Reviews (page 6 of 8)
I've never heard of Q-Tip or heard this album (obviously). I was pleasantly surprised, very nice beats, smooth rhythms and the music was soothing and accessible. Starts off strong, but begins to blur together and lags towards the end, but otherwise a solid album and satisfying listen.
Really enjoyed this! Love the groove! 4.1
4.0
Listened Before? N This one was okay. I find that Q-tip's voice gets repetitive after a while. He's got decent lyrics and beats, and I see why the Beasties collaborated with him a few times. I don't think this has any staying power for me though. Just not my personal style. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Gettin' Up
The sample on won’t trade is amazing. Q-tips flow is so smooth. This album is a great demonstration of how great a producer he is. Loved it.
Great sample based hip hop and rap. Pretty awesome stuff. Feels like nineties hip hop in the aughts.
Hm. I feel very little about this barring a slight irritation at the voice. Maybe it's the wrong day, but it's a pass from ch'boi.
East coast hip hop. Very fun soulful production, with some beats that feel a little safe or goofy but overall very clean. Flow and vocal delivery all pretty tight but I wanted maybe a little more edge to the whole thing. Maybe just a bit too poppy in that regard. Kind of out of place in the 2000s, especially 2008, but I think it has plenty of moments to enjoy, I was just hoping to be challenged a little bit more from one of the great minds of A Tribe Called Quest. Really good but I'd have to be in the right mood to revisit. 4/5
A very generous two.
Ik ben dus geen fan van rapmuziek. Maar dit album heeft wel een paar lekkere beats, en daar ga ik dan weer wel goed op. De rap valt ook zeker mee qua "nigga" gevoel. Gewoon best een lekker album. ***
-Tip’s The Renaissance has a certain catchiness to it. His flow is exceptional on most tracks, with bars and hooks for days of many different varieties. However, I find myself having a hard time really diving into it. It is not necessarily bland, just directionless, no inherent uniqueness in the album as a whole. Highlights include Won’tTrade, Dance On Glass, and WeFight / WeLove. All in all, The Renaissance is a good album. Best Song: Won't Trade Worst Song: You
did not know what to expect... but this was a pleasant surprise. super groovy progressive hip-hop.
Wasn't my thing. It wasn't bad but I thought it got repetitive
And slowly I lose the will to live
Not really for me, sounded the and and very repetitive
Well produced nothing. All felt the same after 2 songs. I was expecting the same and I got the same. Super disappointed.
Extremely forgettable. Super polished, but also super uninteresting. I really prefer rap that has some hint of an edge, and there's none to be found here. I did make it through, but I completely checked out during "Life is better", when I realized that the name dropping was really just a (maybe overly long) list of artists, I'd rather listen to than finish this album.
Outstanding. Catchy. Amazing album.
Never feels like it gets out of 2nd gear
Great album. Q-tip has a unique and likeable cadence. I know him from his work with the chemical Brothers. I wonder if his name is reference to q-tips not being allowed in your ears, but still feeling so damn good.
Pass
Great running album, will relisten at some point for the lyrics
I didn’t know Q tip had a solo album
At a very low volume, this is minimally tolerable to listen to, for a short time. There must be something being said in the lyrics but I'm just not compelled to listen closely. Pass. When will the dozens and hundreds of albums that I know and love, that must be on this list of 1001 albums come my way to listen to?
This is a bit of a dud from the great Q-Tip
Q-Tip=N-Shit.
I love Tribe Called Quest!
Meh.
Tried it 3x. Just not of my liking although not a bad album.
Not a Hip-Hop fan,but this works..... Some good rhythms behind the rap...
Hip hop bastante rollo. Sin nada que me llame la atención.
This is a great album and what I admire most about it is the aesthetic. Tip clearly had a sound in mind when he crafted it and it's executed well. You get the jazziness that you would expect of Tribe's frontman, but there's also plenty of soul that makes for a smooth and effortless listen. You can lounge to this, dance at times, relax. The guest appearances all work toward this end. It's easy listening but Q-Tip is focused. There's a broad and thorough exploration of love, from heartbreak to romance and everything in the middle. But Tip weaves in his thoughts on the military, gender, the current state of hip hop, and what it means to stay authentic in an industry (and world) that doesn't necessarily embrace the quality. Plus, that braggadocio we expect of the best emcees shines through on the opener "Johnny is Dead": what good is a ear if a Q-Tip isn't in it?
Honestly, loved this album. Not usually a fan of hip-hop but this album reminded me of driving around on a sunny day
Not what I consider typical hip-hop/rap. Pretty smooth listen-melodic and flowing nice. Would listen to it again.
More enjoyable than I thought it would be, and would’ve enjoyed it more without the last song or two.
It was fun, I could listen to it again sometime
Intelligent, softer, kind of old school hip hop/r&b. Q-Tip is a good rapper (and I liked his tracks. Not my usual vibe but I do need to learn to chill. Listens: 1 Fave Track: You Rating: 4
Musically better than most rap albums. 3.51*
Eclectic and entertaining. Especially liked sthe more innovative sounding stuff like "Manwomanboogie" ... OH SHIT!!! That's a CAN sample!!! It's Krautrock week and I am PRESENT! I love that there is a CAN sample on here, had no idea. Good job Q-Tip. There's a little trilogy of slightly twisted prog style in the mifddle of the albumthat I was really impressed by the sheer "newness" of the sound (for lack of a better word) with "We Fight/We Love", "Manwomanboogie", and "Move / Renaissance Rap." Wordy but not obnoxious or excessively violent or confrontational. Interesting album.
very nice flow great album - very unexpected - Anderson paak style
Pretty good, great beats, kind of an oldschool vibe even though it's from 2008. I dig it. 3.3.
Like the R&B influence in the music and the music in general including the top line melodies and rhymes. Just not as fond of the vocal tonality.
Fun
Will be buying this one, never listened to any solo Q-Tip, ATCQ will forever be one of my favorites.
Bodaus... Bodaus on luovaa.. koska rakennetaan jotain uutta... Jotain jota ei ollut olemassa rakennetaan... se on silloin uutta.. se lihas.. Lihapää henkilö uskomaton sanataivuttelija ymmärtää sanan ydimmän luonteen.. luova sana.. tarkoitetaan tietenkin rakentamista.. jep rakentamista ja luovaa... TÄHÄN TARVITAAN PÄÄTÄ.. päätöksiä... mitä liikkeitä.. LUOVAA! Kuin artisti... Minua pitäisi kutsua artistiksi.. Mitä vittua lmao Albumin kuuntelu on luovaa... Luodaan omaan päähän oma käsitys albumista.. mitä muut eivät voi tehdä puolestasi.. Luovaa... Sinä luot.. olet luova... Tämän arvion äänensävy ei ole passiivis agressiivinen.. se on aktiivis veltto.... kirjoittaminen on aktiivista ja velton tästä tekee oma fyysinen olemus.. arviota kirjoittaessa.. Siksi se on.. Musiikista.. Rappia ja mukavaa wibaa myös musiikin puolelta ei pelkästään laulannan sanoituksen uskomaton ulottuvuus.. Ei varmaan lyyristä jumaluutta tässä en edses yritä löytää.. mutta mukava ääni korvalla..
Sampling was pretty awesome, Q-Tip doesn’t generally grab me and it wasn’t a bad album but nothing that stood out over a generally good but not great hip hop album.
Solid listen, enjoyed but didn’t love
Solid
So smooth and chill. I love what Tribe records I've heard, but Q-Tip's solo work was new to me. Always fun to discover a new thread to follow from a familiar source.
Never heard of this before, but I liked it a lot! I usually have trouble connecting with new hip-hop artists and albums, and even though this can't be regarded as "new", I still think it keeps one foot in the older sound of 90s rap somehow and sounds less like hip-hop after 2010. All songs kept a really high bar, and the formula kept changing throughout the album. Some of the songs in the beginning are good, but so is the one with Norah Jones as well. Solid 4 star, might potentially be a strong 4 even. Will definitely come back to this!
I had forgotten about this album and especially I have forgotten how much I like "Won't Trade" which must be one of the best rap songs of the decade. Great samples and nice smooth flow. He really has a good voice too. Maybe a bit too low-key in the latter half to be a 5 but a solid 4.
a solid groove all the way through, but basically too smooth.
I realize it’s great lyrically and beat wise. Can’t stand the voice. Feels like chipmunks are spitting bars. 2 stars
Don't mind it.
The boost I needed on a crappy Monday. Prince-like funky soul with a shot of hip-hop and a slick electronica layer of polish.
A very different flow to the voice. Long sinuous phrases. Also a different way of incorporating samples, loops, and scratches and longer musical phrases from recordings. Strongly syncopated but melodic breaks. Wider range of sampling. Smooth. Lyrically, I like this quite a bit for how the voice parts are created.
Hip Hop is just not my favorite. This album was lovely but it also doesn’t grip me like other genres can.
4+4.5+3+4+3+4+4+4+3+4+4.5+4+3 3.76 4/5 Lots of cool ideas, loved most of this.
i love q tip
funky fresh hip hop for funky fresh individuals. big beats, vinyl flips and luscious lines from q-tip all meld together to create nothing short of a hip-hop masterpiece. the album's title makes perfect sense, this album does feel like a renaissance period when it comes to this kind of material.
Give me q-tip or tribe any day!!
all the songs were decent but nothing stood out to me
Oh man. This is really good. This generator has gotten me to listen to a lot of great hip hop records. God bless. Highlights: Johnny Is Dead, Gettin' Up, You, ManWomanBoogie, Life Is Better
I didn't like it but I didn't hate it which is an accomplishment for a rap album.
Great
Grottiger Progressive Hip Hop.
Mad respect for his producer cred and collaboration work but not a fan of this solo effort, his voice is too...Urkel. Collab songs are best. Added: Life is Better w/Norah Jones
Meh, just didn’t hit for me
Hip hop is the one genre where solo projects can be worth while. Problem here is that rappers normally do not age well. Rap is a young man's game. Q-tip holds his own here though
I’ve always said that Q-Tip has one of my favorite voices in rap music. He also happens to be a fantastic producer. And the dynamic he had with the other members of A Tribe Called Quest was second to none. So I was intrigued to hear what he would be capable of by himself. Safe to say I was not expecting something to this level of quality. But why should I really be surprised? This man has been one of the most talented MCs since the groups inception. This was released in 2008, just about in the middle of Tribe’s extended hiatus period, and there is a clear evolution of his sound. Although he was 38 here, he somehow manages to sound younger than he did on his earlier work. Even ten years after The Love Movement, age has not affected this man. And with this semblance of youth comes a new kind of production style. A cleaner one. A kind that is more adjacent to soul than jazz. And while I love the jazz rap work they did with albums like The Low End Theory, I welcome this new sound. And it pays off. Because every beat is amazing. I’m really fond of the bass lines and synth patterns here. It definitely feels like it’s taking inspiration from newer modern pop rap beats. Almost all songs are produced by Fareed, and he even samples great artists like Can, Jackson 5, and Steve Howe from Yes. I do have to give a shoutout to the song Move, especially the first part, since it’s produced by the late but great J Dilla. Even with age, Fareed’s lyricism, writing capabilities, and wittiness hasn’t changed at all. And every feature is stellar, especially the ones from Raphael Saadiq and Norah Jones. They provide a beautifully melodic twist to the slick instrumentals. Fareed even provides some singing himself, like with his vocal harmonies on Gettin Up. I was really blown away by how good this is. There is not one bad song. And although it might be blasphemy that I like this more than something like The Low End Theory, doesn’t change that those are still amazing records. This just happened to go above and beyond for me. Rating: 10/10!
Not a classic but its a very good album
Lot's of fun things going on in the backing tracks, Q's flow is pleasant. Some samples or scratch work came across harsh, but only a few instances. Funky. Chill. Mid. 3
Makes me wish I listened to more Tribe Called Quest back in the day...
Interesting. I liked it more than I thought I would.
Hip-Hop is not my favourite music. Q-Tip did not flashes me at all.
I enjoyed the album. I was not really familiar with any of the songs previously but the beats and the rapping itself were solid. It is not quite a 4, but I will round up.
Really loved this album! A whole vibe. Classic feel...mmm.
More enjoyable that I was originally expecting.
Pretty solid hip hop album
Life Is Better, w Norah Jones! Can’t believe I’d never given this a full listen. Vibey rap
The samples are good, then he starts talking in that wimpy, nasal style. Gets very boring very quickly.
Cool production and flow.
Awesome
Not bad
The beats are great, cohesive sound. Reminds me of the Ventura album
Pretty good album. I will never listen to it again
I really liked this. Listened to it twice in the end. I’m still not quite sure how I’m judging 5*, so the 4 here could ultimately be harsh.
Never heard of him before, big fan of this. Will check out more Q-Tip. Gives me Dough and Oil background music vibes.
Really liked this. It was fun and something I’d definitely put on in the car.
No
Generic. This guy was in A Tribe Called Quest which already doesn’t say much for me as I rated their last entry a 2. This is just another generic sounding rap record to me. At least he did have one good song that I enjoy but for that you have to look up Deee-Lite’s Groove is in the Heart. And who the hell calls themself after a cotton wool bud for gods sake!
Well that was much better than I imagined. There was enough music here to support the below average rapping, and the backing vocals really lifted it. The album had a nice flow to it and was quite easy to listen to. I enjoyed ‘WeFight/WeLove’ and ‘Good Thang’. A low and generous 2 stars
It was OK in places. Never going to listen to it again. Not sure why he was talking about a shoe on one track.
Went into this not expecting a ton but wow this was really great. Strong from start to finish. What makes it great: Q-Tip is the only artist on the large majority of the album (something I like seeing, particularly in hip hop, where artists feature other artists on the album so to help fill their album) and no interludes. 9/10.
Då har eg hørt da og
22/100 Based on this scale: 1 star - 0 to 19 2 stars - 20 to 39 3 stars - 40 to 59 4 stars - 60 to 79 5 stars - 80 to 100 Good rap is a rarity. This album is no surprise.
Vraiment moyen pour veai.meme en courant 2.5
Not really my genre, but this was nice.
Funky but forgettable
Fresh and energetic.
Whole time listening to this album I was saying this gives me huge Tribe vibes, forgot who Q-Tip was lol. The production on this album is pretty incredible and Q's flow is pretty strong on most songs. While this might not be the deepest or strongest hip hop album out there, it is a quick and easy listen and with some strong highs. 3.5/5
3/5
Not bad
It's alright, but not as good as his older work with A Tribe Called Quest. Too monotonous. Favorite song: Official.
Not a huge fan of a Tribe Called Quest, but I did enjoy this. Good surprising listen.
This is good hip hop! It’s a solid album.
The production on this is so funky and cool. Reminded me of Nujabes at times. Loved it honestly, gonna be coming back to this one.
Just consistently good all the way through.
Meh. It was okay. The flow was solid. Production was good. But this just didn’t vibe with me. Couldn’t tell you why. Just not my thing
2.5/5 The production on this album was top notch throughout but I found none of the songs particularly standout
Really smooth
Bardzo przyjemny chill-hop.
Pleasantly surprised by it, a nice touch of electronic sprinkled into it
Q
Enjoyable hip hop album, though it does not have any memorable songs
This is totally not for me. Just not a fan of hip hop at all. At least I didn't skip any songs but I was so glad when it was over.
Not to my taste, but that doens't make it bad. 2 or 3 in that it wasn't terrible to listen to.
Johnny is Dead - 3.5 Won't Trade - 3.5 background's a little annoying Gettin Up - 4/5 Official - 2 You - 2 We Fight/We Love - 3, too repetitive ManWomanBoogie - 3 Move - first half is a 2, second half is a 4 Dance on Glass - 3 Life is Better - 3 Believe - 4 Shaka - 3
11/28/23 10:20 S Tier————————— A Tier————————— Johnny Is Dead Wont Trade Move B Tier————————— WeFight/WeLove Gettin Up ManWomanBoogie C Tier—————————2/5 Official You Dance On Glass
Tuesday 11/28/2023, 7:47, office S Tier————————— Johnny Is Dead A Tier————————— Move B Tier————————— ManWomanBoogie Won’t Trade You Getting Up Believe Shaka C Tier————————— WeFight/WeLove Life Is Better Official Dance On Glass
hmmmm not a hip hop fan
I'm not the biggest fan of rapping. It's just usually too monotone for my tastes. I think his rap style is about average. The rest is fine for the most part.
Enjoyed it.
Going from Illmatic to this in 24 hours is quite the contrast. Illmatic is an undisputed classic, fresh and ground breaking. This is not Illmatic. It's overall fine, but by the end I was bored and waiting for it to be over, not one I will return to.
I don't like it 2 stars
Delicious album. Great beats, awesome samples, funky bass, flawless delivery. Q tip is a master. Love it!
Nytt fynd!
Legend from a tribe called quest
No, I don't like hip-hop.
Phat beats
dire
Only caught like three songs here but they were ok. Seemed pretty nineties for a 2008 production. Three stars.
Pretty decent but nothing here to encourage me to listen a second time. 3 stars
Life is Better
Great rhymes and flow but the beats are fucking whack. It’s a shame because it doesn’t make me want to relisten to this.
I do not like rap usually, but there were a few good tracks I enjoyed on this album.
Really liked this. The antithesis of the day before’s Kanye fiasco
Thought I'd like way more.
I like the sound to this- not suprised to see J Dilla as co-producer. I like the mixing, sampling and beat- really interesting to listen to.
Great surprise. Listened twice.
3.5
Fantastic, sexy, fun, interesting, a great listen and my first new discovery
Above average rap album. Sorry thats all Ihave to say
8/10 - Big surprise
Not bad beats, but the voice is too much.
Not a fan of his vocals but the beats were pretty sick, yo.
Great hip hop album by an artist ive never heard of. Kanye like
Every song sounds the same. I've walked back and forth from my stereo a few times and wondered if the album is repeating or if I'm on the same track.
I had really only consumed Q-Tip's music through A Tribe Called Quest, which is all time(plus his great guest spot on Get it Together from Ill Communication). A lot of the Tribe aesthetic does bleed over into the production on this album, with maybe some more overt R&B inflections. Maybe just to my ear. A solid album
Fun collection of background music
Easy listening. Nothing stands out as significant
Nice listen. I remember hearing Q-Tip back in the late 80s along with De La Soul and loving the vibe. He’s not changed that much but still sounds up to date somehow…? Good.
Here's is an advice for your life: you should never ever use a Q-Tip to clean the inside of your ear. I suffered from multiple ear infections from cleaning them too much.
Chilled hip hop - pretty ok nothing particularly special just decent 3/5
No thanks
не пережил переход в 2000-ые...
Реп. А, это тот чел из Трайба... только 17 лет спустя. Блин, нуууу трайб мне больше нравился как-то. Здесь уже меньше прям такого наглого рэпа, челик расчиллился, скажем так. Но звучит хорошо. Прикольный трюк с треком Move, что к нему в конец просто докинули через скретч ещё одну часть, которая вообще считай отдельное произведение.
Has it's moments but feels pretty derivative. Still rather be listening to Wu.
bars, old school, vibey
It was an OK album, can't ever see me listening to it again.. meh! Had never heard of Q-tip before except for the cotton buds you get in the chemist. Tracks I liked... none Tracks I would play again... none So I guess all I can say is, if it was already on in the background then meh.. OK.
Doesn’t quite hit the same highs as the best Tribe albums, but the beats on this are still phenomenal and Q-Tip still carries a lot of the charisma and rapping talent from that era Favourite tracks: Johnny is Dead, Gettin Up, Move, Believe
Bueno
The best Q-Tip album I’ve heard
Some fella
The fact that this is literally my 50th album and I am just now listening to a hip hop album is horrendous. Ironic but also shameful. However I’ll let that slide since THIS was the first rap album that was given. Q-Tip is already a legend and an icon within music culture due to his pivotal role as 1/3 of the ATCQ. And it was always a bummer that I didn’t get a chance to explore his artistry outside of that…… UNTIL NOW. This is a bonafide classic. Hip hop at its core is the epitome of spoken soul music and Tip took that fact to the absolute maximum with this one. As a rap fan, if you’re reading this and haven’t heard this then you, my friend, are doing yourself a disservice. NECESSARY HIP HOP LISTENING. 6 stars.
Smooth, mutta ehkä juuri siksi ei nappaa huomiota missään välissä, vaikea keskittyä kuuntelemaan. Jotain koukkua siis kaipaisi, kulmaa joka erottuisi. Hyvä flow kyllä. Mutta kaipaan paatosta tai voimaa.
Rytmikkäimmillään koukkuisaa, eivätkä lounge-taustat ehdi häivyttää mielenkiintoa. Hello, my name is Kendrick.
Lyrics, flow and beats all flawless. Everyone since he started has borrowed from him, some more heavily or obviously than others. Even the younger rappers who maybe aren't ripping him off directly, they are influenced by artists influenced by Tip. He is the Prince of hip hop for me - a genius who had success but has also inspired a generation (or two) of a movement.
Anyone who doesn't write this a five is an idiot
Don’t get this one
Góð grúv, mjög áheyrilegt, og Raphael Saadiq gestur í ofanálag. Mæli með.
Ok, nostalgic but kinda boring. If I’m you’ve heard one Q Tip song you’ve heard this album
Pretty good. Familiar songs used in production nowadays
It was okay.
Kult! Nesten litt rart at jeg ikke har hørt på dette før, elsker jo Tribe Called Quest.
Average album by my uneducated hip hop standards. Beats and flow was unique, that's for sure, keeping you on your toes, but being at least semi interesting. Q-Tip's rapping style was very bland. It was hard for me to get into the flow, it was a little bit too gentle and, in the end, boring. The only saving grace is its originality. Nothing happend here folks, let's all disperse.
Wow nice! I really wish I hadn’t been so turned off by early aughts pop b/c I’ve deffos missed some gems!
Really liked this album! Smooth, catchy hip hop, singer was easy to understand, underlying music was groovy.
I listened. I liked, I went back to listen again.
Used to own on cd. Very cool still
2/5 Best: Move Worst: ManWomanBoogie
A bit soporific.
This was a good start-your-day album.
mad vibe med fluid
Smooth as hell and one of the best flows in hip hop. Not to mention his production. I could use a whole Q-Tip & D’Angelo project
Not a huge Hip Hop fan but this was a really strong record. Enjoyed it.
Nuh uh - no Breathe and Stop, not worth it. Did 4 tracks and Stopped
renesanssi...firenzen kaupungissa alkoi. medicin perhe. ja tähän albumiin päättyi...räppi albumia, q-tio referenssi tungetaan korvan. mutta ei p..kiinan poika koskettwöeee ksettle koskettelee vittu vituttaa move
Kinda boring to be honest
I like jazzy vibe mixed with hip hop
Despite being a big Tribe Called Quest fan, i've never really gone into Q-Tips solo work fully, as this was just as pleasant as i expected. Instead of the usual jazzy beats it's more of a soulful sound, with some great features to compliment it (looking at you D'Angelo). Q-Tip sounds smooth as hell as usual, he flows over these beats easily. It's the kind of hip-hop album i could play on a drive with my mum, and I mean that in a good way. It's light, bouncy, easy to listen to. It's not blowing me away, but i'm enjoying the experience from front to back.
I was cold to this until I put on headphones I and began to enjoy the delicately laid instruments and samples, closer to Fleetwood Mac (Buckingham) than Public Enemy. My main problem remains: few of the songs stick to me, though Getting Up is a good tune. Slightly bored, I wanted to break my own rules and start skipping after the first minute of each song, as most felt predictable. You has some stick too, I suppose. This all slips easily down the earholes, and perhaps sticky tunes are deemed too disruptive for oyster-slurp passage. Same with what lyrics I caught: no imagery called out. The Renaissance is a lazy title, isn't it? The Comeback, The My Big Art, The Look Ma I Do It All.
It seems that I really don't like Q-Tip's music (3rd record on here including the Tribe Called Quest ones) - it's kinda boring and his voice is annoying. I was surprised to see the date on this one - the guests and the style sound very late '90s, consistent with the general tedium characteristic of that era. Not a winner
3,5
Quite a contrast from MBV, where the lyrics were incidental. In this rap album the lyrics are essential. Great stuff!
To my knowledge, I’ve never heard of Q-Tip before. Although hip hip doesn’t always click for me, I do love how the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die book is exposing me to more and more of it. Let’s listen and find out how this sounds! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Gettin Up, Good Thang There were a few tracks here that I enjoyed, but a fair amount that felt somewhat forgettable. Nothing was particularly bad, but didn’t stand out enough to make me want to listen to more. Gettin Up reminded me a little of Childish Gambino which is possibly why I liked it more (I’m aware that this was released long before Gambino was making music, but I heard Gambino first). Overall, this was ok but I don’t expect I’ll be listening again.
Wel chill, maar niet veel meer dan dat. Fijne stem iig.
Listening to the first song, I didn't think I was going to like this album as I didn't really care of his voice. However, I was very pleasantly surprised as the rest of the album had great flow and variety and I ended up really enjoying it!
I’m not sure I’d listen to this again, BUT it is a very good, cohesive record. Loved the flow and groove, was impressed with the melodic sound that I don’t always get enough of in this genre.
It’s alright.pleasant to listen to.I like a tip as a rapper but there wasn’t a bangers on this album tbh.It’s fine.
catchy, has content idk something is just really chill about it
Bra hiphop men vad sätte denna platta på denna förbannade lista??
swag
Fave tracks: Won’t Trade, You, Move, Dance On Glass 3/5
J'appréhendais un autre album de rap poche, mais j'ai été aggréablement surpris par des chansons très catchy et plein de groove. Plus proche de Jamiroquai que N.W.A disons.
This is a nice album, q-tip has always had a cool voice and flow, but by no means should this be in the top 1000. This isn't anywhere close to landmark, and just seems out of touch with what is important/good/definitive in hip hop. Three for the album, but absolutely baffled this is on the list.
It wasn't bad. Alright hip-hop
Q-Tip is just so damn good. Really interesting to hear him over some more digital beats than the more natural jazz instrumentation or sampling-based approach of Tribe, but he just has such a calm and enjoyable flow over anything. Some great features as well
Tribe to Proto-Paak
I liked the first two songs a lot and then it kind of just settled into a fine but unexceptional album to me. I didn’t dislike anything on it, but also didn’t think anything was exceptional or would make me really want to listen again. Kind of random but I did kind of like the Norah Jones cameo near the end too. I’m generally interested to get some more rap albums here. It’s a genre that I’ve previously listened to lots of songs but very few full albums, so it’ll help me calibrate a bit once I start listening to more full albums. Favorite song: Won’t Trade Other: Johnny Is Dead, Life Is Better
really enjoying this — even funkier than the Tribe I know. The production is more firmly within neo-soul kind of stuff and I think that that really works with Q-Tip. The J Dilla influence comes through. I wish I had listened to this in 2008. I can hear a clear line from j Dilla to this to Janelle Monae and others. Really enjoyed but dragged after awhile.
Unfortunately I don’t speak hip hop
This is like the Yacht Rock of rap with a pleasant 70's soul slow jams vibe.
Really enjoyed this
idk what it is about him, but i just can never fully get with Q-Tip. Just like with most things I've experienced from him, there are a lot of good things, a lot to like. But it's never the whole thing. Just parts of this song, or this approach, but not the subject matter.
Not my style but well produced
Hadn't listened to this one before, but I knew the singles and am a fan of TCQ. This is a good album with some memorable songs and thoughtful lyrics. Q-Tip maybe isn't the best rapper out there, but he's likeable and is a good lyricist. I thought that the production and instrumentals on here were decent, but sound a bit dated in places. I'd say about a 7/10.
16th May 2023 Listened on the drive in to London. Stayed at Cox and Dan’s overnight on my own! I loved this. 90s rap and hip hop with a soulful, funky twist.
Some biig bangers on this one and you can really hear the J Dilla influence (he literally mentions him). Nice sounds, cool samples.
I love Tribe so I’m not surprised that I also enjoyed Tip’s solo work as well. Great production and a fun flow to listen to.
Didn't think I was going to like this but it was really good. Pretty amazing job of managing to sound unique but still sound like Q-Tip.
First listen Saved 5/12 Top track: Life Is Better
simply amazing. the fact that he can flow for an entire minute before the beat kicks in just shows how he works a mic. i love how he went back to boom bap roots all the way in the late 00’s, yet the production still completely holds up. also the funk and jazz fusion UGH
Super vibey production, really neat and tight delivery across the project. Really enjoyable listen throughout. Some of the basslines and use of scratching, matching the percussions were so cool, not to mention the sample chops.
nice bouncy head bopping hip hop
Dope
It’s Q-Tip
Not my fav Q-Tip but still decent.
I enjoyed this quite a bit. Cool and clever uses of sampling, and great musicianship throughout. Rap delivery was engaging. Standouts: ManWomanBoogie, Move 3.75
Like, 4.5. Will definitely listen to again.
god, it's tiring
This my first time listening to any standalone Q-Tip tracks, my only knowledge of him being from his collabs with The Chemical Brothers on "Galvanize" and "Go". Wasn't really sure to what to expect from a full Hip-Hop album of his, but I ended up really enjoying it. Really smooth and quite chill but never boring. Amazing lyricism and flow throughout. Pure vibes. Favourite: Move
Meh
funky & weird
Begint erg goed, jazzy, wat Jamiroquai-achtig. Wordt vanaf ongeveer het midden naar het einde toe iets te monotoon voor me. Track 11 en 12 breken dit weer een beetje. Prima album.
Not my thing
Groovy and very toe-tappable, I found my head bobbing the whole way through this one
Thought this was absolutely excellent
Original and was surprised by the sudden presence of Norah Jones.
Irregular time signatures and uplifting themes in a rap album. Had my number from the jump!
Such an engaging rapper, and lovely to hear some native tongues vibes updated for the noughties. Like this.
Enjoy his rapping style and unique beats I haven't heard in other hip-hop. Enjoyed this more than I thought I would strong 4
Cat: Well. I just love everything about Q-tip. Not familiar with this album, though. But it’s everything I love about him still! The beats and bass are phenomenal, and his rhyming is so smooth. There’s something about the way he raps that makes you wanna move. Talks about love and life and even gets kinda silly, and the topics on this album have something for everyone. It’s creative, it’s cool, it’s uplifting and it makes me dance. Dance on Glass starts with no music. Just him. And you can feel the groove. Brilliant. So good that I have a perma-smile. You ever just laugh when something is so good it kinda blows your mind and makes you happy? How have I slept on this album? Listened twice so I could pick up on more lyrics. I love his love of old music, too. ManWomanBoogie 🔥 AJ: He’s cool. The music is cool. Love the beats and the bass and the smoothness. Just really cool. Won’t Trade and Gettin Up were my favorites. Late to the party, but I’m picking up what fans are putting down. Will have to give his tribe a listen someday soon too.
Like a barely remembered thought, this album drifted through my psyche, leaving nothing behind.
This was fine. It was not too hard core or anything. I'm not sure it will be memorable to me though.
decent.
Fucking shit
Good fun!
👍
Q-Tip is just as talented as he was with Tribe Called Quest, with smooth vocals and lyrical flow. With catchy choruses and pop hooks, it's a very accessible album for both fans and new listeners. Tracks are very modern with production, incorporating 2000s neo soul and pop rap while still staying true to 90s sampling and jazz rap. No filler here, with surprises on every track. Seamless transitions from one to next, making it a coherent listen to the finish. Nothing blew me away the way his ATCQ work did, but I did have a great time with this one and will revisit it.
A tame, trendy affair unlikely to offend or inspire. The rhythm is self-consciously cool and smooth but buzzes along in a very usual manner. Musically competent but rarely gripping I would happily put this in the box marked "clearly not for me"
Pas forcément irritant, mais pas très intéressant non plus. Assez monotone, instru assez répétitives et sans éclat. "You" à la limite
Ok, but not my taste in music. Listened to the whole thing though.
it's not superbad but not great bob
What a disappointment. Mostly cheesy, poppy, r&b.
Great hip-hop which keeps your interest by throwing in some memorable backing riffs. Songs feel distinct which I like. Much hip-hop have a way of blending together, but not this.
My One Album A Day for today was Q-Tip's The Renaissance. The first couple of tracks didn't do much for me and was worried I wasn't going to love it but it really builds up and is a Good Album
Waarom moet dit muziek altijd zo klinken alsof hij vanaf een zitzak is opgenomen, met dat luie toontje? Weer een boel geouwehoer met een boel samples eronder. De truc met samples is natuurlijk om iets nieuws te creeëren met bestaande fragmenten in plaats van overbodige covers te maken (zoals de Fugees). Dat lukt, en daaarom is dit geen 1. Maar om nou te zeggen dat ik de plaat heel boeiend vond, dat nou ook weer niet.
Bij Q-Tip had ik wat verwachtingen. Een cd waarop ongeforceerde rap met een goed ritme de stevige basis biedt. Op Renaissance wordt veelvuldig samengewerkt met andere artiesten. Verscheidene dames zingen het refrein in. Helemaal prima. Maar ik moest wel even mijn verwachting doorbreken. De eerste keer vond ik het eigenlijk matig. De tweede keer kon ik mijzelf wat meer openstellen voor verandering en vond ik het veel beter. Dus tja...wat of wie is nu het onderwerp van een recensie? Een album of de recensent?
Het is meer hiphop dan a Tribe Called Quest zelf, maar dezelfde relaxte vibe klinkt continu door. Ik ben niet goed genoeg op de hoogte van het genre om te kunnen oordelen of iets goed is of niet. Ik heb hem 2x opgezet en 2x kabbelde het prima door op de achtergrond, maar het is net zo vergeetbaar als Glass Onion a Knives Out Murder Mystery 2.
Decent!
Some good ideas, but mainly repetitive and annoying
Actually really dug this album! I didn't know he was the same rapper of Tribe Called Quest. This is the type of hip hop / rap I like!
Un poco está bien... pero solo un poco (ONB)
The smoothest
Non è il mio genere di musica.
The beats are pretty basic; in most tracks, I couldn't tell you what the text is about, and the guy doesn't sound enthusiastic about them either. There are a couple of OK tracks, like "Move".
This was a pretty smooth and decent listen. However, I don't think I'll revisit it. But, as someone who doesn't actively pursue hip hop, that may be more of a reflection of me and my listening habits than the album. 3/5.
I had not heard this album and it was really great. An incredibly engaging album that gets better with repeat listens.
3.5
Has its moments but little bit cringy
My doctor always tried to tell me Q-Tips aren't good for my ears. This album confirms his theory.
Some annoying bits (start of Official, ManWomanBoogie abrupt ending). Beat switch on Move is mental. D'Angelo <3
Rap isn't my thing.
Q-Tip's second solo album, The Renaissance, is a hip-hop classic that was released in 2008. The album features Q-Tip's signature smooth flow and soulful production, with a focus on positive, uplifting themes. The opening track, "Johnny Is Dead," sets the tone for the rest of the album with its infectious beat and catchy chorus. Other standout tracks include "Gettin' Up," "ManWomanBoogie," and "Life Is Better," which showcase Q-Tip's ability to create soulful, groove-driven hip-hop. One of the album's strengths is Q-Tip's production, which blends classic hip-hop samples with live instrumentation and modern production techniques. The result is a sound that is both nostalgic and fresh, paying tribute to the golden age of hip-hop while pushing the genre forward. Lyrically, the album deals with themes of love, positivity, and self-improvement. Q-Tip's lyrics are often introspective and personal, reflecting on his own experiences and emotions. In conclusion, The Renaissance is a classic hip-hop album that still sounds fresh and relevant today. Its influence can be heard in the music of many contemporary hip-hop artists. If you're a fan of soulful, positive hip-hop, this album is a must-listen.
Best Song: ManWomanBoogie. That bassline is killer. Worst Song: You. A bit too corny compared to the rest of the album. Also, the transition between this song and the next one is so severe it will give you whiplash. Overall: Goddamn this is good. So chill, Q-Tip has an unreal flow, amazing production. Great variability of beats. This is my first time hearing any solo stuff from the Tribe Called Quest gang, and it really demonstrates why that group is so successful.
I'm not a huge fan of old school hip hop, its just not enough cleverness in the lyrics, I do enjoy the chill beats
Very close to giving this a five, great grooves, great production and a good list of colabs. Glad this one got to see the light of day.
V good
So fun and funky- love the basslines
Side one is pitch-perfect, and side two is still very good, even though I had high hopes Q-Tip would preserve the momentum until the end, (which is not exactly what happened here). Overall, *The Renaissance* doesn't exactly have that insanely *high* level of quality the first three A Tribe Called Quest albums had. But it's still often brilliant and groovy. I should have listened to that one earlier. Thanks to this app, I just did. 3,5/5, rounded up to 4 here. Because this thing deserves to have a higher score. And also, I'm pushing for the maximum grade because I'm sick and tired of weirdoes in here who go to the bottom of the reviews, where the 1/5 assessments are, so as to select unoriginal ones, going "It looks OK for fans of the genre, but I don't like rap" (a perfectly valid opinion per se), and then "like" those short uninteresting assessments so as to put them in the forefront of the review section. Tell me you have a problem with rap merely *existing* without telling me you have a problem with rap existing. Jeeze, I wonder why you can't see that happening with other genres like country or rock, huh? 🤔 Number of albums left to review: 643 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 179 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 84 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 100
Anderson .Paak vibes This is great 4
The comparison is perhaps unfair but inevitable: solid throughout, and some bright gems (the final track in particular). YouTube music denied me a couple tracks (sampling rights bullshit I suppose) so I might have missed some. But generally though I liked it, it doesn't quite hit that magic alchemy of Tribe.
Although there wasn't a specific track that really grabbed me here, I really enjoyed what felt like a fresh take on hip hop with a funky and jazzy feel and interesting lyrics.
I found this to be a hip-hop album that was very easy to listen to. The more I listened, the more enjoyment I found.
A smooth, old-school R&B feel in this hip-hop record. I enjoyed the groove.
As I listened to “Johnny Is Dead” I was a bit surprised at the choruses. Is Q-Tip the Steely Dan of rap? Not exactly. But the rest of the album was smooth and jazzy. I’ll admit the first time through I had some trouble with this. I was feeling between a 2 and a 3. But I decided it deserved a second listen and my initial dislike warmed substantially. I clicked in to the understated, jazzy style and was feeling 4 vibes. A few more listens and who knows…?
Ok!
Nope, not a fan of rap. Surrounding it with overly simple lounge jazz loops doesn't make the music any less annoying either.
Not quite the same level as ATCQ, but still a very good listen.
Big big big fan of this
This was well done. A bit outside my wheelhouse but I enjoyed it.
Great music to write a report to. Bopped along the whole time.
This is very 2008. Super optimistic. Q tip was on some really jazzy production at the time. Not his best but still pretty fun and funky. Found my self strutting a little bit walking down the street
Never listened to Q-Tip’s solo stuff. This was good! More rap focused but still kind of funky
Never heard of them. I sampled some of their more tracks - catchier than usual for hip hop, with interesting samples for a disco or maybe motown feel for variety and a certain grandeur. but this really isnt my genre of choice
À finir
Prefs : Johnny Is Dead, Won't Trade, Gettin' Up, Official, You, Manwomanboogie, Move, Life Is Better, Shaka Moins pref : Dance on Glass
Solid but not spectacular for me. I listened all the way through 2x though so I'm torn between a 3 and a 4.
Cool album, every song is lyrically and musically powerfull. Solid album as a whole, overall