Avg Rating: 
4.9 ( 15 total votes )
The other night I ran into an old girlfriend. It’d been a bad break-up, mostly because she was that dangerous combination of beautiful and crazy. Still, any ill will I had towards her was long gone. Instead, I preferred to remember the good times. Unfortunately, the years had not been kind to my ex, her curves had rounded out and she had lost some of her once entrancing confidence, so after some awkward talk we said goodbye. As I walked away, I couldn’t help but wish I’d never seen her again; my memory of her … ...Read the full album review
DJBooth Album Review
The other night I ran into an old girlfriend. It’d been a bad break-up, mostly because she was that dangerous combination of beautiful and crazy. Still, any ill will I had towards her was long gone. Instead, I preferred to remember the good times. Unfortunately, the years had not been kind to my ex, her curves had rounded out and she had lost some of her once entrancing confidence, so after some awkward talk we said goodbye. As I walked away, I couldn’t help but wish I’d never seen her again; my memory of her had been so much better.
Later that night I got home and saw Q-Tip‘s new album, The Renaissance, waiting in my mailbox, and I started to feel the same way I had with my ex. I fell in love with hip-hop thanks to Tip’s legendary rhymes with A Tribe Called Quest. If this new album wasn’t very good, would it cloud my memories of all the good times? It’d been almost a decade since his Tip’s last solo album (his label had refused to release his second album), what if he had lost something? Still, what if The Renaissance was just that, a revival of some of the best hip-hop moments of my life? So as I put the album into my stereo I was nervous, nervous that what I was about to hear would be the hip-hop version of my declining ex-girlfriend. And yes, these are the things I think about.
Five minutes into The Renaissance I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Renaissance is a solid album with a few slips, but fans will be so glad to hear Tip back they’ll gladly overlook any mistakes. Look no further than Gettin’ Up. A mellow track that floats over a live bass line and an unexpectedly soft piano melody, Gettin’ Up is a “let’s get back together” track ode to his special lady. Tip’s delivery, a nasal drawl that’s so smooth it makes silk seem rough, is in full form on Gettin’ Up with lines like “I like to watch everybody gravitate towards you.” But it was always his lyrical creativity that set him apart (and earned him the name Abstract). Time hasn’t dulled Tip’s tongue. Renaissance starts off on a high note with Johnny Is Dead, a track whose echoing guitar-laden at first had me nervous that Tip had gone experimental. While Johnny is certainly surprisingly rocky, rhymes like “what good is an ear if Q-Tip isn’t in it” prove the man hasn’t lost a lyrical step. We can’t go back to the Tribe’s good ol’ days, but The Renaissance is a continuation of that same musical legacy.
Now that we’ve got that much deserved praise out of the way, let’s take a more objective look at The Renaissance. I’m not one of those elitist few who think that if you didn’t listen to Tribe than you don’t know “real” hip-hop. Tip and his crew were only one of many that pushed the culture forward, and if jazzy rhythms and staccato rhymes aren’t your thing, then that’s fine by me (I feel you Lupe). Just take Life Is Better, a sparkling track featuring adult contemporary goddess Norah Jones. First of all, Norah’s voice is just too perfect for an ode to hip-hop. If there was ever a track made for Erykah Badu this was it. Second, Tip spends approximately one of Better’s five minutes actually rhyming, and when he does it’s inexplicably distorted. Better may have started off as a good idea, but somewhere along the way it took a wrong turn. I also have mixed feelings about Renaissance’s lead single Move. Tip proved he could move a party with his solo smash Vivrant Thing. Move’s up-tempo vibe puts it at least in the same ball park as Vivrant, but the track just doesn’t connect, flipping in mid-stream into an underground-esque lyrical display. I understand if Tip didn’t want to go back to the booty shaking ways of Vivrant, but I don’t see what good a Rennasiance is if you can’t dance to it.
Still, who cares? It’s a goddamn album from Q-Tip, and it’s dope. I mean, he even brought back D’Angelo (my pick for the most underrated soul singer of all-time) for the track Believe. So during your Obama victory party tomorrow – god willing – I couldn’t think of playing a better album to usher in America’s political renaissance than The Renaissance. Welcome back Q-Tip, it’s good to see you again.
Listen to More: Q-Tip Written by Nathan S.
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Member Reviews and Ratings
Average Member Rating: Total Ratings: 15
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DJ Booth Crew |
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Thank goodness for Q-Tip. He really nailed it with this one. After being out of the spotlight for so long, I honestly wasn't expecting him to reemerge with the focused direction and control he exerted on this album. Time obviously didn't fade his gifted talents as an MC and more importantly as a producer. All of the tracks on "The Renaissance" are produced by Q-Tip except "Move" (which was crafted by J Dilla). Lifelong Tribe fans will be delighted to hear that Tip stuck to his '90s roots but also incorporated many fresh sounds and rhythms that truly make him a solo artist. There isn't one single feature from another rapper on the album (something we hardly ever see these days) and there was simply no need to have any. Hip-hop heads have been waiting for "The Renaissance" for almost 10 years so why would they want to hear anybody else besides Q-Tip? The four featured singers really did a tremendously job and in my opinion placed the memorable finishing touches on the project. Q-Tip was right when he told Z that he wouldn't trade love even for a multi-platinum album. Love is so loosely touched by today's rappers and Q-Tip articulates the subject with such authenticity and genuineness everybody can relate to (take notes, Kanye). "The Renaissance" is one of my favorite albums of the year and by far my favorite mainstream body of work. It gets a 4.5 from me.
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| Posted on Nov 04, 2008 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11856 |
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 Woke up, ate a yogurt, grabbed my Q-Tip CD, drove to my polling place, voted... more Q-Tip. Top 5 hip-hop album of the year.
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| Posted on Nov 04, 2008 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 484 |
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I'm feeling this album, i just listened to it after i got done votin and man Q-Tip is my top 5 favorite artist, he never disappoints now i'm waitin for a new A Tribe Called Quest album
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| Posted on Nov 04, 2008 |
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DJ Z I could not have scripted a better day or a better description of Tip's album. 5 STARS!!!
EVERYONE GO VOTE IF YOU HAVENT ALREADY!! |
| Posted on Nov 04, 2008 |
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| Posted on Nov 04, 2008 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2281 |
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This album is just what we need right now. Something Classic! This blows his last album Amplified outta the water. From top to bottom soulful music with tip top lyricism from one of the game' greats. To pick out songs that I love would be pointless so I'll just point out the only two songs on the album that I skipped and that is,"Good Thang" and "Manwoman Boogie" and those aren't all that bad to be honest. I enjoyed this album to the fullest and I recommend it for anyone who loves the genre.
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| Posted on Nov 05, 2008 |
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Tastemaker Total Ratings: 2281 |
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Oh and by the way, Go Obama! I voted too, get out there and play ya part in the Change!
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| Posted on Nov 05, 2008 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 269 |
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Easily top 5 albums of the year, top 3 for me. Q-Tip will never get old. I have listened to it 3 times through now without pausing, ad it is for sure a classic. Everyone go cop this!
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| Posted on Nov 05, 2008 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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easily one of the best albums of the year...
This is arguably the enema that loosens up the rest of the B/S..... Damn there needs to be a tribe album........ if only...... |
| Posted on Nov 05, 2008 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 433 |
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Since I have never really heard any of Q-Tip's albums before this one, I can't say that he is better or worse then he was. But I like this. I don't think that it belongs in my top ten however, but that could only be because I am just discovering Tip. It was very good though, and will hold me out till Three Rings.
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| Posted on Nov 05, 2008 |
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DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 269 |
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No offense DJ Baer, but if u are waiting for Thr33 rings u wont think this album is great. this is a lyrical genius with an unreal flow. Normally if you are a fan of a guy like T-Pain, you wont find an album like this too amusing. Conscious rap with sick lyrics.
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| Posted on Nov 05, 2008 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 96 |
I have not gotten around to listening to this yet, but I'm wanting to really bad, I need to go pick me up a Copy!!
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| Posted on Nov 05, 2008 |
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Tastemaker Total Ratings: 433 |
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No offense TheGreatest, I liked this album, and every time I listen to it, I like it even more. Just because I like T-Pain doesn't mean that I won't like this? Sorry, but thats not me, and it just so happens to be that your picture there of Illmatic is my favorite album of all time, and if that isn't deep, then I don't know what is. So don't assume.
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| Posted on Nov 06, 2008 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 906 |
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I feel Nathan, I was worried to pick up this album...
But I ended up feeling almost every track on it. I wish he had put Feva on it, cuz that is fire. The track with D'Angelo is my top cut.
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| Posted on Nov 06, 2008 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Ah, Q Tip did some good,er I mean superb work this album--pretty much all the tracks are satisfying. Bring back ATCQ!
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| Posted on Nov 06, 2008 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Just got the Album, cant stop listening to it. much props Q-tip still going strong
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| Posted on Nov 07, 2008 |
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| Posted on Nov 07, 2008 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Definately gettin back to what he was on A Tribe Called Quest. He has such a smooth flow and definately an amazing rapper. Bought the CD and i mush say that this is a classic in my eyes. A big improvement from Amplified haha.
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| Posted on Nov 07, 2008 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 42 |
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amazing gettin up makes this perfect i just love his flow
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| Posted on Nov 13, 2008 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 76 |
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Classic. this in time will go down with illmatic, ready to die, reasonable doubt, the blueprint, me against the world, all eyez on me, life after death, doggystyle, the chronic, only built for cuban linx as one of the elite hip-hop albums of all time! Sorry C3 Q-tip out did you!
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| Posted on Jan 15, 2009 |
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