The Renaissance…

After listening to “The Renaissance”, fans can see why Q-Tip learned how to build mics in his workshop class. We haven’t heard anything since 1999’s “Amplified”, but The Abstract still makes phenomenal music.

How many emcees from “1988” are crafting great cohesive albums without following today’s formula and sounding archaic? Can you name ten? The artists you mention are mired underground and don’t receive any airplay on Bet’s 106 & Park. Ok, Tip began with the seminal group “A Tribe Called Quest”, but still he was able to succeed post ATCQ with 1999’s “Vivrant Thing” and “Breathe & Stop”. “The Renaissance” begins with “Johnny Is Dead”, a head nodding track produced by The Abstract. The beat fits his hallmark voice and he rides the song with his characteristic flow. “Johnny Is Dead” is contemporary hip hop, not a tune with a dance and jejune lyrics. It’s a song for everyone which is the case for each track on the album. (pull)”Won’t trade” is a dope cut. The beat bangs heavily, enticing you to move your body and mimic the chorus “I wouldn’t trade it for nothing”.(/pull) We hear a Journalist from “All Sports, All Day” reporting trade talks involving a unnamed, possibly a fictitious NY athlete. At 0:42, Q-Tip fires non stop with the lyrical barrage “for no amount of dough, franchise this man, give him all the things you can, think long term plans, he be bringing in the fans.” “I wouldn’t trade it for nothing” sample adds musical intensity to the track as the soulstress bellows after Tip annihilates each bar. All these elements equals a superior song. In “Getting Up”, The Abstract conveys interest in a young woman by opening his soul with tasteful and mature lyrics “come back home, don’t be out in the world, its a rat race and no place for a girl, amongst the scavengers I found a pretty pearl”. This track proves a rapper can create a song evincing feelings towards the opposite sex without being raunchy. “Official” is cool and mellow, making you dream of exotic warm nights in a serene picturesque environment. Tip’s lyrics and cadence is in perfect synchronization with the beat. Too bad the Native Tongues Posse are no longer around because it would have been a historical song. Can you imagine Queen Latifah, Trugoy and the Jungle Brothers hopping on “Official”?

“You” is a descriptive love story where Q-Tip rhymes about a relationship with an insecure and controlling woman who accuses him of cheating but, in fact cheats on The Abstract. He’s willing to mend the relationship if she corrects her behavior. His intense love and affection for this mysterious woman saturates the melancholy track. The instrumentation is impressive and complements Tip’s sincerity.

“The Renaissance” is a magnificent album. It’s a blueprint for artists on assembling songs with an underlying theme and consistent production. Also, Tip shows he can radiate alongside his co-stars (Raphael Saadiq, Amanda Diva, D’angelo etc.) and produce the majority of “The Renaissance” without a superabundance of A- list producers. The only other producer on the album is J Dilla (“Move”/”Renaissance Rap” and “Feva”). Only thing The Abstract Poetic needs to do is drop the shelved Kamaal The Abstract album a.s.a.p.