It's been eight years since Q-Tip, cofounder of seminal alt-rap group A Tribe Called Quest, released his solo debut, Amplified. After bouncing from label to label — recording two unreleased albums along the way — he's readying his second effort, The Renaissance, which Universal Motown will drop in early '08. In the NYC studio where he's mixing the CD, an optimistic Q-Tip played us a few tracks.
''OFFICIAL''
Like most of his new songs, this one features motivational lyrics set to
the beats of a live, five-piece jazz/funk band. ''I have to do it for me,
just like you do it for you,'' he raps over a chilled-out groove.
Explains Q-Tip: ''It's a statement about self-preservation.''
''BE BRAVE''
A falsetto from OutKast's André 3000 intertwines with Q-Tip's own vocals
on this playful yet politically conscious jam about love and war. ''It's
a singing-rappers stew!'' Q-Tip jokes. ''[André] a wildly creative
person.''
''FEVER''
Longtime collaborator J Dilla, who died last year at age 32 of a rare
blood disease, produced the intricate pattern of finely diced synths
that backs Q-Tip's uplifting lyrics (''You gotta have a fever for
something good''). ''Since he's passed,'' says Q-Tip, ''I wanted to include
the track.''
