Q-Tip - The Renaissance

Hip-hop legend Q-Tip returns with The Renaissance, his first official solo release since 1999 debut Amplified. In the face of false starts which have frustratingly hampered his career for nearly a decade, Tip has lost none of his calm bravado, declaring “it’s up to me to bring back the hope”. Yet his confidence is not misplaced: he refuses to rest on past glories, exchanging the contemporary style of his last album for a jazzy sound reminiscent of his ‘90s outfit A Tribe Called Quest which is fleshed out by minimalist synths that bring the listener firmly into the 21st century, as on Gettin’ Up, the album’s Dilla-produced standout. In releasing this effort on the same date at the US Presidential Election and by sampling Barack Obama on album closer Shaka, Tip aligns himself with the dawn of a wider hope. It’s a mark of the album’s strength that this parallel, rather than falling flat, retains its credibility. [Gillian Watson]