When looking back at some of the most influential hip-hop artists down the years, Q-Tip is undoubtedly one of the pioneers of our generation. Although his work as a solo artist may not be awarded as much as the prominence of A Tribe Called Quest, the New York artist’s work as a rapper, producer and DJ on a solo front has continued to push boundaries throughout the 2000s until now, and provided inspiration for rising musicians in his own city and across the world. 2014 saw somewhat of a resurgence for Kamaal after reuniting with Busta Rhymes, with his The Last Zulu LP in sight and hopefully further collaborations as part of G.O.O.D. Music.
In celebration of his birthday today, we took a step away from his work with the tribe to focus on his solo material. From three studio albums to working with the likes of Common, Mobb Deep, The Roots and Mos Def, we reflect on just a small fraction of his personal catalog.
Happy birthday Q-Tip!
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