Q-Tip's The Renaissance

I was starting to get worried - is Lil Wayne's Carter III the only worthwhile rap album coming out this year? It was looking that way, with Jay-Z further delaying his and Kanye sounding like he's abandoning rap altogether (and the Streets new album barely qualifying as rap). Every fall, there is a late entry into the race, and last week gave us a masterpiece.

I incorrectly assumed Q-Tip hasn't done much since his Tribe Called Quest days. He's actually recorded four albums in ten years, now two of which have been released. And Wilco thought they had record label problems: at least their recordings eventually get released by somebody.

On the Renaissance, Q-Tip brings back a few things rap has been missing. First is the funk: the low end of this record reminds me of west coast rap from the 90s. Second is actual choruses: between his rhymes of "Gettin' Up" is a beautifully sung harmony. Third is social conscience in the Bob Marley sense of the phrase: "We Fight/We Love" is a calm, peaceful rally call that is out of place with the typical curse-at-the-President fare that passes for political in today's hip-hop. Even "Life Is Better", a romantic duet with Norah Jones, holds together and works in the record's context.

If you own any Tribe Called Quest albums, you already know you are getting one of the best MCs alive; in fact, Jay-Z might be his only competition. Let's all make an effort to make sure this guy is never prevented from releasing an album again: this is everything a rap record should be.