Q-Tip - The Renaissance

Artist:

Q-Tip

Description:

Q-Tip`s 1999 solo debut, AMPLIFIED, was perhaps too party-oriented, too pop-influenced, too strayed from straightforward hip-hop, to have pleased die-hard A Tribe Called Quest fans. After nine years of the genre`s evolution, which saw a handful of experimenters (i.e., Andre 3000, Kanye West, Pharrel Williams) running with Tip`s instincts to great mainstream success, the positivistic, soft soul-based hip-hop sound purveyed by the nasal-voiced Tribe frontman now seems a whole lot closer to rap conventions.
Tip`s second official solo release, THE RENAISSANCE, has been a long time coming and is a welcome breath of fresh air. The man once known as the Abstract Poetic lets his complex lyrical intuitions run wild as he spits some of his most intricate free-associated verses since his Tribe days. Entirely self-produced (save for one gem, "Move," from the late J Dilla), THE RENAISSANCE relies on spacey jazz grooves, looping guitar lines, uplifting soul samples, and melodically suave vocal work courtesy of guests Norah Jones, D`Angelo, Amanda Diva, Raphael Saadiq, and, of course, Tip himself. THE RENAISSANCE is both nostalgic and forward-looking--one of the most rewarding and well-rounded albums of 2008.

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Johnny is Dead
2. Won`t Trade
3. Gettin` Up
4. Official
5. You
6. We Fight/We Love - (featuring Raphael Saadiq)
7. Manwomanboogie - (featuring Amanda Diva)
8. Move
9. Dance On Glass
10. Life is Better - (featuring Norah Jones)
11. Believe
12. Shaka

Album Information

Release Date:

11/04/2008

Type:

Performer

Genre:

R&B

Subgenre:

East Coast Rap

Label:

Universal Motown

Catalog Number:

8764

Original Release Year:

2008

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Guest Artist:

Raphael Saadiq; Amanda Diva; Norah Jones

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