Q-Tip

Q-Tip is an American rapper, producer and actor from St. Albans, in the United States. He is best known as the former leader of A Tribe Called Quest and as one of the group’s original members. His work is associated with alternative hip hop, boom bap, conscious hip hop, east coast hip hop, hip hop and instrumental hip hop.

Background and names

He is born Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, with the birth name Jonathan William Davis. He later converts to Islam and takes the name Kamaal Ibn John Fareed. He also uses the stage names Kamaal the Abstract and The Abstract Poetic. The “Q” in his name refers to Queens and is also described as a name linked to his ability to get into listeners’ ears.

He moves to Jamaica, Queens as a child and is later associated with Linden Boulevard, which he references in the A Tribe Called Quest song “Check the Rhime”.

Career with A Tribe Called Quest

Q-Tip is part of A Tribe Called Quest’s original lineup and the group becomes known for jazz-influenced hip hop. The group disbands in 1998, later reunites in 2006 for a limited number of dates, and appears again with its full line-up on the 2K7 NBA Bounce Tour. Occasional member Jarobi White is also part of the reunion lineup.

Early recording and production work

His first appearance on record is on the Jungle Brothers’ Straight Out the Jungle in 1988. As a producer, he works under the alias “the Abstract” and often with Ali Shaheed Muhammad and the late Jay Dee as The Ummah. He produces for Nas on “One Love” from Illmatic, for Mobb Deep on “Give up the Goods (Just Step)”, “Temperature’s Rising” and “Drink Away the Pain” from The Infamous, and for Mariah Carey on “Honey” from Butterfly and Whitney Houston on “Fine” from Greatest Hits.

Solo releases

After A Tribe Called Quest disbands, he continues as a solo artist. His first solo singles are “Vivrant Thing” and “Breathe & Stop”, which are more pop-oriented than his work with the group. His debut solo album, Amplified, is released on Arista Records in 1999. He records Kamaal the Abstract in 2002; the album is shelved by Arista, then later issued on CD in 2009. His third release, The Renaissance, appears in 2008. He later signs a solo deal with Motown/Universal Records and is linked with G.O.O.D. Music.

Other activity

Q-Tip is described as Grammy Award winning. He also plans a hip hop group with Common called The Standard. He later says he is negotiating control of the masters of earlier material and intends to release some of that music independently.