Q-Tip Sings The Hook On "We Fight/We Love" For Ellen Degeneres
I remember a bunch of years ago while I was still on my world (educational) tour, before I moved back to New York, I'd be nonstop asking my artisty friends for stories of their NYC encounters with the people on my iPod. (Yes I was one of those.) There was this friend, who had a friend of a friend etc., that took voice lessons with Tip. I liked the sound of that, imagining that signature rasp turning toward melody. This was during the big release-less gap from '99 to now (Kamaal The Abstract notwithstanding), so I figured we'd see a lot more singing from the man in the future. And we have. Alongside guest spots from people like D'Angelo, The Renaissance is riddled with Kamaal being his very own D'Angelo (I'm thinking "Official" specifically, but he plies the syncopated, stacked background harmonies throughout). It's probably wise that he farmed out the best singing-hooks to tested golden throats, like Raphael Saadiq on the man-woman boogie of "We Fight/We Love," but as they say in show business, you can't always bring Raphael Saadiq with you when you do the Ellen show. Previously acknowledged friend of hip hop Degeneres had Kamaal do the tune yesterday, and yes he sung it, and it sounds, well, it'll do when Raph's not around.
The Renaissance is out via Universal Motown. It's a dope record.
UPDATE: Here's Q-Tip Q&A, talking The Renaissance and etc. with PBS's Tavis Smiley.
(Via nahright)
Posted at 12:11 PM by amrit in Video
Tags: Ellen DeGeneres | Q-Tip
I think I prefer Q-Tip singing the hook.
Score = 1
I wouldn't say i prefer it more than Raphael's singing but it wasn't that bad either. I actually quite liked it.
Score = 2
Put him on the list of rappers that can sing in tune.
Score = 2
Hehehe, his tambourine.
Score = 0
I love Q-tip, but this song sucks.
Score = -1