Q-Tip - Abstract Innovation

Most of everything on this LP is about two or three years old and the actual album itself is unreleased, but thanks to Dub MD, you now have it. In fact it was only recently that a few joints off "Abstract Innovation" made their way onto Tip's latest retail, studio LP release "Renaissance". So for all the lover's of things that should've been dropped, but never were, here is a soulful mix that I'm sure will come to define the term "slept-on". I mean what else could you want? You got Tip in rare form, emulating his flow from the 90's, and turning in some dope production work too. Enlisting the help of Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes, D'Angelo, Heavy D and Swizz Beatz the list of features isn't a mile long, yet everyone is pretty effective in their contributions. Lemme break it down for ya'll.....

The soulful and jazzy vibe of the "For The Nasty" remix is so on time and definitely will get some play in this blogger's whip. Haven't felt any Busta material like this since he dropped that "Dillagence" tape. The equally groovy "Scram Jones", finds Tip in rare lyrical form as he entrances via an impeccable flow and disses the ultimate lame-O. Anyone else confused about whether this might have been a diss for the NY producer of the same name?

The easy listening theme is a recurring one throughout this effort and usually wins out, however "That's Sexy" with Andre 3000 is a definite swing and miss. Not even Tip's dope 16 can save it from the awkward and forced singing of 3000. Damn....and after that joint he [Andre] just did wit Raekwon I was thinkin he was gonna turn things around musically. Guess not.

Things pick back up on "Fever", where we find the Tipster straight wreckin' shop over a dope beat and releasing rhymes aimed dead center at the lazy emcee's that think they know what a dope verse is all about. How that track only made it on the import versions of "The Renaissance" baffles me. Striding into the harsh realities of being a black man in society with "Black Boy" things momentarily get abstract, no pun intended. A quirkier type of beat with a dope snare, Tip once again wields his solo magic as he sits back and kicks witty, introspective rhymes, spitting "This is the mission, to get y'all to listen"...indeed it is Mr. Davis, indeed it is.

Putting another experimental track right behind another; "Passes You By" is decent, but comes nowhere near the awkward brillance of "Black Boy". Using a rapid fire flow and high BPM beat, Tip sort of delves into a relationship themed jaunt here. Singing a soulful hook doesn't save the song from itself, but it's far from a dud however, just not the greatest experiment. Meh, I have little doubt that it'll probably grow on me as time goes on. "Good Thing" takes us back to a more routine pace as Tip continues to rhyme about love, desire and relationships, but this time over a funky electric guitar loop and some souled-out keys. After that funky goodness, perhaps this mix's headiest beat comes on.....all you hear in the beginning is the Jazzy Lena Horne tune playing.....then the beat for "I Got Rythym" comes in. Then you start nodding your head uncontrollably. Tip sorta just rumbles through a verse, mightily competing with an outstanding sample flip (that I think Swizz did). Newcomer Junebug temporarily outshines the Hip-Hop vet with a more structured 16, but that's neither here nor there considering that I'm pretty sure Tip knew well in advance that the sample would never be cleared and the song essentially would just go in the vaults. Still a dope piece of music however.

"I Believe" is a track that was recycled for the new release "The Renaissance"....I loved it then, and I still love it now, however I do feel it fits a lot better on this LP/Mix. Props to D'Angelo for ripping that chorus, dude sounds focused again. "The official" is so damn good man....from the beat, to the scratching, to Tip's throwback flow/voice that we all have been waiting to hear again this is another gem of the mix....a can't miss IMO. "Johnny Died" is yet another banga that was included on "TR"....Might just be me, but the mix on this version sounds a lil' different from the retail one, maybe I'm just hearing things though. Moving into a more street-sounding production, "Listen" features another much sought after Hip-Hop veteran that recently returned from a long hiatus in Heavy D. LOL, we knew Waterbed Hev still could kick it! The real showcase here is the beat though...one that sports a killer bass line and yet another thick, snapping snare. The ill production continues on with "Not Gon' Have It". An eclectic and funk inspired groove laced with cautionary rhymes is what sums this track up. Joint Reflects on Tip's earliest years and his escape of his harsh reality through writing raps.

Smoothing things back out, we're taken on a ride with a smart and loving dedication to all the strong, young women out there with "Request". Truly a classy piece of music. Great hook on there too. Moving from one record with a deeper meaning to another, "Lisa" is a somber-feeling joint that finds our emcee looking back on heart break and lamenting through song. Really exposes Q-Tip the artist.....I mean it's on a whole other level than the other stuff coming out today. It's genuinely genuine if you know what I mean, even if it does make you feel a little blue.

Jumping back from that ledge, we go into "Hey"; an up beat and almost bouncy track with the more standard gumbo-mix of subject matter that Tip weaves together oh so nicely. Finishing up we are graced with the presence of Erykah Badu, who subtly puts her emotional stamp on this wonderful tune that is impeccably produced and includes a dope piano break accompanied by the angelic voice of Ms. Badu, whose epic guest spot sort of takes the track over by default.

-BIG D O






01. For The Nasty Remix feat. Busta Rhymes
02. Scram Jones
03. That's Sexy feat. Andre 3000
04. Fever
05. Black Boy
06. Passes You By
07. Good Thing
08. I Got Rhythm feat. Royce Da 5'9" & Lena Horne
09. I Believe feat. D'Angelo
10. The Official
11. Johnny Died
12. Listen feat. Heavy D
13. Not Gon' Have It
14. Request
15. Lisa
16. Hey
17. Poetry feat. Erykah Badu

http://rapidshare.com/files/189135824/Q-Tip-A_I-2008.rar