forget, we are blessed with production from J Dilla and Tip himself - massively underrated in terms of both quality and influence. It doesn't quite rank up there with the best of ATCQ - but then what does? - and is this or Amplified the essential Q-Tip solo album? Let's not worry about that and enjoy the bopping, playful sound of a talented hip hopper.
Q-tip cannot command an entire album. Nothing special here.
very pleasantly surprised, lyrics and beats were solid throughout with great transitions. some songs didn't click but altogether smooth listening
- I like a lot of the backing here and both "Move" and "Life Is Better" are fairly innovative (particularly with the addition of Norah Jones in the latter). - This album seems to be set at a single, unvarying tempo and Q-Tip's rhythms are lacking in variety. Great flow, but I never felt surprised.
Es ist Hip-Hop mit einer männlichen Stimme. Das Album ist keine Qual für den Zuhörer aber auch kein Inspiration. Warum Rappt der Sänger und singt nicht und wo ist das schöne an den Songs. Diese Sinnfrage kommt nach jedem Song und nach jedem Skip. Am Ende ist man froh das man es vollbracht hat und dieses Werk ungestraft vergessen darf.
Good album but if the last Tribe album is not on this list, then the listmaker missed out and I am disappointed in them
Real nice production overall and real good rapping. It's somewhere between 3 and 4 for me but definitely closer to 4.
Really love a tribe called quest but this felt pretty bland
90s hip hop with a little bit of soul. I should listen to the lyrics more
Q-tip is always a good listen.
Reminds me of college. A slight album, but underrated because Q is so good.