Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Never heard him outside of tribe called quest and this is fantastic
Excellent! Like Tribe...but maybe even better? More interesting beats overall
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
Nice Oldschool-vibes, though it's not, but Q-Tip does deliver on here.
A lion in winter.
Solid
The kind of hip-hop i really like
Q-Mid
meh
Good album
Significantly flatter than in his ATCQ contributions, but always unmistakable. Really like "Gettin' Up".
Post-ATCQ Q-Tip. I appreciate how he incorporated aspects of the 90s sound with late 2000s rap/r&b that was popular at the time. The instrumentals are great.
Disco de hip hop que fluiu bem pelas bases de jazz. Funcionou bem a faixa com Norah Jones, obviamente.
first listen immaculate production, fun and bouncy, an absolute classic and echoes everything great about Tribe
Good hip hop album
Smooth. Enjoyable. I'd give it a 3.5 if I could.
Very smooth, very easy. Didn't captivate me, but I enjoyed it.
Not doing it for me, sorry!
I’m not into hip hop and rap but I have to say, this was pretty likeable. I think I understand why it’s on the list. I probably wouldn’t listen to it again, but I didn’t mind it!
Will listen again. Unexpectedly pretty great for this Monday morning. Helped get me moving.
I’ve been a fan of Tribe since my Freshman year of college but I have never listened to Tip’s solo material. Glad this album was on the list because I may have never listened otherwise! The fact that Q-Tip was (and is) still able to rap with such finesse so many years after his career started is a testament to his skill. He makes it seem easy. That a capella verse of Dance On Glass is SO sick. When that beat drops holy moly. Incredible stuff. Then he goes and produces some insane boom bappy ass tracks to pair with some of the coolest flow in the game. Great features, too. Raphael Saadiq with an emotional performance on WeFight/WeLove, Norah Jones on Life Is Better, and D’Angelo on Believe stood out to me. On the Norah track, never realized how perfect Norah Fits backing a neo soul album. Makes me want a D’Angelo Norah Jones collab. Hey, speaking of D’Angelo! In the land of make-believe, time to make unbelief believable. Lovely track! Lastly just want to shout out the instrumentals on Shaka. Spooky with clicky little lead lick. The beat sounds super familiar but I am honestly not well-versed enough in samples to pick that one out of my brain. Overall, great record. Definitely will revisit. What good is an ear if a Q-Tip isn’t in it? Favorites: Gettin Up, You, Move, Dance On Glass, Life Is Better, Believe, Shaka
A great hip hop record. Never knew Q-tip had it in him. I loved “Move” as it felt like the best version of what he was trying to get at throughout the album.
Musically, I’m not sure this album represents a “rebirth” so much as a coalescing of musical ideas; a hip-hop/neo-soul meeting of the minds that breathes Q-Tip’s cultural input/output across 20 years from the late 80s to late aughts. It’s wonderful. Clear, concise, poetic, impactful and a whole lot of fun. My only run-in with solo Q comes in the shape of 1999’s Amplified, which has some absolute-fire bangers, but as more of a straight forward hip-hop album, lacks the unified musical/lyrical vision that The Renaissance achieves. I took what free time I had this weekend to read through some of lyrics, and while I couldn’t address every song, the bars I did read were really felt. From exploration of identity and self in opener “Johnny is Dead,” to the use of professional sports terminology as a metaphor for relationship in “Won’t Trade,” to the catalogic, Norah-Jones-featuring, love letter to hip-hip, “Life is Better,” Q-Tip’s songwriting has proven him, again, to be one of my favorite lyricists in music. Which is funny, because the highlight of The Renaissance is really not the lyrics, but the live instrumentation and production. Every instrumental decision on this record is unparalleled. And featuring the likes of Dilla, D’Angelo, and Robert Glasper, Q-Tip knows how to call in help when he needs it. Plus there’s a whole handful of songwriting credits bestowed upon session musicians which I find to be incredibly cool and demonstrative of the collaborative, music-first spirit this album embodies. (Maybe the title The Renaissance refers to a rebirth of that spirit in hip-hop.) Plus, plus, there seems to be just as many if not more European psych and prog rock samples as there are classic American R&B/Soul sample, which lends this album a totally unique sound in the world of hip-hop. A sound that I think might have influenced producers in the following decade (2010s) to sample more adventurously and blur the lines of hip-hop far beyond what defined the genre in the 2000s. All in all, a fantastic 4-star record that I will most certainly be returning to. After all, “What good is an ear if a Q-Tip isn't in it?”
Loved loved loved this album! I thought I had combed over most of the highlights of Tribe and the individual members, but this one must have totally passed me by. This was pure quality. The Norah Jones record was amazing!! D’Angelo feature at the end was so up my alley, like right in the center of my zone. I love q-tip’s delivery, I love the funkiness of the record, I love the BASS PARTS. WHO IS PLAYING THESE BASS PARTS. The sample selection is amazing, harmonically in a totally different zone if it’s own. This is really really great. Sad to have missed this album for so long.
Woowwwww!!!!!!
-Cool bass line in "ManWomanBoogie" -Generally nice flows throughout the album, but it was also kind of same-y -Didn't get me too jazzed up, but was fine. Just barely a 3, I'd say
Loved this great mix of beats and lyrical flow, top tier hip hop.
Solid Album. Not quite sure if it's really iconic/deserving of the 1001 albums designation (especially relative to the other contributions Q-Tip has made to the hip-hop genre). Good production nevertheless.
It’s fun but everything started to sound the same after a while. Good for walking with a destination, maybe not for an aimless relaxing walk
Funky. I liked it, but it had a few moments where the scratching seemed wrong.
This album didn't really move me at all sadly. Favorite track: WeFight/WeLove
Not good.
Yeeee liked it, would be good to study to or do chores or exercise. But a lot of it kinda blended together.
This was a pleasant surprise. I never got on 100% with Tribe outside of the hits but I enjoyed this album top to bottom. Maybe sounded a little dated but it was still great. Immediately put it back on after I finished.
Pretty good, production and lyrics are top notch
This is alright again but one of those that I don't think is particularly memorable and I dunno why it's on the list. Good sound, deft flow at times, but I'm not gonna listen again.
I love Q-Tip's voice, and his flow, and there's some stuff that works really nicely here, it's really smooth. But nice is all it is - it doesn't bite lyrically and there's not enough punch to it. Not an unpleasant listen by any means, but not a great one. Just about scrapes a 3.
Ok
Wish it wasn’t so beholden to trends of the time (it wants to be Graduation so badly) but it’s a concise and diverse effort! Love hearing tip sing so much!
Can hear the Tribe Called Quest DNA.
3.5/5
Honestly I’m surprised by my enjoyment of this album. I automatically assumed that it would be bad so I was dismissive but I liked it and would listen again.
Having been a fan of A Tribe Called Quest I was curious to hear how/it member Q-Tip would carry on a similar vibe ... Love it. love the smooth jazz and soul vibes but it still has just a little edge to it all which for me never lets it become boring or repetitive. And the analog samples and real instrumentation is fantastic - gimme more of this in hip-hop all day and night. Also the vocals are mixed *right* - I feel like I put this in half of my reviews but it kills a song or an album for me if the vocals are too loud, and they are way too often ... not here. It's low enough to let the great music cut through- the vocals are an instrument. Q's vocal style is what I like - on beat and creatively rhythmic, neither close to mumble rap nor spewing of too many lyrics at once. He has a great sense of the music and what works for the song. Hard to pick a fave but "We Fight/We Love" and the groove of "ManWomanBoogie" and "Good Thang" can't steer you wrong. 8/10 and a strong 4 stars
Another odd choice of album to laud. Fairly pedestrian tap/hip hop album with no stand out moments at all. Passed me by for a very good reason.
“I don’t need a Top 40 Hit to hit you up, girl.” Yup, but she might not stick around without one.
Je ne m'attendais pas à mieux venant d'un bâtonnet ouaté
smoooooth~~( 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘴-𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦́𝘴)
This was a great album to have running in the background!
This was one of my favorites on this list in a long time. Excellent alternate hip hop.
Listened to Tribe Called Quest since high school, but this is the first time I’ve listened to a solo album by Q. This album stuck with the old style, but still kept it interesting.
favorite tracks - official, wefight/welove, manwomanboogie, move, life is better least favorite tracks - you, believe, feva Listened to this one a lot when I started at asu. got a small nostalgia hit on the relisten. good vibes
Fantastic album by Q-Tip. I loved the melodies in the hooks, the laid back feel, and his flow is just so unique to him.
This album didn't really move me at all sadly. Favorite track: WeFight/WeLove
Wow, within a couple of tracks this album just grabbed hold of my attention and just never let up. Q-tip's voice is so characterful and full, and I use the word voice there in both the physical and abstract senses. The production is top notch throughout, it's jazzy and uplifting without feeling too 90's and Q-tip effortlessly finds interesting things to do with whatever beat he's come up with. My favourite track was 'Won't trade,' most of the rhymes in this track go on a little bit longer than you think they should which gives the whole thing a slightly lazy syncopated feel which I absolutely adored. One of those albums that put a smile on my face that remained there for every second of its 46 minute runtime.
Good
Really enjoyable album!
it was alright not my favorite there are some bangers that are really good but it was just okay
Old-school sound with some newer production coming from the hip-hop pedigree of A tribe called quest. The album has some great samples of older soul tracks which mesh together nicely with his lyrics. A few tracks have featured female vocals such as Norah jones which positively added to the variety. Favourite track Shaka
Ok Good beats but not my thing.
Smooth, mellow, I appreciated the beats. And thought it was quite hypnotic. I did find his voice very monotonous, and after a while a bit tiresome. I did really like Official and We fight/We love, but he would’ve benefited from more collaborators singing. I did find myself bouncing along to some of the funkier beats which is an endorsement of sorts. But I’m not sure he could ever top ‘Can I kick it?’ Others might disagree and reply though: “Yes he can!”
This is an okay album. I don't connect to it and rap, even though good, are too much fir my liking. It starts to sound like a baseball card stuck in the spokes of a bicycle... cool at first but annoying after about 15 minutes. I only listened to the album one time through and nothing stuck out as particularly impressive or interesting. I've put it on my list to give another listen but for now it seems just average.
This was a bit hit and miss for me. I enjoyed most of it, particularly the R&B-tinged material. Some of the rap was a little flat, some of it was pretty sharp. A solid 3 in my book.
Failed to make an impression on me. Maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace for it.
I like Q-Tip, and while I don’t think this album is game-changing I enjoyed it plenty. He’s still got that irresistible voice and there’s some nifty modern-retro production. 3.5
I found this record quite boring and without any song that I actually enjoyed unfortunately.
An excellent showcase for Q-Tip's prowess in great music. Favorites: Won't Trade, Official, Dance On Glass
Favourite song: You
Nem öregedett olyan jól szerintem ez az album, nem értem mit keres itt. Van 1-2 jó vokál rész, meg a bass részek nagyon jól vannak megírva, de ennyi. Semmi kiemelkedő nincs benne egy 2008-as Hip-hop lemezhez képest.
Not bad! I love tribe so expected to like this but Its not super memorable
some glimmers of greatness in there but not my jam over all.
Pretty chill, smooth rap. Liked it more than I expected. At times a bit boring to me but overall I enjoyed. 3 stars.
Great flow and production. Probably the first good rap album on the list.
Liked this more than I expected - don't normally listen to hip-hop. Gender dynamics give me an ick. Official was good.
This just hit a perfect spot for me.
so cool
For the last time, overproducing an album does not make it sound "futuristic". Or maybe it does if one's perception of the future is where everything is robotic, colorless, and smells like bleach.
3.75
I kinda like it. It's got funk. It's got beat. It's got style.
It starts pretty good, and songs like Won't Trade strike a good balance between having a beat that drives it forward and having lyrics of interest. Unfortunately, i think a lot of the album leans really heavily on interest from lyrics and the music is just okay. Worth listening to, though not very much my style.
Q-Tip once again proves why he’s one of the most eloquent and dexterous voices in the rap game. With socially conscious lyrics and crystal-clear production (including two tracks helmed by the late great J Dilla), The Renaissance is the full package.
Not great
i felt things
En olekaan aikaisemmin kuunnellut Tribe called quest:in MC-osaston sooloja. Eihän tämä hullumpi ole. Aika jazzahtavat samplet, sekä lungi meno. Ei turhaa uhoomista. Toimii siis mulle joo! 3/5
Uu enpäs tiennyt, että tämän soololevytkin on näin hyviä. Ei ihan TCQ:n tasoa, mutta todella miellyttävää. Neljä miinus.
Won't Trade on kyllä kova stygä! Muutenkin varsin jees nollariräbäytykset, 4/5
OK but better with Phife and the gang
Ok
notes - q-tip is a member of a tribe called quest - made this album after a couple of attempts that multiple labels shot down for not being commercially viable - produced almost all the songs on here - some songs featuring d’angelo, norah jones, robert glasper, j dilla - the way that drums and found sounds are used is really interesting! - i dont love q-tips nasal and lyrical delivery - my brain kinda tunes it out after a bit, which is a shame bc he clearly put a lot of thought into his lyrics - first couple songs really dont do it for me - album gets better as it goes along fav - shaka - nice laid back vibe to end the album on least fav - man/womanboogie - doesnt fit with the rest of the songs 3/5
An introspective and interesting, not his best work, but I enjoyed it. 3/5
Generic
Surprisingly catchy & listenable.
I liked it a lot
I actually liked a few songs on this one.
Pretty run of the mill hiphop. Not much more to say beyond that.
Loved this album. Neo soul, hip hop, funk, experimental. Great lyrics.
This is impressive, even if I don’t love the genre. I did like A Tribe Called Quest and Q-Tip has consistently been a quality producer and rapper. The grooves are very strong, and flow is so good one song melds into the next. One can argue that Q-Tip is high on the list of most influential hip-hop artists. Nothing on this disc makes me think otherwise.
Wow, this is really, really good. I love how the tracks flow together seamlessly. Rhythms are great and I can actually understand what he's saying.
Really well produced. Loved the Norah Jones feature and "dancing machine" sample. It's always interesting to hear albums by a rapper/producer because they have a strong musical sense and that was clear here. I'd give this a 4.5 if it were possible. Pretty funny that this is here but not Tha Carter III, 808s and heartbreak or Paper Trail
I liked the guitar in the fist track and the soulful chorus in track 2. The intelligent rapping and lack of F-Bombs sounded familiar then Spotify played Tribe Called Quest after and I made the connection.
Easy listening hip hop, it blends in with the background smoothly but doesn’t do much to stand out either.
I liked this. It was layered without being messy, good lyrics, occasionally good messages. I was surprised from a dude calling himself Q-Tip
Ok album
Took a tiny bit of warming up to, but this album was great overall. Captures some of what I love about Tribe's sound without sounding totally like them, and there are some monster hooks on this record.
Liked the front half of the album, but it didn't really do much for me overall. I liked that it has interesting instrumentation, which is usually where rap loses me. 3.49/5
When I started this, I wasn’t sure. It was good but not great, not on the level of what I was expecting from Q-Tip. But after a few songs, I felt like it only started getting better. Stronger hooks, more effective guest spots, more memorable bars. It’s a real grower and sounds of its time and timeless at once. That’s what I get for undervaluing Tip. B+
4. It's very chilled, and has some really nice sampling. Definitely say I like Q-Tip - having not known anything of him before - he seems classy, talking about decent topics without diving into the stereotypical hip-hop hoes and gangland culture.
Je me surprends, je commence à aimer le rap… du moins, ce genre-ci. Rythmes dansants, échantillons intéressants, rythmé sans être agressif. À écouter de nouveau.
Nope.
Quelques pièces grove bien, je trouve l’ensemble inégal.
This was pretty chill. I got lost in some of the songs and didn't remember to pay attention to the lyrics. Would revisit most of the album! 3.5, closer to 3 but 3.5 is definitely more accurate.
Q-Tip does a decent job in this album but without the rest of the tribe the album falls a little flat. The production and beats are pretty decent. Q-Tip has a unique rapping style and voice. It’s not something that can carry a whole album in my opinion. I didn’t hate this album but for a hip-hop album I feel there are significantly better ones out there. 5.7/10
T3B 1. We Fight/We Love 2. Move 3. Official Sets an awesome vibe. I’m moving and nodding the whole album. Solid 3.
R&b. No me dice nada
Surprisingly refreshing
I liked this a bit. Definitely feels like the old school 90s hip hop sound updated to the next decade. The rapping is pretty good although sometimes Q-Tip’s voice/tone is a little grating after some time. I feel it was lacking some hooks on a lot of the songs as well. Beats are nice too tho. 7/10
very q-tip no songs really stood out but plenty of good ones 3.5
So good
I do love me some smooth buttery flow of Q-Tip, but find that I was missing the je ne sais quoi of the Tribe. Good vibe to the album, but just ok.
I guess I only ever listened to the greatest hits so had a totally different impressions of the kinks. Feel ike they take an album to come up with a good tune.
Really rather terrible all round
Yes. More of this, please.
I didn't completely hate it. More pop than hip-hop, okay beats, cringy rhyming lyrics though, overall I found it boring.
I enjoy his proficiency as a rapper and the beats that sound so modern and different from what was out at that time, but his voice becomes a little irritating to listen to and there is no great song on this album. Great run time though!
Decent rap, almost more R&B than Rap, but nothing groundbreaking
Fine. No real impact.
- Beats sind grandios - Immer wieder unerwartete Akzente in der Melodie - Oldschool
not my thing
I enjoyed this a lot after one cursory listen. It’s pretty typical for the genre musically, but I did hear some interesting lyrics I’d like to pay more attention to in the future.
Not for me
Background hip hop. Decent beats though.
It came and went without offending or exciting. I didn't notice it leave.
there are worse things to stick in your ear
Hard to believe this is this old
I enjoed it. 3 stars
At the first chord of the first song, I thought “oh yeah I like this.” First chorus comes in, “oh yeah I really like this.” I took a closer look at the lyrics and I’m in love. I’m a sucker for hip hop, especially hip hop like this. Idk how I haven’t listened to Q-Tip yet, but I guess that means this album journey is important. In general: 8/10 My rating: 8/10
Very nice. Normally not a genre I listen to. Pleasantly surprised
:pepejam: My bose ad began with the words 'when the world gets in the way of your music.' I would like to unsubscribe from self aware ads. Fantastic production. I'm not done but i'm feelin a 5/5 today Favorite songs: Johnny Is Dead and ManWomanBoogie
I wasn’t excited to put this in at first but it was a banger front to back. Would listen again.
really only heard q-tip from chappelle's mark twain ceremony, but ive heard some tribe called quest and my sense is that this is gonna be jazzy-conscious-dense-roots-like. i guess i was right for the most part, but the sounds are much richer than that. the instrumentation is so fun and layered and light, the words are dense pero magaan sa tenga. it's so uppy and jammy, like it wants to remind me that in the trap-infested soundscape of today's hiphop, you can make a great record that doesnt grate on your eardrums. "wont trade" is so narratively rich, "gettin up" is perfect everywhere except the chorus, and if norah jones says "life is better" i'll believe her. "manwomanboogie" shoulda been an instrumental. i might be getting spoiled getting two good easy-listen albums in a row. not looking forward to the captain beefheart portion of the proceedings.
Beste chille rap
Very funky, nice mix of rap and jazzy funky pop with jazzy pano chords and prominently features effect laden guitars, which for me makes for the most listener friendly rap. Light use of samples make for an authentic yet accessible album.
First I’ve heard of Q-tip. The album was good, nothing wowed me, but I enjoyed all the songs. Great groove, good beats and the lyrics were fast and fun.
Rap + hip hop + album that flors between songs = banger
Pretty good album. I always like any new q tip music I can get, and some of these songs scratched that itch like You. Nothing huge from this one either but glad to see he was making music after the rifts with Tribe.
I think this is the first solo Q-Tip album I've heard, though I'm a big fan of ATCQ. It's got that signature flair that I know from Q-Tip, present very obviously in the production (most of which he does himself). I can't help but dig this because I'm such a fan, there are some fantastic cuts on here, even if it didn't all hold my attention for the entirety. This one's great, and we need more good hip hop on this list. Favorite tracks: Johnny is Dead, Won't Trade, Official, You. Album art: Pretty simple, seemingly Q-Tip covering his face with some kind of MPC. It's not much to shout about, but it gets the job done. 4/5
I love Q-Tip in a tribe but this is just lacking a lot of the crisp beats and flow of his best work
I hadn't heard of Q-tip, but apparently he's the producer from A Tribe Called Quest. Only had time for one listen through, but I enjoyed the funky and occasionally jazzy grooves on this album, the mix of rapping and melodies, and the thoughtful & non-violent lyrics (esp the opening track). But I'm unlikely to come back to it, so once again, three stars.
I wasn’t familiar with any of this album. Three or four tracks in I was finding it a little boring, and then was really taken with We Fight We Love, featuring Raphael Saadiq. From that point on, I found it to be most engaging. The 2 standouts for me were Move (featuring a Jackson 5 sample) and Manwomanboogie, featuring Amanda Diva. Great production. Enjoyed it.
I always enjoyed Q-Tip's distinctive and understated flow. I really like the neo-soul influences on this album (real drums and instruments, old soul samples, collaborations with Dilla, D'Angelo, Raphael Saadiq, Norah Jones). It's got a gentle, sophisticated, easily funky sound. Really 'musical' for a hip hop album; these sound like proper songs, rather than tracks that occasionally feature a vocalist. This album was completely new to me, enjoyed it. Fresh. Favoruite tracks: Good Thang, ManWomanBoogie.
Upbeat, jazzy hip hop with some great instrumentation and production. I like it.
Rapea muy bien. Las mezclas se me hicieron normales. Lo soporté sin problemas, no es mi género ni me pareció extraordinario, por lo que su 2.5 sube a 3.
Pos otro disco de Hip Hop. A diferencia de otros que son aburridos, este tiene sus momentos de instrumentación agradable que hacen que se ponga un poco mejor. Lo que no me encanta es el tono de voz, todo el tiempo así muy ñeñeñe.
Has the beats and the deft lyricism of Tribe, but replaces the charisma of the group rapport with polished and at times slower cadence than fans of A Tribe Called Quest might be expecting. This album represents an opportunity to exhibit a more personal contribution from Q-tip, away from the influence of his youth’s Hip-Hop roots
Non convinta ma forse ero solo un po' infadtidita dal mondo oggi.
Not bad not my fav
shop
What I've always enjoyed about Q-Tip is that he focused on the songwriting in a way that most hip-hop producers and performers don't. There's lots of that on this record.
This was not really for me, had a bit of a sameness to it...but when I see the praise for an album like this makes me feel like I just don't get it, and that's probably accurate.
Quite decent for a rap album
Q-Tip had been out of the game for a few years when The Renaissance dropped. 1998 would mark A Tribe Called Quest's final album before their return in 2016, and Q-Tip had tested the waters with a solo album in 1999. As such, his return would be highly anticipated. It's pretty good. Production is very contemporary for 2008, that being clean and tight. Q-Tip's style, however, is still very much influenced by his jazz rap 90's roots. There is some influence from Common à la his rapping, but it still feels like the same Q-Tip from Midnight Marauders. The only difference is that I feel like Midnight Marauders had infinitely more appeal in it's personality. The Renaissance is still a good album, but I would hesitate to say if it's reflective of any hip-hop trends of the 2000's.
Todd Malone think it ok. just ok for Todd Malone
Nahh.
2/10 - Dire this mate. Background music at best
Its okej. i don't hate it, but I don't love it.
Rap plus smooth jazz and R&B … meh
quite different from his tribe called quest days chill hip hop vibe, good samples and basslines
Good vibe, even though it is not my genre I liked it.
Hip-hop. Boring.
interessant
Ok je ali mi se onaj prije čini bolji a kamoli a tribe called quest
fine.
I really like Tribe Called Quest but this is my first time listening to solo Q-Tip. His lyrics are fantastic - really sharp, clever wordplay, and the songs are focused. There’s a lot of storytelling too. But you can also kick back and just enjoy the jazzy bounce of his flow without paying close attention to the words. He moves fast but somehow sounds laid back at the same time. His flow on “Won’t Trade” in particular is great. The beat on the first half of “Move” is insane! I’ve always heard J-Dilla talked about as a legendary producer and now I understand why. The sampling on this track is ridiculous! Man, Norah Jones should sing more hooks on rap songs. Her voice is actually perfect for songs like these.
Wow I didn't think Q-Tip would have a record on this list! This is such a great immediate lyrical hook that starts the album! "Sometimes I phase out when I look at the screen And I think about my chance for me to intervene And it's up to me to bring back the hope Put feeling in the music that you could quote Not saying that I hate it, cause here I kinda dig it But what good is a ear if a Q-Tip isn't in it?" - Really clean production all around. - There's some stretches across the album where the lyrics get a little dull for me. I suspect that it's because in these moments there's such an emphasis on a rhyming scheme that the cleverness in the message falls a little flat in order to fit the rhyme. Overall I enjoyed the album!
I liked it. Always been a atop fan
Rap/Hip-Hop
Kinda good
Good background rap. The flow is crazy on some tracks and the beats are all very mellow
Wasn’t too bad but not my kind of thing
Hmmmm found it a little bit dull I’m afraid
So boring
10/10 from the album cover, I was expecting something new-wave but was pleasantly surprised to hear a really awesome, progressive, electronic hip-hop album honestly, those beats slapped like a mother fucker all around fantastic
This is a good Q-Tip album. Tip's best work came from the Tribe years. Should this album merit inclusion based on it being a Q-Tip album, or an album that is from a member of the Tribe. Regardless, this album doesn't rank high on the Hip Hop / R&B / Jazz-Hop / Fusion albums to be worthy of inclusion on this list. 3/5.
Q-Tip is just a boss! Excellent sampling and production from one of the best, no thug nonsense here, just mellow beats and rhymes to keep your body moving.
I enjoyed Won’t Trade. The rest left me a little cold.
While his voice can be a bit congested sounding at times, it does require that the listener pay attention a bit more than perhaps normally. There is something a bit off about his rhyming that still makes sense, almost like he forces it at times, but unlike other artists where it feels as though they sacrifice clarity of message for the sake of a rhyme, Q-Tip instead seems to double-down on the flow itself to keep the integrity of his lyrics. This might be a long way of saying that he writes with intention rather than convenience. Some of the more popular rap artists opt for the convenient rhyme over the intentional writing, take any song that is more recognizable by its beat than its verses, and there is the example. Compare that to someone like Q-Tip, and the infusion of jazz, it makes some rap artists out there sound like lottery-winning amateurs, carried by a beat but forgotten in the verse. Q-Tip manages both, the jazz infusion is incredible. So much of jazz alone is chaotic and hard to follow, but Q-Tip and his use of it along with his verses make a path worth following, an order to the chaos.
Q tip does to 80’s rap, it’s what Kendrick did for the gangsta rap sound with G.K.M.C, improving the sound of his idols with better recordings. This is what NWA and many others would have sounded with access to proper recording tools. Even so, this is cool but not on the level of those classic 80’s recordings.
Fishy~
Great 90s style rhyme and flow over the top of a great sounding backing
Really influential. 4.7⭐
Smooth, great voice... but doesn't break any boundaries, especially considering its release year. A safe rap option for the book.
My kind of hip hoppery
Very solid from beginning to end. No notes.
Q-Tip is one of the group of rappers whose music leaves you feeling chilled and feeling positive about life, rather than angsty and wound up - on that basis alone this album is worth a 4/5.
АБСТРАКТ ЕДИНСТВЕННЫЙ МУЖЧИНА ЗАСЛУЖИВАЮЩИЙ ПРАВА
Приятный альбом Группу A tribe called quest я знаю, а вот сольник одного из их участников нет 🤓 Не знаю, насколько я права в своих ощущениях, но такой вот нью-йорк vibezzzzz Остается в моей медиатеке определенно 🏙
Solid qtip
I was initially planning to listen to the first few songs and then finish the rest later, but the album was so constantly engaging that I finished the whole thing in one sitting. I think that deserves 5 stars. I loved how Q-Tip's delivery felt precise but free, how the structure of the songs was loose and not rigidly determined, and how the songs were sequenced in such a way that there was a good mixture of continuity and contrast between songs, keeping up the album's momentum till the end.
Fresh production, excellent lyrics, musically interesting samples. What's not to love. Favorites: Move, Believe, ManWomanBoogie. This one of the most fun albums suggested so far. A real pleasure to listen to.
Very meh. It's not awful but it's not even close to being worthy of the list.
Seems to be trying to bridge a gap between R&B and hip hop, which to be honest is not really a gap that needed filling. I'm also impressed at the efforts Mr Tip is making to not be gangsta. Listenable, but unless I'm missing something, also unremarkable.
I really did not enjoy any part of this album.
Surprisingly good! Really liked it.
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Johny is dead, Won’t trade, You, Manwomanboogie, Life is better, Believe
I knew Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest and his collaboration with the Beastie Boys on Ill Communication. But man, this takes it to another level. His flow was great, the guest stars really hit the mark. Every track was concise and did not overstay their welcome. I really REALLY enjoyed this album. Definitely one to pick up.
It's weird because I feel like I never heard anything about Q-Tip after his debut album. Maybe I wasn't paying attention to hip-hop or maybe he wasn't showing up much in the mainstream. But this is a solid album. It has an old school feel - soul, funk? Like there's some Stevie Wonder or George Clinton in there (especially noticeable at WeFight/WLove and ManWomanBoogie). I had it on repeat for awhile. I'm not sure it has anything that absolutely grabbed me as out of this world, but as a collective it was great. Some that stood out though were Johnny is Dead, Getting Up, and Move for their beat and sound, Dance on Glass for its lyrics.
This album’s opener “Johnny is Dead” starts off with a catchy fat groove. I’m loving that bass sound. The rest of the album doesn’t let up either. Every track has a great sound and Q-Tip’s delivery is spot on. His voice has a great rhythm to it that fits in with the groove he’s rapping over. The opener, “Gettin Up” and “Life is Better” are my favorite tracks so far, but I need to listen to this album a few more times to get to know it more. I’m still new to a lot of hip-hop, but it’s great albums like this that get me excited about exploring the genre more.
Pretty good
Good rhythm all the way through.
Didn’t care for it
Some of the lyrics are a little cringeworthy, but there are some good instrumentals
Fuckin dope, lil overwhelmed by hip hop cause it's not my normal stuff but this is very good.
No dull songs in the whole album. Very consistent. The aesthetic throughout is amazing.
Progressive hip-hop? *groooooooooooans* I swear this project is closing my mind more than opening it. There were some good beats, I'll give it that. But the vocals were so grating. It's not my scene, I don't like it, no thank you.
Not bad. 2.5/5
For a 2008 album, it sounds remarkably fresh in 2022, which is impressive in a context like hip-hop, where things change very quickly. It's not so remarkable on these songs, but nice to listen to them and know a little bit more about
Not my style.
Not bad, but just not my kind of music. Rap/Hip-Hop doesn't do it for me on regular. Feels very monotone. I did give it a go to be fair. But yeah not my thing.
Struggled to even give this one two stars
Would buy
Half decent.
Samples and grooves are excellent, lyrics unfortunately not so eargrabbing. Shame.
Lovely nostalgic noughties rap!! Never heard of Q Tip but I love this vibe and this album it's yummy! Especially Life is Better with Norah Jones. Catchy, relaxed, good vibes!
I would say Won't Trade was my favourite off this album and I from the plays on Spotify, I can see why this is the hit. I enjoyed the more upbeat funky-ness of it and the sample track was fun. I got a bit tired of the other ones, repetitive use of jazz chords - it felt a bit one sided and the tracks all just blurred into one.
Pretty good, had a nice vibe listening to this.
3.4 - Funky tracks on here but I felt it all wash over me and I've already forgotten about it. Fine as background music.
2/5 naaaah
Man, ya gotta love Q-Tip. A model of consistency.
Hip Hop ISN'T dead
Boring. I’m not a fan of hiphop.
Lovely album and I love Q Tip’s voice. Having said that, there wasn’t a track that jumped out here - it just flowed smoothly from beginning to end. Well-crafted, but neither earth-shattering or offensive. If I hadn’t heard Q Tip previously, I would have loved this, but as it stands, it seems like another accomplished album to add to his discography.
I didn't really give this my full attention. It sounds like the type of album you need to really focus on to gain any kind of reward. I liked the more jazzy moments. I didn't his voice a little... whiney.
I'm not a hip hop guy but I liked this. 1st three tracks really stand out
Some good tunes, but really not my jam. It was a job getting through this album. 1*.
Really solid hip hop.
Liked it a lot. A lot of musical variance in the musical ideas.
Once again, not my jam. But could appreciate the musicality.
This is really underwhelming to me, but I also felt extremely overstimulated. Enjoyed “WeFight/WeLove” and “Life is Better”. I like that it mellowed out a bit the more I listened.
Harmless, but ultimately nondescript.
I dig it, smooth, funky, interesting. FaveS: You, WeFight/WeLove, Shaka
I liked Q-Tip from the moment I heard him on Get It Together with the Beastie Boys. I've heard him with A Tribe Called Quest and enjoyed it. I never did listen to him solo. It's really solid. Not much to say really. Just a very enjoyable album. Q Tip is a fantastic rapper and the beats are awesome.
I really wanted to like this album bc I love quest but I found myself waiting for it to end
this was great! really good production, really good lyrics, enjoyed it a lot.
Dope shit
I'm a huge ATCQ fan. Q-tip is a fave of mine. This was very midnight marauders in parts, so I kept waiting for Phife to bust a verse. I miss Phife dawg. When the album was done a Phife some came on. 🥴 Long story short, the sum of the parts is greater than the bits alone. I really like the Tribe, but this fell shy of the mark.
Some pretty solid beats, a nice listen.
Really like his slow punchy style of rap, especially over the jazz like backing tracks. Every track after and including "Move" is really good.
I'm a fan!
Hip hop molt influencia pel r&b, soul i tocs de jazz. Com alguns discos de The Roots o posteriorment gent com Kendrick Lamar, Q-Tip es demostra gran coneixedor de la música negra i tots els samples i arranjaments de cada tema s'acoplen de manera perfecta amb el rapejat elegant de Q-Tip
04/30/2022 Not for me.
Already a fan !
Un album dans lequel Q-Tip se confie sur la renaissance qu'il connaît depuis qu'il s'est échappé du groupe A Tribe Called Quest. Et on peut le comprendre.
L'album était plutôt sympa mais fut rendu extrêmement désagréable par la découverte suivante: Q-Tip est le leader de l'horrible groupe A Tribe Called Quest.
Genre: East Coast Hip Hop 3/5 For as much as I loved A Tribe Called Quest's The Low End Theory (an album I gave a 5/5), and as much as I've grown to appreciate the hip hop genre and what it has to offer, especially when it comes from legends like Q-Tip, this was incredibly underwhelming. Released in late 2008, while still sounding as if it were sonically stuck in the early 90s, The Renaissance by Q-Tip is anything but a rebirth. "The Retreading" is a bit more of an accurate title, as every song on here reeks of the past, and, beyond some hip/cool features from some more contemporary recording artists, this is clearly an album clinging to the past in hopes that the remnants of boom bap may live on. While the production is clearly supposed to be reminiscent rather than a complete retracing, it's hard to look beyond the sonic landscapes here. With the genre growing as it was in the late 2000s, songs like Gettin' Up and Move, both decent songs in their own right, sound like fossils amidst the growing pop rap fusions of the day. Instead of harkening back, Q-Tip simply moved backwards, and what we're left with is a decent, yet unsatisfying album with plenty of forgettable lyrics and arrangements. Life Is Better is a great track, as Norah Jones saves the album to a degree with her late-aught's style crooning, but it's surrounded by musical equivalents of the "how ya doin', fellow kids" meme. Not a bad record, but clearly 15-20 years too late.
No está mal, lo volveré a escuchar. No conocía al autor aunque si había oido sus colaboraciones. De este disco me han gustado "Won't trade", "ManWomanBoogie" y "Shaka". Y también me ha hecho conocer el nombre del sampler con el que se tapa la cara en la portada el AKAI MPC 2000XL.
Very good, smooth foot tapping rap. I liked it.
I like Q-Tip. This is a slay
A chilled and funky hip hop album. Not really my thing and doesn't seem all that innovative, but it's inoffensive and listenable. I got a little bored by the end. Rating: 2/5 Playlist track: Won't Trade Date listened: 20/04/22
Eh. Rap. Not a promising start to the week....
Laid back!
Jazzy bits were good, liked the bass, didn't like anything else. I'm not made for hip hop.
Why? I mean there's nothing wrong with Q-Tip, but in terms of rap pioneers, I'm guessing there will be some left off this list that could easily replace this entry.
Very 2000s Hip-Hop mixed with synth pop. Not terrible but not a single thing I latched onto.
Smooth. I appreciate the live band.
Highlights: Won't Trade, Life is Better. Tracks range from solid to gorgeous. The percussion, all the way through, is just damn good.
Didn't blow me away, but there were some nice beats here.
Not ball at all, just mediocre. Has that 90s hip-hop vibe even though it's late 2000's.
Started off strong, got weak then got better
3/28/22
Excellent!
Q-Tip is a genius, and I love everything he puts out. This album doesn't have any hits but it is a great listen nonetheless.
Enjoyed this
Jazz rap that's pretty smooth. Nothing particularly stood out as exceptional, but clean overall. Liked it.
Liked it, not to intense, good message, nice flow.
Really really liked this album. Felt like a 90s rap classic even tho it came out in 2008. Really liked the first track and move
Very cool! Quite a mix of styles, including a real mix of artists, blended superbly. Found myself bobbing my head up and down and moving in my seat as I listened. Done right, I love when jazz and R&B or jazz and hip-hop get together, and this album does it right. And I had already become a fan of jazz guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel (I recommend checking out his work), so it was wicked cool to see he contributed to this album. I'll definitely listen to this album again and I'll have to explore more of Q-Tip's work. This is an outstanding and interesting album.
I must confess to hearing very little hip hop before this, so my insights will be a little limited. Regardless, I found this album an enjoyable experience . The way Q Tip makes words flow was entertaining, and the instrumentation was surprisingly well done. The album has a crisp, fresh sound, which contributes to the smart feel of the music. I most liked the songs ‘official’ and ‘Shaka’ Overall I’ll give this album a 3.5 stars. This was an enjoyable, and refreshing, listen.
Had this album as a 4* album, liked it at the time, but of course it was difficult not to compare to A Tribe Called Quest. Now after so many years it actually turned out to be much better than I remembered. It is just a very strong album and I can see why it was included on the list.
Wow, this was good. Best rap/hiphop album so far on the list. I only knew Q-Tip by way of A Tribe Called Quest, but having heard this, I should definitely check out his other solo albums as well.
Theres not much wrong with it, but its not remarkable either
Great stuff. Didn’t know it. Jived with the Tribe called Quest and Digable Planets stuff I enjoy.
Not my kind of music not terrible but not one I would listen to again
Hip Hop, you shall not pass. 1/5
Un bel mood, durante la fine del mondo ci vuole. Un hip hop leggero, che devo dire, mi piace.
Drips with cool.
I only knew this guy from collaborations with other artists. I was happy to have a chance to actually listen to an album, and this did not disappoint!
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
Hip hop bastante rollo. Sin nada que me llame la atención.
Very solid
Très bon album, l'influence jazz à la ATCQ est très bien faite, pas vraiment de moments faibles sur l'album.
Was okay, mix of rap and electronic but didn't listen much to it
Good rap album
Cool and funky album
good listening experience
I was today years old the first time I listened to Q-Tip. Usually not my speed but this was a good record! I particularly liked Move. I would def listen to this album again
I feel like this album is the whole reason I began this journey, and I'm only a few days in. He sampled quite a few songs throughout the album, and songs from multiple genres at that. Creativity oozes from Q-Tip, his lyrics are something else! "Won't Trade" in particular grabbed me. Some songs not so much, but I have tons of respect for Q-Tip regardless.
I thought the progressive aspects of this album as they pertain to hip-hop were definitely on display, making this album seem fresh in comparison to a lot of the hip-hop I've heard in the past decade or so. For hip-hop, his voice is incredibly smooth and the music was laid back. That said, this album and the tracks on it ultimately didn't resonate with me very much; it was easy to listen to, but for me, it was "just okay".
It has some great songs
Ordagran megapangare
Groovy hip hop with a consistent vibe. Sollid
Inte lika bra som hans album med Tribe men hög kvalitet ändå.