This story does not have a happy ending. It concerns an album entitled ‘Kamaal the Abstract’ – the unreleased jazz / hip hop album from Q-Tip, formerly of A Tribe Called Quest. In 2001, promos of the album were released to critical acclaim but the album was never released. Why?
I’m afraid it’s the same old story. Boy releases first solo album ‘Amplified’ to critical acclaim and chart success. Boy then delivers a personal, inventive second solo album of jazz / hip hop grooves with live instrumentation. Record company freaks out, expecting ‘Amplified 2.0’ and shelves the album citing lack of commercial appeal.
Thankfully, those original promos are still floating around on the internet allowing the fans to judge for themselves. The 9 track album may not have a single to rival ‘Breathe and Stop’ or ‘Vivrant Thing’ or a single at all in fact, but it is what it is: Q-Tip getting the chance to explore and make jazz rhythms with a live band rather than sampling old jazz records as he did for A Tribe Called Quest. It’s the sound of a rapper who wanted to push himself and his creativity, to get back to his roots after his digital album ‘Amplified’. ‘Kamaal the Abstract’ contains live drums, guitar, organ, saxophone, trumpets, flutes and of course the distinguished rhymes that Q-Tip is known for. Q-Tip even sings a little bit and there’s some great female backing vocals throughout. It’s a throwback to organic studio albums from the ’70s and early ’80s with strains of Stevie Wonder and is informed by Q-Tip’s extensive sampling of that era throughout his career.
There is a petition online here to get the album released and there is rumours that Q-Tip is trying to legally acquire the album from Arista Records. In the meantime, things haven’t been going too well as his second official album ‘Open’ was initially shelved. It now appears that it will be released under the title ‘Live at the Renaissance’ from Universal/Motown with guests such as Common, Andre 3000, Pharaohe Monch and Kanye West. No word on an official release date yet but head on over to Q-Tip’s myspace to hear the track ‘For the Nasty’ featuring Busta Rhymes.
Related Tags:
Q-Tip
A Tribe Called Quest
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
This is fantastic! Barely in Love is quality! i can’t believe this isn’t gonna get released. is there any chnace you can post some more tracks? cheers
This is fantastic! Barely in Love is quality! i can’t believe this isn’t gonna get released. is there any chnace you can post some more tracks? cheers
I’ve been looking for a bootleg of this album for a while. I wanna play the album in it’s entirety on my radio show. Was I the only person who thought Amplified… not so much?
I’ve been looking for a bootleg of this album for a while. I wanna play the album in it’s entirety on my radio show. Was I the only person who thought Amplified… not so much?
You can download the whole album at http://www.albumbase.com
It is an awesome record!!!
You can download the whole album at http://www.albumbase.com
It is an awesome record!!!
Say Ian,
I heard Kamaal’s track “Heels” on one of my favorite broadcasts on NuWave Radio and instantly starting hunting the album down. It seems albumbase.com doesn’t carry it any more. Any ideas as to where I can get a copy? I – WE ALL – NEED THIS ALBUM!!
Say Ian,
I heard Kamaal’s track “Heels” on one of my favorite broadcasts on NuWave Radio and instantly starting hunting the album down. It seems albumbase.com doesn’t carry it any more. Any ideas as to where I can get a copy? I – WE ALL – NEED THIS ALBUM!!
Go to http://www.albumbase.com, click search for albums and type in kamaal the abstract. It’s there, or search for Q-tip (not q tip), and it comes up. i was just there…
Go to http://www.albumbase.com, click search for albums and type in kamaal the abstract. It’s there, or search for Q-tip (not q tip), and it comes up. i was just there…