2009 release from the acclaimed rapper and former member of A Tribe Called Quest. This long-delayed album, slated originally for release in 2001, is finally dropping! A musical hybrid, Kamaal was commendably avant-garde at... more » the time of its creation. Amazingly, it's even more apropos in 2009; given the dearth of musical merit and capable MCs in today's Hip Hop, the time is ever-so-right for Tip. Kamaal the Abstract is an intensely idiosyncratic and revealing record. To that end, Q-Tip produced the entire album himself, even playing several instruments. What comes from Kamaal is daring m?lange of Soul, supa-cool Jazz, head-nodding Hip Hop, and organic Pop magic in the vein of Stevie Wonder or Prince.« less
2009 release from the acclaimed rapper and former member of A Tribe Called Quest. This long-delayed album, slated originally for release in 2001, is finally dropping! A musical hybrid, Kamaal was commendably avant-garde at the time of its creation. Amazingly, it's even more apropos in 2009; given the dearth of musical merit and capable MCs in today's Hip Hop, the time is ever-so-right for Tip. Kamaal the Abstract is an intensely idiosyncratic and revealing record. To that end, Q-Tip produced the entire album himself, even playing several instruments. What comes from Kamaal is daring m?lange of Soul, supa-cool Jazz, head-nodding Hip Hop, and organic Pop magic in the vein of Stevie Wonder or Prince.
"ATCQ bought that jazz vibe. For those who were in their early 20's, Tribe was a perfection transition from rap to more grown up music. Admist the New Jack Swing and Chicago House stuff you had the conscious MCs. Great stuff! We can enjoy a few rap songs (and I'm saying rap as not in real hip hop)here and there but I always go back to Q. He's grown up too and he has realized his growth and wants to share it with the grown up world. To Q I say thank you. I still love the lyrical but I need it to make sense to me as a 40 yr woman.
This cd is perfect for me. Contemp and a lil traditional jazz, neo, funk and rhyming. The formula is just right. I give it 5 stars because it will be awhile before anyone else comes out that I can groove to at work."
Welcome to Kamaal's Jook Joint
Nse Ette | Lagos, Nigeria | 09/16/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Q-Tip's third album "Kamaal the abstract" was originally intended to be released as his second album in 2001, but was shelved by the record company over doubts about it's commercial viability. It finally gets released some 8 years later and finds Q-Tip twiddling production keys as well as playing some instruments.
The feel is Jazz/Funk a la Stevie Wonder or even Prince (especially on the Funk/Rock-laced "Heels" and on the guitar driven "Barely in love" with chunky/clunky percussion and hand claps), and finds Q-Tip doing more singing than rapping. Featuring no samples but live instrumentation, the presence of jazz legends Kenny Garrett, Gary Thomas and Kirk Rosenwinkel adds to the loose Jazzy feel.
The album comprises just 10 tracks and every thing stands out really, with variety. For lovers of Hip Hop, there's sing-song rapping on the horn/piano sprinkled "Abstractionisms" and "Do you dig u?" (lilting harmonies and funky rhodes) both set to a languid Neo-Soul sound with an incredibly groovy bassline, the melancholic piano ballad "Caring" features soothing female vocals/harmonies, while songs like "A million times" or "Even if it is so" (with a brilliant sax solo) wouldn't sound out of place on a D'Angelo or Erykah Badu CD.
This album is only "uncommercial" as compared to the uninspired clones being spit out of the musical conveyor belt, it will hardly get any airplay. Don't let that fool you though, this is music at it's finest, and I'm glad Q-Tip insisted on getting it finally released. An album you really should own."
Excellent CD
Anthony Richards | Wash DC | 09/15/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"what can I say Q-Tip always puts out music that is always good and what one would not here other rappers put out, and is no exception on this cd which is ot standing from the time you push play and here the first selection(Feelin) till the end of the cd you will just be dancing and moving along to his groove...I advise anyone to buy this cd, for it is one of Q-Tips best!!!!!!!!!!excellent"
Kamaal the Abstract
Lonna Vinson | Louisville, KY USA | 10/08/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have been watching for this to come out for years. I heard about Q-Tip's problems with the record company pulling it from distribution so i looked for any copy of it i could. Unfortunatly i couldn't find one i could afford ( copies were going for $50 and up!) Even though its years and years later im glad i got this one. I'm a long time big big big fan of TCQ. I love this one because it represents what i believe to be true Hip Hop. Q-Tip kinda ticked me off when he came out with those crappy solo projects like Amplified. He strayed to much from his deep Hip Hop roots with that one i think. He fell slave to the "bling bling", age and it didnt work. After that i figured he completely sold out. Not his fault though. gotta do what you gotta do right? LOL
Im glad this was finally released. This is truly "Grown Folks Music" that was released early 2000s when we really needed it but had to wait 7 to 8 more years!. Its a breath of fresh air and i hope to hear more like it. My favorite is Blue Girl....man that one is TIGHT! But i love the whole CD. (sorry no MP3s for me, im truly old school and like to read the liner notes). Plus i love that he's singing too. Not the best singer but you can tell he's sincere. If Pharell can pull it off so can Q! LOving this one all the way. Please keep it up Q-tip. This is that smooth hip hop sound us beatheads love to hear! Go on grown man!"
Exactly what (or not at all) what you might expect
CoolPoet | Alabama, USA | 09/16/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"So I have been hearing about this album for years and like most true Q-Tip fans were excited to know that this was going to be released. I'm glad that as an artist that he got to show his talent finally. I think that everything happens for a reason and this album is RIGHT ON TIME! I don't think it would have been appreciated back in 2001. Think Common's Electric Circus. Alot of what you will hear on this is heavy jazz grooves, much like we've heard on the Ummah and if you have liked what you have heard on the renaissance you'll like this too. I can appreciate the fact that he produced this himself and played alot of the instruments himself. I have much more of an appreciation for his expression.
The Renaissance and even amplified was definitely more "polished-up" and comprised more of music that's mainstream friendly and that's not to say that any of his work is diminished in any way, it just has a different energy to me than specifically that Amplified had. This is alot more laid back lounge music type of a vibe to it. So once again, most of us tribe-heads will hear the common theme and will love it. I think it's sad to think that this great work was shuffled around and put on the back burner by other record labels but as I said, everything in it's own time.
The album really shows alot of emotion too, like you can really feel what he is trying to say even though some tracks aren't very lyrically intensive. This album does have a strong jazz fell to it as well, tracks like "Blue Girl", "Do you dig u" "Even if it is so" show great instrumentation. Then of course you have the lyrical tracks like the verse on "Feelin", "Abstractisms" and "Make It work" show that the MC part of him has never left. Then "Heels" has that funk/synth sound somewhat reminicent of Cameo. Again, I think it's very raw and expressive. As a fan of Q-Tip's emcee skills I was hoping for some more lyrical content and like Renaissance it's too short. (We always want to hear more Q!) So I gave it 4 stars but it is definitely a must have for any Tribe/Q-Tip fan. Thanks to Amazon the CD is extremely affordable too!
The reason why I titled the review as such is that some people will expect "Amplified" and some people will expect "Renaissance" and it's neither, but it is Q-Tip."