REVIEWS
Q-Tip
The Renaissance
 2008, Motown/Universal
Rating: 7.2






Q-Tip's second official solo LP comes out of a nine-year struggle and label negotiation; thanks to such perseverance and determination though, it also appears to be a first-rate collection of high quality songs, featuring such remarkable guests as D'Angelo, Raphael Saadiq, Norah Jones and producers Jay Dee and Mark Ronsom.

Here's a chance for you to learn what vibe means; this album is full of sick groove, and each and every one of its tracks is a true gem of inspired hip-hop. Highly drawing from classic soul and r&b, Q-Tip only uses carefully selected samples (like in the all-positive "Gettin' Up", also the finest track on the record), and closely works with his guests ("Life Is Better"). Given the terrific end result, no wonder the record got a release from Motown – historically best known for promoting black American music.

Q-Tip doesn't pay too much attention to current hip-hop fads, and his idea for the record is childishly simple – catchy vocal choruses, smooth and casual rhyming, and warm instrumental sound. All this works out perfectly well, making The Renaissance a fresh and cohesive record, and a chief contender to the title of the "Best Hip-Hop Album of 2008".

–Łukasz Halicki, December 2008

(translation: pm)







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