MY “ULTIMATE” Q-TIP THREAD!
RANKING 10 PROJECTS & 257 SONGS!

@QtipTheAbstract, The Abstract, The Lone Ranger, Kamaal - one of my favorite artists of all time, and likely my biggest inspiration. One of the most influential creatives in, but also outside of hip hop.

100% BIASED!

OTHER THREADS:

- Giving Cole a 2nd Chance
( https://twitter.com/HarveyGoldMusic/status/1274713062130495489)

- Ultimate Danny Brown Thread
( https://twitter.com/HarveyGoldMusic/status/1275580490058280961)

DISCLAIMER:

This is based 100% on taste only, so if you’re gonna be upset if ‘The Low End Theory’ doesn’t make it to top 3, I’ll just tell you straight up; it doesn’t.

First of all, there are a few things I won’t include in the ranking:

- ‘Abstract Innovations’
- ‘The Abstract & the Dragon’
- Freestyles
- Production discography (Top 2 producer though)

Before we start; huge shout-out to Consequence, Busta Rhymes, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ali Shaheed, Jarobi White and ever other legend who played an essential role in one of the best careers in hip hop. And of course—

— I could never do a thread like this without giving props to two of the most important figures in hip hop; the legendary J Dilla, and the Five-Foot Assassin - Phife Dawg.

Rest in peace.

RANKING ALBUMS
#10

While this is the project where the group lacks the most personality and feels the least like a GROUP, I still think Cons sounded great as an unofficial 4th or 5th member, and with Dilla’s timeless production the group took flow to another level.

#9

The Tribe’s debut album does in many ways feel outdated, and they don’t take enough advantage of just how good the members sounded TOGETHER. But this is still one of the most colorful, enjoyable and important records in hip hop, and was ahead of its time.

#8

A record consisting of ideas found in various jam sessions, and further polished by Q-Tip. It’s in no way the best record in its genres (neo soul, jazz, funk), but I still couldn’t point you to anything that sounds quite like it. Too good to stay unreleased for 8 years.

#7

Okay, so here’s the hottest take in my list. If the Tribe’s FIRST record was ahead of its time, then I don’t even know how to describe this one; just a YEAR later, they dropped one of the most consistent records of all time, even if the sound itself never hit me like that.

#6

I had to add these bootlegs here; songs recorded between 'Kamaal-' being shelved in 2001, and 'The Renaissance'’s release in 2008. An amazing display of mindblowing levels of creativity across genres - complimented by Rosenwinkel’s (lead guitarist on ‘Kamaal-’) unique sound.

#5

Q-Tip & Dilla (as The Ummah) crafted a very specific, but unique sound on this record - one capable of making both huge hits and underground classics. In terms of sound, it’s one of the best releases I know of, and people underestimate how big the risks taken on here were.

#4

There’s something bittersweet about this one; INCREDIBLE production, and some of the best performances from Q-Tip & Phife. But while everyone sound ambitious, it doesn’t fully feel like they’re doing it TOGETHER. But it only strengthens the themes of ‘where they came from’.

#3

Despite not being #1, this is the record that described Q-Tip the best to me; taking everything from he'd learned, puts all of his creativity on display. With the key strengths being forward-thinking ideas, great taste and versatility, he summarized it all on an amazing joint

#2

The sounds of MM isn’t easy to pinpoint, but everything from the flows & performances to the production lead to one of the best hip hop albums of all time, which found the perfect balance between originality, entertainment, and expression of important messages.

#1

Every positive I mentioned for the other records is also found on here. Releasing your magnum opus TWENTY-SIX years after your first record, and an eighteen year hiatus as a group, is a feat in itself.

A milestone in creativity.
A moving tribute.
The perfect swan song.

257 SONGS RANKED
#257-#175

PLEASE READ:
I’ve included songs that Q-Tip only been a guest on too, but this time I added WHO the songs are by.
I only included remixes if Q-Tip had a unique verse recorded for them.

And, do no bother comparing placements here with album ratings.

#174-#75

#74-#1

THE END

If you read through all of this; thank you so much. Hope the ranking didn’t upset you too much.

Can’t WAIT for Q-Tip to release ‘The Last Zulu’, ‘AlGoRhythms’ and ‘The Riot Diaries’ this year!

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