There are a few records I’ve been waiting several years for. Chinese Democracy, Detox (which I insist should be called Dretox), Tapeworm… Oh, nevermind, I gave up on that one.
Another one is the new album from Q-Tip. The founding member of Tribe Called Quest put out Amplified in 1999 after Tribe split up. There were a bunch of great tracks on it, it went gold, everything was cool. Then in 2002 I got word that his second album, Kamaal The Abstract, had been rejected by the label. By the time 2004 rolled around, Q-Tip was a ghost.
I eventually got my hands on a burned copy of Kamaal The Abstract, but it felt like a collection of demos… Maybe that’s all it ever was. Two more rough “albums” would appear in the years to follow: Open, and Live At The Renaissance. Before this week, I had resigned myself of any and all expectations.
Then suddenly, a new Q-Tip album hit the internet. A real album. One that has now been set for a real, physical November 4th release. The name has been shortened to The Renaissance, and It’s finally the album I’ve been waiting for.
If my admittedly limited recollection of the heap of leaked demos serves me, only two tracks from The Renaissance have appeared previously; Johnny Is Dead, and Official. But both benefit greatly from fresh production and proper mastering. The second track, Won’t Trade, is up there with some of the best Tribe shit, and it might be the best new hip hop song I’ve heard since Busta’s Don’t Touch Me:
For the most part, the guest vocalists on this disc are well chosen, though occasionally underutilized. With a stock beat and par verses from Tip, Manwomanboogie is almost forgettable… until Amanda Diva of Floetry busts her verse. Norah Jones is a natural fit on Life Is Better, a chill R&B track that reminds me of something from Philly’s Res. And that’s a compliment, as I eagerly await her promised collaboration with Talib Kweli.
Overall, Renaissance is not a masterpiece. It’s not Low End Theory; It’s not the second coming of Tribe. And despite a the marketing campaign built around the election day “day of change” release date, the album is not political nor a radical change of direction for Q-Tip. It is however, as good as Amplified.
The only question is if 2008 is too late for another Amplified. Time will tell, but either way, it’s nice to finally see Q-Tip back in action.
The Renaissance
November 4th, 2008
Universal Motown
1. Johnny Is Dead
2. Won’t Trade
3. Gettin’ Up
4. Official
5. You
6. We Fight / Love (w/ Raphael Saadiq)
7. Manwomanboogie (w/ Amanda Diva)
8. Move
9. Dance On Glass
10. Life Is Better (w/ Norah Jones)
11. Believe (w/ D’Angelo)
12. Shaka
About Skwerl
Kevin "Skwerl" Cogill was taught his first computer programming language by his Mother's marijuana dealer at age ten. His first job involved hustling TicketMaster lines on behalf of a New Jersey concert ticket broker at age fourteen, followed by a job in graphic design shortly after graduating high school and trade school simultaneously in 1998. He built his first website in 1996 or so, and continues to do things the way they should be done, rather than the way everyone else does. He's a bit of an asshole, but he's fiercely loyal to fellow fans of good music.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Skwerl now resides in Los Angeles.
November 9th, 2008 at 6:33 PM
Supossedly circuit city has a limited edition their store only version of this cd. i think it comes with some dvd of who knows what.. I went to the one here by my house and it’s sold out, and the store was closing… permanently so no more cds coming in.. just what’s in stock
November 13th, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Albums rarely end up impressing me the first time I listen to them. But let me tell you – I’m already across the street and down the road from ‘impressed’.
This record isn’t simply a renaissance for rap – it may end up being the genre’s savior. Here’s my own take on it: http://www.davepye.com/2008/11/wednesday-wadio-q-tips-wont-trade.htm
And I agree with you – it should be “Dretox”.
January 18th, 2009 at 5:30 PM
[...] I mentioned while reviewing Q-Tip’s latest album in October, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Idle Warship, a hip-hop supergroup of [...]
August 29th, 2009 at 7:52 PM
[...] band and DJ, Q-Tip trotted out the hits, opening with a few tracks off last year’s album The Renaissance before delivering the Tribe Called Quest classics like Check The Rhime and Bonita Applebum, among [...]