Q-Tip | Universal Records Publicity | The Renaissance (2008)
Former 'A Tribe Called Quest' rapper and producer Q-Tip has signed on the dotted line with Ballantine Books for an unexpected memoir.
Titled "Industry Rules," Q-Tip is expected to carefully construct his life story that includes growing up in Queens, his rise and fall with 'A Tribe Called Quest'; and subsequent solo success.
The book, also in cooperation Random House Publishing Group, which owns Ballatine Books, was sold recently and according to a release is "a creatively constructed telling of his life story".
At press time it was not confirmed whether Q-Tip would shed light on his recent woes with the music industry, in particular record labels but, it seems a given considering the struggle the rapper has had with his much delayed project "Kamaal The Abstract" (now due Fall 2009).
"Kamaal The Abstract," Q-Tip's third solo studio album is now due to be released via Battery Records. It had been produced prior to 2001 and was intended to be released that year. As confirmed in a 2004 interview with RemixMag, Q-Tip was not enthused with -then- label home Arista, stating "I am really disappointed that Kamaal wasn't released".
Nonetheless, Q-Tip's memoir joins the list of anticipated literary projects from Hip Hop and Urban Pop artists including Cell Block Z from the Wu-Tang Graphic Novel Series (penned by Ghost Faced Killah, Chris Walker, Shauna Garr, Illustrated by Marlon Chapma) and Jay-Z's rumored deal with Random House.
Over the last twenty years, Q-Tip has both produced and collaborated with everyone from Mariah Carey to Janet Jackson ("Got Till It's Gone") and has enjoyed solo success with singles including "Vivrant Thing".
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