"Q-Tip, famously known for cofounding A Tribe Called Quest, has solidified his position as one of the most influential figures in hip-hop history. His innovative fusion of rap, jazz, and various other styles, paired with socially conscious lyrics, has earned him widespread acclaim.
A Tribe Called Quest released their sixth and final album, We Got It from Here...Thank You 4 Your Service, in November 2016, receiving glowing reviews from critics and fans alike. Q-Tip's unorthodox approach to hip-hop and his appreciation for diverse genres have propelled him to success as both a solo artist and producer. Collaborating with an array of celebrated musicians including the Beastie Boys, Busta Rhymes, J Dilla, Janet Jackson, Queen Latifah, Pharrell Williams, Mark Ronson, and Mary J. Blige, he has continually pushed the boundaries of artistic expression. His recent collaborations include Solange, Kendrick Lamar, Arcade Fire, and the Chemical Brothers.
His solo albums, including Amplified, the Grammy-nominated The Renaissance, and Kamaal the Abstract, have garnered critical acclaim, showcasing his versatility and innovation. Q-Tip is currently scheduled to release another solo album in late 2024.
Beyond music, Q-Tip's artistic exploration extends into acting, film production, advocacy, education, and ambassadorship of hip-hop culture. He brings his industry expertise to the Kennedy Center as an artistic director, curating a full season of hip-hop programming across disciplines, transforming the performing arts center into a beacon of hip-hop culture and history for years to come. Through his multifaceted contributions, Q-Tip continues to shape the landscape of contemporary music and cultural discourse."
Go Ahead in the Rain by
A New York Times Best SellerA February IndieNext PickNamed A Most Anticipated Book of 2019 by Buzzfeed, Nylon, The A. V. Club, CBC Books, and The Rumpus. And a Winter's Most Anticipated Book by Vanity Fair and The WeekStarred Reviews: Kirkus and Booklist"Warm, immediate and intensely personal."--New York TimesHow does one pay homage to A Tribe Called Quest? The seminal rap group brought jazz into the genre, resurrecting timeless rhythms to create masterpieces such as The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders. Seventeen years after their last album, they resurrected themselves with an intense, socially conscious record, We Got It from Here . . . Thank You 4 Your Service, which arrived when fans needed it most, in the aftermath of the 2016 election. Poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib digs into the group's history and draws from his own experience to reflect on how its distinctive sound resonated among fans like himself. The result is as ambitious and genre-bending as the rap group itself.Abdurraqib traces the Tribe's creative career, from their early days as part of the Afrocentric rap collective known as the Native Tongues, through their first three classic albums, to their eventual breakup and long hiatus. Their work is placed in the context of the broader rap landscape of the 1990s, one upended by sampling laws that forced a reinvention in production methods, the East Coast-West Coast rivalry that threatened to destroy the genre, and some record labels' shift from focusing on groups to individual MCs. Throughout the narrative Abdurraqib connects the music and cultural history to their street-level impact. Whether he's remembering The Source magazine cover announcing the Tribe's 1998 breakup or writing personal letters to the group after bandmate Phife Dawg's death, Abdurraqib seeks the deeper truths of A Tribe Called Quest; truths that--like the low end, the bass--are not simply heard in the head, but felt in the chest.
No Half Steppin' by
Author Claude "Paradise" Gray was raised in the South Bronx. He was cofounder of the X Clan, whose 1990 album To the East, Blackwards is an Afrocentric and socio-politically conscious Golden Era hip-hop classic. Prior to that, he was host and entertainment manager for the Manhattan nightclub the Latin Quarter where he was a key figure in transforming it into an historical hip-hop venue. Paradise is also a noted writer, photographer, and hip-hop historian/archivist, as confirmed with this book, No Half Steppin', where his personal collection of photographs and memories--paired with an oral history from some of the club's most famous patrons--tell the story of the most important incubator of talent for the Golden Era of hip-hop. During the mid- to late '80s, legends were born in that bustling Times Square club--from Stetsasonic, KRS-One, and Eric B. & Rakim to Queen Latifah, Public Enemy, and A Tribe Called Quest. It was the perfect recipe for success for unsigned and up-and-coming artists, as it was the ideal place to be seen and hone your craft--and music-industry A&Rs were on-site to snatch up the hottest rappers. You could walk into the club a nobody and come out a star. No Half Steppin' -- An Oral and Pictorial History of New York City Club the Latin Quarter and the Birth of Hip-Hop's Golden Era​ is 212 pages with over 175 color photographs and flyers from the greatest time in hip-hop history. Oral history by participants Special K and Teddy Tedd, KRS-One, MC Shan, Eric B., DJ Kool Red Alert, Fab 5 Freddy, Just-Ice, Positive K, DJ Clark Kent, Kid, Dana Dane, TR Love, MC Serch, Chuck D, Grand Puba, Sadat X, Pete Nice, Prince Pau, Kurtis Blow, Mike Gee, Daddy-O, Wise, Ced Gee, Big Daddy Kane, Queen Latifah, Kool G Rap, and many many more.
The Rap Year Book by
New York Times Bestseller - Washington Post Bestseller - Pitchfork Book Club selectionThe Rap Year Book takes readers on a journey that begins in 1979, widely regarded as the moment rap became recognized as part of the cultural and musical landscape, and comes right up to the present. Shea Serrano deftly pays homage to the most important song of each year. Serrano also examines the most important moments that surround the history and culture of rap music-from artists' backgrounds to issues of race, the rise of hip-hop, and the struggles among its major players-both personal and professional. Covering East Coast and West Coast, famous rapper feuds, chart toppers, and show stoppers, The Rap Year Book is an in-depth look at the most influential genre of music to come out of the last generation. Complete with infographics, lyric maps, hilarious and informative footnotes, portraits of the artists, and short essays by other prominent music writers, The Rap Year Book is both a narrative and illustrated guide to the most iconic and influential rap songs ever created.
Lyrical Swords : hip hop and politics in the mix by
Lyrical Swords: Hip Hop and Politics in the Mix, is a powerful, soul stirring collection of essays and interviews with some of the worlds top entertainment professionals.
