Q-Tip's Hip Hop Renaissance

Q-Tip The Renaissance Man

When I went to see Q-Tip on Thursday night, I knew I'd recognize a handful of hits, and that I'd get to hear songs off his new album The Renaissance.  I did NOT expect a reunion of A Tribe Called Quest, an impromptu stint by Too Short and the breakdown of "Vivrant Thing" happening right in front of me. Off. The. Hook.

Q-Tip gave us a sampling of new cuts including "Shaka," "Gettin Up," and "You."  All of which are interesting and honest.  If you don't have The Renaissance go out and get it.  It's funky, diverse in subject matter and includes collaborations with elusive artists we've all been missing (remember Norah Jones & D'Angelo?!). 

When the band started up "Check the Rhyme," the crowd went bananas.  A true (tatooed) Tribe fan got to show off how well she knew the lyrics, doing all of Phife's parts with Q-Tip holding up the mic and her hand the whole time.  Then - and this was just crazy - the band backed up the record, and Phife himself took to the stage.  The Mezzanine didn't know what to do with itself!  They did the whole record together.  The show could have ended there and we all would have walked out satisfied, but there was much more to it.  

We got to hear "Find A Way," "Electronic Relaxation," and "Scenario."  The whole show was like a Hip Hop forum.  We love & miss artists like Q-Tip who can give it to us straight and funky.  The unique combo of that inexplicably appealing nasal tone & versatile lyrics made for a most excellent show.