Has anybody heard Q Tip's Kamaal the Abstract? There must be some way to find this album seeing that it was given an official review.


A personal, unique project compared to Amplified (Q-Tip's first under his own name), Kamaal the Abstract fittingly sounds more like a solo album; whereas Amplified merely built on the digital soul of the last Tribe Called Quest album (The Love Movement), this one is wide-ranging and diverse, a relaxed, loose-limbed date. Q-Tip lays way back on these cuts, rapping in a quick, low monotone for the opener, "Feelin'," even while the song breaks into some restrained guitar grind on the choruses. Guitars, in fact, crop up all over this record. Setting aside comparisons to the contemporary record by N.E.R.D. (the rock side project of hip-hop super-producers Neptunes), Q-Tip crafted a record that pays homage to the last gasp of organically produced mainstream pop in the '70s and '80s, paying a large compliment to Prince and Stevie Wonder, even as he proves himself far more talented than D'Angelo (if not quite as soulful). The beats are pointed and clipped, to be expected on a Q-Tip record, but he allows plenty of space for the arrangements to speak, like the trim trumpet lines pacing "Even if It Is So" or allowing plenty of room for extended blowing from a flute on the warm, pastoral "Do You Dig You." The former is one of the best tracks here, Q-Tip introducing his story song with a fluid, ten-second speed-rap that says more about the plight of the single mother he adores than any other rapper could with an entire album. This wasn't the kind of record that lights up the charts -- which could account for the reason it didn't appear on the shelves in late April 2002, as expected -- but in many ways it's superior to the released Amplified.

yeah I posted on it last month. A great album. I like it way better than Amplified

paisleypark4 said:

How did you hear it? Has it been released in any form?

A few magazines reviewed it but it was never widely available. I think what's circulating is the journalist's promo copy used 4 making reviews. I absolutely LOVE this cd, by the way!

Meloh9 said:

limewire baby

paisleypark4 said:

That's a secret.....now take it back.

I got into this recently. It is on high rotation! Right now it's alternating with Bilal's Love for sale. Works well.

Grat cd.I really want Open,though.I read a review where some of downloaded it.I have yet to find it!!I really want it!! It's so cool because through Madlib I have been finding more of Tribe's source sounds.I love Tip and I love Tribe!!Release Kamaal and let Tip,John Davis,and Kamaal Farid soar!

Really is one of the great unreleased albums of all time. So varied and deeply funky.

Meloh9 said:

Orgnote me ...

...

Graycap23 said:

that was the first place I went, I don't have limewire pro, I found nothing.