Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2009

Hip-hop-meets-jazz is hardly a novel combination. But for an artist of the commercial stature of Q-Tip to go this out-there on an album was unthinkable—at least for Arista/BMG, which in 2002 nixed the release of Kamaal The Abstract. Finally reaching the light of day, the disc pits Tip’s understated delivery against the impressionistic melodies and dense chords of sax player Kenny Garrett and guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel. This may not satisfy those looking for the dope beats of Tip’s go-to producer J Dilla, but for jazz heads, the easy trumpet riffs of “Even If It Is So” or the free-flowing flute solo of “Do You Dig U?” hit the spot. The Japan edition comes with a flavorsome, complete-with-vinyl-record-crackle remix of “Barely In Love” by noted local DJ Muro.