Tag Archives: q-tip renaissance

Gettin Up With Q-Tip (Again): Concert Review

04 Thursday Dec 2008

Posted by in Feeding The Music Jones, Let's Rock: Concert Reviews

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by vivrant thang on q-tip renaissance concert review

 

qtip

I’m convinced that the best times are had at events you force yourself to attend.

I met my ex at an outing that I was thisclose to not attending.

Okay, maybe that’s a bad example.

When I heard Q-Tip was coming back to town in support of The Renaissance, I was THERE. No question. I was even going to overlook the opening acts which I couldn’t care less about, Pacific Division, Knux, and The Cool Kids. I mean as much as I am loving Renaissance, I just had to be there to see it come alive on stage.

Sunday came so quickly. I was just returning from a great holiday in New Jersey despite a 3 hour ride that turned into 6. It was nasty and cold outside and I was thinking of every excuse in the book to remain stretched out on my pillow top mattress watching every football game that came on the boob tube.

Thank God I didn’t give in to my laziness or I would have missed yet another show that must make my 2008 list of top concerts of the year. (It’s already apparent that this will have to be a top 10 list and not a top 5).

I got there about an hour and a half after doors opened. It would have been later but I didn’t want to be pushed too far to the back. Much to my chagrin, I got there just in time for the Knux and The Cool Kids. From the audience reaction, I guess they were aiight. Not my type of hype. I was there to see one person and one person only. Anything else was just a distraction.

In retrospect, I wish I had caught Pacific Division. DJ YZO of Industry Soul pointed me to some clips on You Tube and told me to stop sleeping. I would have given them a listen had I made it there in time. They are pretty nice with theirs.

However, I was there for the main event. When Kaamal the Abstract took the stage, opening with “Shaka,” the energy was incredible as you’ll be able to tell from my footage.

Disclaimer. This is far from my best work. Not only was I not up front in my “reserved spot,” where I would have likely been shut down from recording, but also you’ll see that I definitely need to upgrade to a motion stabilizing camera ASAP.

Shaka

The best way I could describe this show is a Rock The Bells Part II. And you know how much I enjoyed that. Once again, we were in the presence of a true emcee commanding the stage. Not some saggy assed big dummy walking to and fro aimlessly mumbling like he’s got a mouth full of shit. Like this guy. *sucks teeth in disgust*

And as you can see, the energy and the love was amazingly high for his entire set, just as it was at Rock The Bells. I died several deaths throughout the evening, particularly while watching this white guy,, who later told me he was 40, literally jump up and down for 5 minutes straight like his draws were filled with Mexican jumping beans.

Once again, like a real entertainer, Q-Tip’s set list was a perfect blend of the new and old. He held us down with just the right blend of Tribe, early solo material, and tracks from Renaissance, which of course I was most anxious to hear. So many songs on the album beg for live instrumentation. I actually felt like he looked at my top rated list on the pod as he performed all my favorites except for Manwomanboogie.

We Fight/We Love f Raphael Saadiq

I thought I would crave Raphael actually singing live on this one (which would have been hot of undoubtedly). But between Q-Tip tearing up that tambourine and getting his croon on a bit, I barely even noticed. He held it down quite nicely.

You

This was one of the highlights of the night for me as this is probably in my top two favorite songs on the album. The lyrics are saying a lot. I love how he started the song off and and the band is killing it, making it a bit more uptempo.

Move (he didn’t have to tell me twice!)

While Q-Tip was away taking all that hot shit off preparing to return for his encore, DJ Scratch got busy on the 1s and 2s.

He slayed us to the point that Q-Tip had to make sure it was alright to retake his own stage! Much of the second half of the show was filled with classics like “Award Tour,” “Scenario,”  “Check the Rhime,” “Relax Yourself,” and my all time fave “Bonita Applebaum.” They had the video playing on the screen while he was performing.

I also got my performance of “Vivrant Thing” in it’s entirety. I will die a happy woman.

Gettin Up / Vivrant Thing

He ended the night on the perfect note (for me) with a performance of  “Life Is Better,” which is probably the other song in my top two. He came down into the audience so that we could get involved.

When it was over, people were still hanging by the stage, thirsty for more. I was right there with them! I was indeed so happy that I decided to come out. It’s nights like this and this and this that make me remember when I used to actually purchase hip hop cassettes. Back in the days when I used to love h.e.r.

I hope you already have The Renaissance but if you should need more convincing because you think Viv is biased and shit, check out this great review (and look around a bit while you’re at it).

 As always, the remainder of the videos I didn’t highlight like “Feva,” “Renaissance Rap,” “Verses from the Abstract,” and “God Lives Through” are over on my You Tube channel for your viewing pleasure. That thing is about to explode at 575 videos to date. Hey, I love music.

 

 

A Change Is Gonna Come

04 Tuesday Nov 2008

Posted by in Soundtrack of My Life

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There were times when I thought I couldn’t last for long
But now I think I’m able to carry on
It’s been a long, been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

My friends, this is it.

I feel very calm at this moment but I know when I wake up in the morning, I’m going to be quite giddy.

I’m so excited to be a part of history. I’m happy that I truly understand the significance of what I’m about to do tomorrow. Vote the first African American in as President of these United States.

This past weekend as I sat getting my hair done, my stylist was telling me how she asked her cousins whether they were going to be voting on Tuesday. They must have received the same miseducation as Joe because they told her “Naw I ain’t doing no voting. Obama got this. I don’t need to vote.”

Thank God I’m educated and knowledgeable about my history enough to say that nothing but death can keep me from those polls tomorrow. I know all of you that are eligible to vote in this country feel the same way. So no need for me to beg you to rock the vote. I’d be preaching to the choir.

For those of you not eligible to vote in this country, we appreciate your support and well wishes in this historic election. Some of you are more invested than many Americans and that means a lot.

I listened to Dorothy Height on the radio this morning reflecting on the significance of this election. She talked about the days that African Americans had to pay a poll tax to vote and about the courageous men and women who paid for our voting rights with their lives. Today, forty plus years later, it pains me to hear all of that being taken for granted. It doesn’t anger me. I just feel sadness. Pity.

Tomorrow, I’ll vote first thing in the morning and follow these rules to a tee. I’m bringing my camera to record the experience. I’m planning on wearing my Obama tee but keeping it covered until I leave. It’s not against the law in Maryland to wear paraphernalia. But I don’t feel like fighting. I’m all about peace tomorrow.

I’m fortunate to get two hours leave from my job to go and vote. However, I already told them I’ll get there when I get there. I’m fortunate to work for an organization that is extremely invested in the outcome so I likely won’t be penalized if I’m later than that.

That evening, I plan to attend a watch party – preferably at a place where I can actually listen to the results and have access to free wifi so I can blog and tweet my reactions. I’m not sure where yet. Most of the parties will be more focused on the social aspect so I may end up at home. I feel the urgent need to have a record of my experiences and thoughts throughout the day.

We also must not forget about the other renaissance taking place tomorrow – the official release day for Q-Tip’s album. If you have not already illegally or legally downloaded, this is a must have for your collection. I won’t be reviewing it because I’m not a hip-hop head like that and I’d rather leave that to the “professionals.” I just don’t feel like I can do it justice.  What I will say is simply that it’s everything I thought it would be – every single song is fire to me. It will be on my top albums of the year list. No question.

The second half of this year has been filled with such good music that it truly gives me hope.

A change is gonna come, indeed.

Patti Labelle covering Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” (wanted an outstanding LIVE version)

‘Gettin Up’ With Q-Tip!

02 Thursday Oct 2008

Posted by in Album Reviews, Feeding The Music Jones

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Even though we both fly…

When I got the invite to attend an in-store listening party, at which Q-Tip would preview tracks from his upcoming album Renaissance, my answer was a resounding “Hellll yeah!”

You already know how much I’m anticipating this album. Not to mention, in many ways, Q-Tip is one of my muses. I used to go by the name “Total Package” in the blogosphere, which was a spin on my sorority line name. One day it just came to me how every time the song comes on, I lose my mind. I think those that know me offline would agree that the name just fits – as does the nickname, “Aunt Viv.” That’s another post for another day.

Although I played it cool because in a sense I was there working, I was a little starstruck being in such close proximity to the dude who was one of the main reasons my bells were ROCKED just a few short months ago.  Any self-respecting fan of real hip-hop should feel me on that.

There was no need for that though. Without even spending any length of time talking to him, it was clear that although Q-Tip is a musical genius, he is still regular folk (you too Questo). As he talked about his love for the music and how after all these years, he still gets butterflies before he performances, it was all genuine.

He made the important point, that should sound familiar, which is that you gotta love what you do. He said that practitioners of hip-hop today may be hard workers and hustlers but you have to truly love the music. Q-Tip says that even today, some twenty years deep in the game, he still pinches himself because he can’t believe that he’s blessed to be able to do what he does as an artist – which is to bring us real hip-hop like what you’ll find on Renaissance.

Check out Q-Tip taking us behind the scenes: “The Making of Renaissance“

Here is the album cover ( which gets my stamp of approval) on which you can see a tracklisting.

 Here is Q-Tip giving us a taste of “Dance On Glass,” “Offishal,” and “Life Is Better.”

 We were fortunate to hear “Shaka,” which features a speech from Obama. Q-Tip has stumped for Obama and the song has the campaign’s approval. It’s also dedicated to the memory of Dilla and Daddy Q-Tip.

Check out “Move” and then “Shaka”

Since I know we have some D’Angelo fans on here, you’ll be happy to know that Q-Tip also confirmed that he is in fact hard at work in the studio and his new music is all that and then some. Color me naive but I’m fully expecting a new album in my hands in 2009.

It was cool to be up close and personal with Q-Tip while he was sharing the music. At times, I felt like a voyeur – like we weren’t even there. He was lost all up in it – which was probably a good thing since there were folks there more concerned with shooting the shit than LISTENING at a LISTENING party. But that’s another rant for another day.

Those that were there for the music were truly feeling what they heard and are excited about the album, which will be in stores on November 4 – the day of change!  That’s the day we will have a renaissance in music and hopefully the beginning of a renaissance in this country.

The night ended perfectly when I was able to get my Renaissance poster signed “To Vivrant Thang.” Check one more thing off the bucket list.

On November 4, I know I plan to go vote and then cop the album in that order. You should do the same. I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about a hip-hop album hitting the shelves. From what I heard, it will be worth the wait.

More video will be on my You Tube channel in the coming days. I know you’re already subscribed so you shouldn’t miss out. Meantime, you can head over to Soul Bounce and check out nOva’s review.

Let me know what you think of these tracks in the comments.