Nas has been on a creative high recently. The rapper’s collaborations with Hit-Boy has reinvigorated his career and proved that he’s more lyrical than ever. His relevancy is such that he doesn’t have to rely on his old catalog to attract listeners. Unless, of course, the album in question is Illmatic. The 1994 classic will always be Nas’ high-water mark, and the rapper chose to reflect on the making of the album ahead of its 30th (!) anniversary.
Nas hopped on Instagram to post throwback photos of the men who helped shape his project. The photos are grainy, which the rapper alludes to in the beginning of his caption, but the faces are so iconic that they’re recognizable anyway. Nas can be seen standing alongside New York legends like Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Large Professor, LES and Q-Tip. The second photo sees Nas post up next to his friend and Illmatic‘s lone feature, AZ. “Grainy pictures for grainy times,” the Queens emcee wrote.
“I had a dream I could get my favorite producers to produce on my debut album,” Nas continued in the caption. “I knew exactly what I wanted and how it should be. On April 19 we smashed s**t. Even tho the album leaked months before the release date we still are apart of music history.” The “One Love” rapper then proceeded to shout out each of the men pictured. “Thank you to everyone involved,” he added. “Friday is the albums 30th. 2 The Listeners- ONE LOVE.”
Nas has had to contend with every subsequent release of his being compared to Illmatic, but the rapper actually feels like the album has transcended his catalog. He views it as a separate entity in some ways, as he told Clash in 2014. “It’s interesting because that’s bigger than me,” he asserted. “It’s something that I look at and it trips me out a little bit. I just think about it and, with certain artists that I like, I like some of their works more than the others and I only want to hear certain albums. It’s just the way things are.” Regardless of Nas’ sense of authorship, Illmatic remains his magnum opus.
Ahead of its time to say the least, A Tribe Called Quest’s experimental, alternative, jazz rap was originally unappreciated by mainstream audiences. It took six years for the Tribe’s first album to hit gold. The album might not have been a huge commercial success at first, but their innovative and comedic sound beautifully balanced the light-hearted social consciousness of their tracks. Although “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm” was critically acclaimed, some critics felt that the inspired lyricism and unique humor was at times overshadowed by the group’s immaturity and lack of focus. Their debut album did, however, generate buzz within the Alternative Hip Hop community that has gained them a devout cult following. Today “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm” is certified gold, and in The Source Magazines’s 100 Best Rap Albums. Other accolades include a 5 mic rating from The Source, 4 stars out of 5 by The Rolling Stone Album Guide, and a 3.5 out of 4 stars by the Chicago Tribune.
Regardless of which generation you belong to, every true Hip Hop fan can remember the first time they heard “Can I kick It?” by saying “yes I can!”…and how it changed their perception of the genre. In honor of this special day in Hip Hop history we did some digging and found old school Source articles reviewing “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm”, so feel free to take a look at the history.
30 years ago today, Nas dropped his debut LP, ‘Illmatic.’ Released by Columbia Records in 94′ Nas recorded the album at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording Studios in New York City. Produced by DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., and Nas himself, the bangers on the album will be embedded in Hip Hop culture as classics merely based on their production alone.
The album sold 60,000 in the first week and debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200 chart. On January 17, 1996, the album was certified gold by the RIAA. In 2001 it earned a platinum certification after shipping 1,000,000 copies in the United States alone.
Lyrically, Nas delivered certified street verses on ‘Illmatic’ that influenced the majority of the ’90s and is regarded as one of the greatest LPs of all time by critics and major publications globally.
Amp Fiddler, known for his innovative mix of genres, passed away at age 65. The legendary Detroit musician has sadly succumbed to cancer.
R.I.P. Amp
Amp Fiddler, whose real name was Joseph Anthony Fiddler, succumbed to cancer on Dec. 18.
In December 2022, his brother Joseph Fiddler launched a GoFundMe for the artist, who at the time was recovering from an unknown surgery and spent months in the hospital. The fundraiser surpassed its goal of $75,000.
On his Instagram page, his family shared a statement on his death.
“We face the insurmountable responsibility of sharing the passing of Joseph ‘Amp’ Fiddler,” reads the statement. “Our beloved ‘Amp’ Fiddler, Detroit’s own world-renowned ambassador of funk, soul, and electronic music, keyboardist, producer, Afro-futurist, and guiding force of light for so many, has transitioned at the age of 65.”
Fiddler, who gained recognition as a keyboardist, producer, and Afro-futurist, began his musical journey as a member of the band Enchantment in the 1970s. However, he made his mark as a key member of the legendary funk band Parliament-Funkadelic from the 1980s to the 1990s.
Influenced by the vibrant Detroit music scene, Fiddler’s talent extended beyond funk and soul, working with icons such as Prince, Raphael Saadiq, Maxwell, and others.
One of Fiddler’s notable contributions was his impact on the hip-hop community. He played a pivotal role in mentoring the late producer J Dilla, guiding him in production tactics and introducing him to A Tribe Called Quest leader Q-Tip, which paved the way for Dilla’s successful career. Fiddler’s influence transcended generations, connecting musicians and scenes from all corners of the globe.
Fellow Artists Pay Their Respects
Some notable members of the rap community shared their condolences and reacted to Fiddler’s death. The Roots drummer Questlove posted on Instagram:
“Rest easy brother Amp. For all those talks during the Pfunk tour. For all the music. Especially of course mentoring the one who mentored us (Dilla)——thank you brother.”
British DJ Gilles Peterson also reacted by saying:
“Waking up to the desperately sad news that our dear friend Amp Fiddler has passed… from George Clinton to Dilla to Moodyman … Detroit royalty … a huge influence on musicians from all sides of the globe – he connected generations and scenes… a mentor to so many.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to cover the funeral costs, allowing fans and supporters to contribute to honoring the late musician’s legacy.
Clarence Avant: Another Tragic Loss
Another recent loss in the music industry was Clarence Avant, the legendary music executive who passed away in August at the age of 92. Avant, known as the “Black Godfather,” managed artists from various genres, including soul and hip-hop, and served as the former chairman of Motown Records.
Q-Tip and the remaining surviving members of A Tribe Called Quest recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of their classic third album, 1993’s Midnight Marauders. The album is widely considered the group’s greatest album, featuring some of Q-Tip’s best verses. As rap fans look back at Tribe’s prolific history, they also hope for new music from The Abstract.
While Q-Tip has been relatively quiet on the music front, he teased three entire albums worth of material back in 2020. While none of those releases have seen the light of day, that has not stopped him from collaborating with others. Q-Tip often brings the best out of the artists he works with, so we are highlighting some of his best collaborations. Here are 7 of Q-Tip’s hottest hip hop collabs. Take a look at the list below.
Busta Rhymes – “Ill Vibe” (1996)
Busta Rhymes is one of Q-Tip’s closest and most frequent collaborators. The two have worked together throughout their careers in different capacities. Early on, they appeared on posse cuts with A Tribe Called Quest and Leaders of the New School together and later featured on each other’s solo albums. One of Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip’s earliest and hottest collabs is “Ill Vibe” from Busta’s debut solo album, The Coming. The laidback boom bap classic was produced by The Ummah, Tip’s production collective with Ali Shaheed Muhammad and J Dilla. “Ill Vibe” contains Q-Tip’s smooth flow and Busta’s animated delivery, making for one of their most iconic collabs.
This highlight from The Roots’ classic Illadelph Halflife album sees Black Thought and Q-Tip trading bars back and forth. The funky instrumental lends itself to both of their rap styles, as well as their musical chemistry. The two each take their own unique approach to rapping, but they blend their styles together on “Ital.” Black Thought is known for outshining other rappers on most tracks, but he and Q-Tip work together for a skillful exchange of bars.
One of Q-Tip’s hottest collabs is the remix of Missy Elliott’s 1999 single, “Hot Boyz.” The remix features an all-star lineup, including Missy, Tip, Nas, Eve, and Lil Mo. An eclectic mix of hip hop artists, each rapper gets their moment to shine over the Timbaland-produced beat. The “Hot Boyz” remix was massively successful, spending 18 weeks atop the Hot Rap Singles chart and breaking the record for most weeks at No. 1 on the R&B chart at the time. While “Hot Boyz” stands out as one of Missy’s greatest works, its remix is a standout collaboration between various artists, including Q-Tip.
Q-Tip and Slum Village were a perfect match on “Hold Tight.” He kicks off the relaxed song with a smooth verse, commenting on the state of the rap game. Tip raps, “N****s in the game is getting too slimy / Liable to make this peace turn grimy,” passing the torch to Slum Village. In his verse, Q-Tip voices his frustrations with greedy industry executives and places his faith in his musical peers. He shouts out each member of Slum Village, along with D’Angelo, Busta Rhymes, and his fellow members of A Tribe Called Quest. He sets the tone for J Dilla, T3, and Baatin to spit their verses, resulting in a standout track from Fantastic, Vol. 2.
Busta Rhymes feat. Q-Tip, Lil Wayne, & Kanye West – “Thank You” (2013)
Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes have remained close throughout their careers, eventually teaming up for a collaborative mixtape, 2013’s The Abstract & The Dragon. The project compiled old classics from their group and solo careers, as well as new material like “Thank You.” The song samples Alicia Myers’s “I Wanna Thank You.” Lil Wayne and Kanye West briefly make appearances, symbolizing a truce between the Young Money and G.O.O.D. Music labels, to which Busta and Tip were respectively signed. Over the groovy instrumental, Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip display their longtime chemistry, effortlessly flowing to match the fast guitar sample. The two match each other’s skills, standing out as one of both Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip’s best songs. It is also one of Q-Tip’s biggest hip hop collabs, going silver in the UK.
James BKS, Q-Tip, Idris Elba, & Little Simz – “New Breed” (2019)
In 2019, French musician James BKS recruited Q-Tip, Little Simz, and Idris Elba for “New Breed,” a standalone single that captured elements of hip hop and dance music worldwide. Over a festive and joyous instrumental, Q-Tip slides across the beat, Idris Elba excites, and Simz dazzles with her verse. The French, American, and British artists each rap about their African heritage and what it means to them. Each rapper provides their own unique style to the celebratory song, embracing Africa through the lens of their different nationalities.
Eminem, Royce Da 5’9”, Black Thought, Q-Tip, & Denaun – “Yah Yah” (2020)
“Yah Yah” is one of Q-Tip’s hottest collabs as his catchy hook serves as the centerpiece for an explosive banger. The song sees Eminem, Black Thought, and Royce Da 5’9” spit rapid flows with complex rhyme schemes at a high energy. The song serves as an ode to the golden era of hip hop that inspired each artist, as emphasized by each verse and the hook from Q-Tip. The collaboration between Eminem, Royce, Black Thought, Q-Tip, and Denaun is a prime example of top-tier lyricists spitting a high caliber, paying homage to their hip hop idols. “Yah Yah” is one of Q-Tip’s most memorable collabs in recent memory, leaving fans yearning for more music.
Q-Tip is poised to infuse his musical genius into the forthcoming Muhammad Ali Broadway musical. The rap icon joins as the music producer, co-lyricist, and cast album producer. Q-Tip In Broadway Q-Tip, best known as the lead rapper for A Tribe Called Quest, is set to add his musical prowess to the upcoming Muhammad Ali […]
Q-Tip has always existed outside of the traditional sonic tropes of hip-hop. Sauntering around in a button-down t-shirt and a flat-capped fedora, his jazz-induced persona surmounted the hip-hop status quo during A Tribe Called Quest’s initial rise. That sort of oddball appearance has pierced through the succeeding decades of the peak of his relevance, influencing modern-day acts such as Tyler, the Creator. In fact, Tyler credits Grammy-winning Call Me If You Get Lost as being directly affected by the career of Q-Tip. “[He] was the weird backpack ni**a that put this album out where he was like, ‘Hey y’all, don’t get it twisted. I’m f**king whoever, I’m driving whatever, I’m doing whatever,’” he said during his recent appearance on Rap Radar. “And without that album, Call Me If You Get Lost wouldn’t exist, so thank you, Q-Tip, for setting the blueprint.”
Tyler is certainly right. Q-Tip was that weird, introspective figure in hip-hop that pushed its sound beyond James Brown sampling or looping sonic collages. Instead, a young Kamaal Fareed was crate-digging for jazz records in Queens, New York. Q-Tip’s music directly reflected his childhood influences with his father collecting jazz playlists while his mother danced to the blues. Initially, that interest manifested in the form of his writing. From inscribing stories to singing at church on Sundays, he was unconsciously laying the groundwork for his influential career.
A Tribe Called Quest Shifted Conventional Hip-Hop
Similar to many other Big Apple MCs, his concrete interest in hip-hop began at electric block parties. Jumping around to Grandmaster Flash joints, it would be another decade until he met eventual A Tribe Called Quest members Ali Muhammad and Phife Dawg. Existing on a foundation of taking non-conformist risks, the trio began their embarkment with 1990’s People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. Q-Tip was rapping about veganism, domestic violence, and imaginary French conquests amid unheard-of jazz chord progressions. Nothing about the art was traditional, yet the eclectic trio quickly moved to the top of the rap game. The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders were even more successful.
Hip-hop needed a new sound; it just didn’t know it until Q-Tip and A Tribe Called Quest arrived. The trio’s iconic three-album run didn’t just deliver a new sound to the ever-evolving genre. It proved that different techniques could still warrant chart-topping numbers. Their work later would morph into the soundscapes of MCs such as Common, Mos Def, The Fugees, or even modern-day acts such as Lupe Fiasco and Kanye West. Q-Tip was in the driver’s seat, acting as the primary producer. Even if he got his creative start as a writer, he’s since morphed into an MC who prefers to be behind the sticks. In fact, most of his modern-day unreleased tracks are devoid of lyrics, simply focusing on the sound.
Q-Tip Is A Mentor In Hip-Hop
Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Phife Dawg and Q-TIp of the hip hop group “A Tribe Called Quest” pose for a portrait session in September 1993 in New York . (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
After A Tribe Called Quest’s iconic three-album run, the lackluster success of their fourth project signed the death warrant of the group. While Beats, Rhymes, and Life contained their familiar electric blend of turntable jazz and introspective raps, the exuberant flair of their early works was gone. As Q-Tip clarified with SPIN, “It just became a seriousness. Whereas prior, there was a lightheartedness to Tribe.” A combination of inflated egos and Q-Tip’s further commitment as a Sunni Muslim altered the calm energy of the group. In essence, it was time for Q-Tip to pursue a solo career.
After the inevitable slowdown of A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip’s solo career just as much entailed producing for others as it did curate his own sound. Most notably, he executive-produced Mobb Deep’s The Infamous. As Mobb rapper Prodigy put it with Complex back in 2011, “Most of the songs on there—but not all of them—had his input. Like, ‘Yo, I think y’all should do this to this, add a little snare here, or a delay there.’ Little things like that. It just came natural.” Q-Tip also opened doors into the music industry for Prodigy and Havoc, introducing the duo to members of Def Jam Records. By the mid-1990s, he had settled into his role as a stoic mentor in the hip-hop space.
Q-Tip Had A Highly Successful Solo Career
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 22: Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest performs onstage during day 2 of FYF Fest 2017 at Exposition Park on July 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for FYF)
That mentor role would eventually morph into Q-Tip becoming the artistic director of hip-hop culture at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Sitting down with NPR, he stated, “For so long, the creators and practitioners of [hip hop] were looked down upon as degenerates and provocateurs. To be able to have the Kennedy Center institutionalize the platform helps people understand what Black complexity is.” In many ways, Q-Tip personifies Black complexity, proving that uniqueness can still succeed in hip-hop.
His solo career wouldn’t go on to be as consistent as the ATCQ days, but he reached the top of the charts. Amplified and The Renaissance did modest numbers, likely spurned by the nine years between their respective releases. Yet, their singles like “Vivrant Thing” and “Breathe & Stop” have become classics. Additionally, Tip’s collaborations with artists like Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, and Janet Jackson would further propel him into legendary hip-hop history.
However, his solo efforts’ tight refining of classic boom-bap with experimentation warranted critical acclaim amongst Q-Tip loyalists. In addition, A Tribe Called Quest returned for a last hurrah in the form of We Got It from Here…Thank You 4 Your Service. Q-Tip is timeless, a permanent stamp in hip-hop with a sound just as important today as it was during the early ’90s. From pioneering the entrance of boom-bap jazz into the hip-hop world to his work as a mentor and executive producer, Q-Tip deserves his flowers.
Legacy is a complex topic in the world of hip-hop. Many artists don’t get their flowers in the modern-day scene, even if they heavily influenced the blueprint of rap. One of those rappers comes in the electric form of Busta Rhymes. He helped broaden the scope of hip-hop at a time when evolution was needed. The Brooklyn-born MC burst onto the scene, curating a collection of pre-millennium bangers. He rapped aggressively high-octane beats on albums such as When Disaster Strikes and Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front.
However, Busta Rhymes’ hip-hop career had been in the works long before his breakout solo albums were released. Back in Long Island, he was setting the groundwork for a culture of rap that didn’t revolve around street life. He was part of a sub-culture of rap that couldn’t relate to hood tales, didn’t identify with braggadocios rap, but still wanted to see themselves reflected in the culture. “That Long Island environment was some fresh air type s**t, that spacy s**t that gives you room to be who you are and want to be without all those urban hangups,” Busta once reflected. In essence, Busta Rhymes was looking to make hip-hop fun again.
Q-Tip Helped Busta Rhymes Blow Up
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 10: Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes attend the Kanye West album listening party at Milk Studios on June 10, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic)
From the jump, Rhymes delivered an unparalleled sound to his audience. Its uniqueness lies in his vast array of experiences as a child. At 12, he was breakdancing in British clubs beside his cousins. In addition, he was growing up in a melting pot of creative culture in Brooklyn, briefly attending the same high school as Notorious B.I.G and Jay-Z. He got his big break with the game-changing “Scenario” from A Tribe Called Quest‘s The Low End Theory. When Q-Tip created the outline for the track, he always had Busta Rhymes in mind. It was a purposeful effort on his part to give Busta a platform to shine.
During all this, Busta Rhymes was still looking to balance his newfound fame with his ground-rooted hip-hop group, Leaders of the New School. However, his rapidly ascending star caused a significant amount of attention. Busta and Charlie Brown were constantly getting into fights about who the group’s leader was, leading to the group’s eventual end. By 1993, Busta was working on his solo debut. The Coming saw him graduate from the untold streets of Brooklyn to Times Square. Disorienting and distracting, the project’s only real downfall is its bloated tracklist.
When Disaster Strikes Solidified Busta Rhymes’s Legacy
If The Coming propelled Busta Rhymes into a position of mainstream hip-hop relevancy, When Disaster Strikes wrote his bio into the history books. Discarding the sophomore slump notion, Busta becomes a creative sniper on the project. Toning down on his electric screaming, his slightly mellowed out flow worked to the project’s benefit. However, the visual counterparts became the hallmark aspect of When Disaster Strikes. In retrospect, Busta’s passion for the filmmaking coin of hip-hop arrived at the perfect time. By the late ’90s, the golden age of music videos was approaching.
Everything about his demeanor, energy, and execution on his sophomore record mirrored the tendencies of a Platinum artist. The rapper says, “The reason why When Disaster Strikes was called that was for me, in the presence of having fun, I also wanted to spark order. I wanted to be able to think about things that we aren’t really conditioned to think about or look into, or between the lines of to get closer to the truth about. That’s why it’s been The Coming, When Disaster Strikes, Extinction Level Event, Anarchy, Genesis, It Ain’t Safe No More, The Big Bang. All of those titles, there’s a silver lining that connects all of them, and it’s never gonna stop me – that’s something that’s a lifetime obligation of mine.”
A New Album Is On The Way
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MAY 12: Busta Rhymes performs during 2023 Strength Of A Woman Festival & Summit – Mary J. Blige Concert at State Farm Arena on May 12, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)
Since When Disaster Strikes, Busta Rhymes would continue releasing many classic albums. The introspective hype man of hip-hop, Busta Rhymes’ didn’t quite garner the critical acclaim of his classmates, Notorious B.I.G. or Jay-Z. However, he didn’t exist in the world of lavish street culture and excessive violence. Instead, he was uniquely focused on making his listeners view the world differently. Busta Rhymes’ multi-decade-long career has solidified him as a legend in the hip-hop world.
Now eclipsing three decades into his career, the recently turned 51-year-old shows no signs of stopping. On May 14th, he took to Instagram to announce the upcoming release of his next full-length project. While we don’t yet have a release date, Busta has confirmed the album is executive produced by a star-studded lineup of Swizz Beatz, Pharrell Williams, and Timbaland. Swizz and Busta have a working relationship dating back to 1998 when Swizz produced “Tear Da Roof Off.”
After nearly 40 years in the entertainment industry, expanding into film and television following a triumphant run in hip-hop, LL Cool J plans to make his return to the booth. The legendary rapper confirmed that he’ll release a new album – his first in 10 years. However, he’s bringing along a slew of MCs to join him on the project. AllHipHop reports that Eminem, Nas, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, and Saweetie will appear in the project, which is reportedly going to be produced entirely by Q-Tip.
The upcoming project aligns with Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary and the string of features reflects the genre’s evolution. Fat Joe stands as the only artist that LL Cool J worked with in the past. The two previously connected on “I Shot Ya (Remix)” in 1995. However, the appearances of Nas and Eminem are certainly the most anticipated, especially since LL hasn’t locked in with either in the past. Although a collab with Em was supposed to arrive on LL’s now-shelved The G.O.A.T 2, LL continued to ensure fans that they would come out with something in the near future.
LL Cool J Confirms Heavy-Hitters On New Album
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
LL has continued to tease the upcoming effort since the beginning of the year. During his appearance at the Grammys, where he performed in the Hip Hop 50 segment, he confirmed Q-Tip’s involvement. “The album, I think, is really, really special,” he told E! News. “I think it’s something modern without chasing. It’s a whole new thing. I can’t wait for the people to see it… I think honestly and sincerely that Q-Tip as a producer is unbelievable and what he did on this record for me, I think is amazing. So the world will decide.”
It seems like the upcoming album will align with LL Cool J’s upcoming The F.O.R.C.E tour. The tour kicks off on June 25th in Boston and will include The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and DJ Z-Trip. Additionally, they plan on turning it into a hip-hop extravaganza in each city as they plot on different guests, including Rakim, Queen Latifah, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, and more. We’ll keep you posted on anymore updates surrounding LL’s upcoming album.
Q-Tip is calling for stricter gun control legislation in America. On Monday (May 8th) the rap legend posted a frightening statistic regarding mass shootings in the U.S. These statistics are only from this year alone. The screenshot of his tweet he shared on Instagram showed flooring numbers around the ongoing trend of gun violence. “There’s been more mass shootings (200) than days of the year (128) #GunControlNow,” Q-tips tweet read. He posted the screen shot with the same caption as the hashtag.
The A Tribe Called Quest front man’s cries for gun control come only days after a mass shooting happened in a mall in Allen, Texas. As reported by HuffPost, a 33-year-old far-right gunman fired shots killing eight people. He also died at the scene. Moreover, the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. this year occurred in Monterey Park, California in January. A 72-year-old man murdered 11 people in a dance studio after a Lunar New Year celebration. According to The Guardian, America is seeing more than one mass killing a week on average in 2023.
2023 is on pace to be one of the worst years of mass shootings in the nation’s history. In other Q-Tip news, LL Cool J mentioned a project fully produced by the Abstract. Furthermore, the “Around The Way Girl” rapper praised Tip for his excellent executive production on his forthcoming album. This will be LL’s 14th studio album since 2013’s Authentic. Recently the legendary MC released a single off his new project called “The Force” sparking much excitement from his fans.
Not only that, the track has elements from Q-Tip’s 1999 Authentic song “End of Time,” and lists the late great Michael Jackson as a co-writer. Additionally, the Abstract has been receiving love from all over. He recently received his flowers from H.E.R. when she stated how impactful he’s been for her and how much music he’s put her on. She told The Source, “I don’t know who I relate to the most, but one of my favorite rappers of all time is Q-Tip.” “I actually got to meet him one time and he put me onto so much music. And I didn’t realize how much music he was inspired by outside of Hip Hop,” the R&B star continued. Do you think Q-Tip is right about gun control? Let us know what you think below!
