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Q-Tip
The Renaissance
Review By Joe Walker
Let’s not dilute the significance of this masterful hip-hop release by analyzing why it took Q-Tip nearly 10 years to produce a second solo effort. His work with A Tribe Called Quest is forever etched in music history, and his first solo release, 1999's Amplified, was yet another classic creation of sonic brilliance. This album continues his consistency, furthers his legacy and reaffirms his excellence as a producer and MC. Like his debut so many years ago, Q-Tip's emergence into hip-hop's current scene provides a fresh sense of of creativeness. On the opening tune "Johnny Is Dead,” you can feel the emotion throughout every instrument loop as flows seamlessly melt verses into choruses, and back again.
The standout tune "You," with its sporadic drums and low, thundering bass, finds Q-Tip employing a familiar stutter-step flow (instead of his usual abstract wordplay). Here, he confronts a significant other who frequently accused him of misdeeds, only to find her accusations were ways of shielding her own wrong doings. "You gave me up and managed to turn the tables, and all your honest words they turn to fables," he raps. The soulfully jazzed up "We Fight/We Love," featuring Raphael Saadiq, follows, with Q-Tip blazing across this track, his lyrical engines burning. "Official," "Move" and "Life Is Better" (featuring Norah Jones) also deliver with fly speeds. This album is hip-hop for those who just love hip-hop. And for those who simply love Q-Tip or A Tribe Called Quest, The Renaissance is a four-alarm smoker.
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