Renaissance, The - Q-Tip

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Consistent quality
Disadvantages:	Little variation

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

"The Renaissance" is the 2008 released from Q-Tip. This album is his third since staring his career as part of the Jazz Hip Hop crew, A Tribe Called Quest, who have influenced acts such as Lupe Fiasco today.

1. "Johnny Is Dead"

For an introductory piece, this is a strong start as it gets you straight into some typical Q-Tip, smooth, jazzy Hip Hop. It is all good stuff and gets you into the right mood for what will follow on from it as his third release without Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jarobi White.

**Four Stars**

2. "Won't Trade"

The high standard of the early stages of the album isn't dropped on this one as you get another strong piece with Q going on some nice beats whcih have a soft sound, but with a stern beat to keep it in line with expectatctions of an East Coast Hip hop cut.

**Four Stars**

3. "Gettin' Up"

This was the first track from the album, and had been floating around for a few months prior to the release of the album. It is a mellow one which seems to capture the spirit of the album, which could be described as quite reserved, with potential for something big, and well-hyped.

**Five Stars**

4. "Official"

For me, this one was the weakest of the twelve tracks on this album, and this is all down to the fact that it is low on energy with its stop-and-go production and very little going on in the way of well-crafted lyricism. It is rather unmemorable with so many other tunes which stand out within it. I thought that it was quite bad for him to go for a filler with such a short overall album.

**Three Stars**

5. "You"

I felth that this one was another good one from Q-Tip as he gets into even more nice and smooth raps on top of production which is lead by some heavy bass, which comands throughout as he gets selfless in his rhymes.

**Four Stars**

6. "We Love/We Fight"

Q-Tip tells us how life, especially in America is so strongly divided as it has him refer to the love and hate which we see in everything what we do, and how this balance is what keeps us going in life. I found it a nice one to fit in with the rest of the album, but it doesn't really stand out.

**Four Stars**

7. "Manwomanboogie"

Here is a funky one from Q and has him flowing on some of his own beats. I found that he was highly inventive as he stuck in the story of America within the exciting beats by talking about how it started with Reds, before White came and brought in Blacks, who kept grooving despite the hardship which they faced, and we are todl to dance once more for this one.

**Five Stars**

8. "Move"

This is the only track on the whole of the record which doesn't feature the production of the main artists, Q-Tip as you also get this one composed by the recently-deceased J Dilla, and on top of some Jay Dee beats, you know that there is no chance that you are going to be disappointed in any way. The high tempo is maintained with this one, and it suits the fact that people aren't dwelling on his death.

**Four Stars**

9. "Dance On Glass"

I was really into this one, and I believe that it is one of the best ones on the whole of the album, due to the fact that it begins with a massive a capella, which lasts for a whole minute before the beat drops and he gets into some of his own hard beats to get you bopping along. The tension which is build up form this long non-instrumental one is amazing, and it makes you believe that he's going to do a full a cappela one.

**Five Stars**

10. "Life Is Better"

Unexpectedly, you have Q-Tip collaborate with the American singer-songwriter, Norah Jones, who aids Tip as he lists the performers who have made life better as they have been heavy influences on how life as a whole has improved, with the constant presence of Hip Hop being involved with everything we do.

**Four Stars**

11. "Believe"

This is a big tune on the album and up there with the best on it, it has Tip perform with the Neo-Soul musician, D'Angelo. The words "That's Love" are provided by the "Brown Sugar" singer as part of the hook, and it has him and Q talk about what gestures of love can be seen in everyday life without being noted.

**Four Stars**

12. "Shaka"

For the final track on the album, this one isn't that bad as the energy levels aren't decreased to any degree at all. Q-Tip still does the production and so he has complete control over the thing and is able to talk about whatever is on his mind as a final thought before bringing this album to a complete close.

**Four Stars**

I was impressed by the fact Q-Tip took complete control over this album by only have one tune co-produced, and having one other done by an outsider. The fact that his colabs are only with R&B musicians and not MCs is another plus as it prevents the focus being taken off him. However this may be a part of why it is lacking in places as there is a lack in variation with the beats not changing too much, apart from when you get into some Jazzy pieces, but this meant that it was rather consistent and remained at a high standard.