MGF Reviews Q-Tip – Open

Reviews


Q-Tip – Open
J Records (Release date N/A)
Hip-Hop

Way back in 2002, Q-Tip tried to release a sophomore album. Kamaal the Abstract featured live instruments accompanied by more singing than rapping, and was promptly shelved, but not before review copies were sent out to media outlets.

Q-Tip secured a release from his label, Arista, seeking refuge on J Records, where he began work on an alternate album, Open, which was intended to be released in 2005.

The album begins with “Johnny Died”, a harsh critique of hip-hop culture in the middle of the decade. And while it may be coming from a genuine place, Q-Tip comes off sounding like a bitter old man shaking his cane at teenagers and telling them not to drive so fast. (A rerecorded version of the song, now titled “Johnny Is Dead”, opens up Q-Tip’s eventual sophomore album, the recently released The Renaissance, and features Q-Tip sounding much less resentful.)

For the most part, Open feels like Q-Tip trying the straddle the impossible line between remaining artistic and conceding to label demands. The live instrumentation from Kamaal is still present, but so are songs that seem to have been recorded with the sole intention of getting some play on the radio—”That’s Sexy”, which features both Andre 3000 and Q-Tip crooning, is the most obvious example of catering to the radio/women. D’Angelo pops up on “I Believe”, which also seems aimed to programmers ears.

And it’s that divided focus that makes the album feel off-balance, like he can’t decide what he wants to do. Both Amplified and Kamaal created pretty consistent vibes and atmospheres, but Open is all over the place.

“Where Did You Go” has a one-minute intro, and the song’s not even three-and-a-half minutes long, but it’s Q-Tip coping with a death, so a bit of self-indulgence isn’t that bad. That song and “Lisa” seem to be the most personal tracks, with the latter featuring the emcee as a jilted lover.

Of course, any album that has over 15 tracks is bound to have some filler. “Compute” is almost nine minutes long, featuring a couple solos and Q-Tip singing—it’s a bit much. “Say Something for Me” is an odd attempt to fulfill a fan’s request for a song that doesn’t sexually objectify women. It’s an earnest song, but it feels sort of like a slapdash effort.

Three of the songs (“Johnny Died”, “I Believe”, “Official”) did make it onto The Renaissance in some shape or form, but Open is sort of a disappointing album. He doesn’t take the same risks he took on his first shelved album, Kamaal, and his rhyming just sounds lazy. In fact, he sounds like an emcee who’s past his prime but still hungry for the spotlight.

There’s really nothing special about this album and as a result it just feels like a disappointment. It’s probably best that this one never saw the light of day.

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