Rapper Q-Tip readies new album, jazz reissue

By Gail Mitchell

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Having toured last year with his A Tribe Called Quest mates for the first time since 2000, Q-Tip is back on the solo beat. The New York-based rapper is gearing up for the spring release of "The Renaissance."

The Universal Motown artist acknowledged that it's been a while between albums. During that time, he has been embracing the reinvention legacy forged by his musical hero Miles Davis and other iconic artists.

"Miles was a pure artist in a very Van Gogh type of way, always looking for new s--t," the quietly intense Q-Tip said. "Him, David Bowie, Madonna ... they've been able to sustain, reinvent and stay relevant. In hip-hop you have people who have been able to sustain long careers. But very few have been able to come up with a whole new thing. Serious artists able to reinvent themselves ... that's some real s--t."

Underscoring the philosophy that live musicianship is vital to the growth of music, Q-Tip put together a hip-hop band for "The Renaissance."

"I wanted a hip-hop sonic feel, something pure to the sound of hip-hop with real drums, real emotion and people taking solos," he said. "In that sense this record feels like we're moving in a new direction ... something hip-hop should do."

Asked about performing again as part of A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip said the group's tour last fall felt "good, like old times. We got a great response, and I was surprised to see so many young kids out."

Will they do it again? "I don't want to say never," Q-Tip replied after a pause. "But at this point, I think we're done for now."

He's also immersed in helping the Davis estate reimagine the prolific jazz trumpeter's catalog.

"I'm there to make sure none of the integrity is lost as we interweave things happening now in a Miles kind of way," Q-Tip said. "I want what we do with his music to be the benchmark on how to do projects like this. This won't feel like some rehash."

Q-Tip's penchant for jazz was the cornerstone of his 2001 album "Kamaal the Abstract." Memorable for its no-holds-barred creativity, the critically acclaimed album is well-known for another reason: Arista never released it. In the ensuing years, it has become a collector's item.

With the original recording back in his hands, Q-Tip is ready to alter that scenario. He will perform various tracks from the album when he hits the road on behalf of "The Renaissance." Then he wants to release "Kamaal" with bonus tracks plus the original art and liner notes.

"You can hear we were having fun without regard for anything," he said. "It's that spirit people picked up on." It's a spirit he likens to OutKast's "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below," released two years later.

"It was of the same ilk and spirit," Q-Tip said, "and I was like 'Damn, why couldn't my stuff come out?'

"But you don't harbor any ill will," he added. "It's just the way everything worked out. Here it is now, and I own it -- a good thing."

Reuters/Billboard