At times, the hip hop industry can seem a lot like American politics – for each person out there making things happen, there are about a dozen who simply want to tell everyone else what to think, (and what they have to say is nearly never positive). Case in point: the former fad of describing the genre as “dead.” Fortunately, we have individuals like A Tribe Called Quest alumnus Q-Tip to remind us that hip hop isn’t going anywhere, and that its best days may still lie ahead.
With the November 4th release of his second solo effort, Tip will give listeners a look at his vision of a hip hop Renaissance, a reawakening of the creative spirit that will bring the genre to new heights. Lead single “Gettin’ Up” and featured track “Move” should give you a good idea of what the veteran emcee has in store on this long-awaited LP: witty, cerebral rhymes delivered over a backdrop of classic samples fused with live instrumentation.
