Q-Tip
"The Renaissance"
Universal Motown
Oh Q-Tip, how hip-hop fans have missed you so.
The Abstract Poet is back with his second released solo effort, "The Renaissance," and it could not have dropped at a better time.
The album is a rush of originality in a ringtone rap world, taking hip-hop back to its soulful, jazz origins. The disillusionment of current mainstream rap music is a pervasive topic throughout the lyrical content of "The Renaissance."
Even the title itself suggests a nod toward the past, and it cleverly incorporates a modern feel into a classic hip-hop sound.
If we can forgive and forget the low point that was 1999's "Amplified" (Tip himself has admitted he was aiming for a more mainstream style with his first record), Q-Tip has always been dedicated to maintaining the true spirit of hip-hop. Whether as the lead emcee and co-producer of the legendary group A Tribe Called Quest, as a guest artist/producer, or on his own, he has always generated a distinct sound with both his beats and his raps. On the Tribe's 1993 album, "Midnight Marauders," Phife Dawg proclaimed, "Too many candy rappers seem to be at the top, too much candy is no good so now I'm closing up shop…"
The trend toward commercial rap has done nothing but expand since then and this sentiment is echoed 13 years later on "The Renaissance" in the opening of "Dance On Glass" when the Abstract sings "All the labels want something to repeat, But all my people really want is something for the streets…" This track, along with the previous song on the album, "Move," feature the finest rapping on the entire record, with Q-Tip dropping rhymes at top form. "Dance on Glass" features many references to the Tribe, and fittingly, it is also the closest in sound to his previous group's work.
"Move" starts off with a catchy groove, then changes pace halfway through, altering itself into a stripped-down beat constructed simply for Tip to flow over. They are clear evidence that he still has the ability to rip it up on the mic as well as produce excellent beats (production on eleven of the twelve tracks is attributed to the Abstract himself; the last to the late J Dilla).
The beginning of the album is significantly more rhythm and dance-oriented with less emphasis on the rapping, minus the second track, "Won't Trade," which is filled with professional sport allusions.
The album's first single, "Gettin' Up" is a laid-back beat structured around a funky keyboard melody. The soulful samples employed in several tracks, in addition to guest vocalists lending their talents on choruses, including Norah Jones, D'Angelo and Raphael Saadiq, further contribute to an up-date version of the classic hip-hop sound.
The only negative about this record is that many of the tracks are relatively short in length, and the album's twelve tracks clock in at a mere 43:15. All in all, Q-Tip has produced a masterwork with "The Renaissance," definitely worth investing in immediately.
-Joshua Craddock
Bloc Party
"Intimacy"
Atlantic Records
Bloc Party's first album - simple but unique acoustic sound.
Bloc Party's second album - a little more zing; spicing it up with a little synthesis.
Bloc Party's third album - just another step up on the ladder.
"Intimacy," released in October, is the same Bloc Party sound with even more electric and synthesized experimentation. Bloc Party has successfully grown to improve their sound with each new album but the unmistakable voice of lead singer Kele Okereke still makes the band stand out clearly from all the rest.
The insightful lyrics are still present and better than ever. With most of the songs being named after Greek gods, the album has a very powerful tone to it and the lyrics reflect that. Stories of distance, truth and love permeate the album. While it is powerful and creative, the album also seems to drive you into insanity. With so many different sounds and beats, it sends any listener into a tailspin. A perfect example is the first single, "Mercury." The song follows with a pretty insane music video but the song itself is chaotic and eccentric.
"Better than Heaven" and "One Month Off" are reminders of the typical Bloc Party sound even though they do have a slight twist. Both are upbeat and intriguing updates on classics.
Bloc Party is one of those bands that will always be recognized for its awesome and original sound. While they mature and experiment, they still stay true to themselves and never go so far that they are unrecognizable.
-Krystina Lucido
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