All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Entertainment Weekly

His music now seems as fresh and necessary an alternative to rap's mainstream as it did when Tribe first arrived. Welcome back, old friend.

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100

Delusions of Adequacy

The Renaissance is arguably, the best hip-hop album of the year.

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All Music Guide

His long-awaited return on The Renaissance is no disappointment, offering more of the same understated, aqueous grooves and fluid rapping that the Abstract Poetic has built his peerless career on.

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Los Angeles Times

Though he gripes that fans are always bringing up Tribe, The Renaissance is a showcase for Q-Tip's cool and empathetic consciousness.

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RapReviews.com

Whilst not quite a true Renaissance for hip hop, it certainly is a rebirth for Q-Tip--and fans of A Tribe Called Quest will dine out on this album for the next nine years too.

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Pitchfork

It's hard to complain too much about such a brighter-day kind of record, and it feels like the perfect album at the perfect time-- released on Election Day, appropriately enough, as the ideal soundtrack for Barack Obama winning the presidency.

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Paste Magazine

The Renaissance is the logical extension of this exploratory work, coupled with Q-Tip’s need to, once and for all, step out from behind Tribe’s long, dominant shadow, and in many respects (if not all), it succeeds wildly in both dimensions.

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Slant Magazine

The Renaissance Q-Tip reaffirms his stature as one of the hip-hop greats by waxing unassuming, cool-headed and wise.

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Q Magazine

In between there's much else to savour, from smooth slow jams to Won't Trade's terrific blast of rap meets '60s soul. [Jan 2009, p.123]

Mojo

His reliably nerdular delivery and thoughtful lyrics still make it sound box-fresh compared to the generic macho fare that still dominates mainstream hip hop. [Dec 2008, p.100]

Spin

Up-tempo and uplifting, this largely self-produced record blurs distinctions between accessibility and avant-gardism.

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The Guardian

Cloaking its eclecticism with a homogenising sheen, the album's frequent changes of mood and direction dazzle.

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Boston Globe

The disc is an affirmation that life, and hip-hop, can indeed get better.

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Observer Music Monthly

At the end of an extraordinary year in America, hip hop is witnessing the start of its lost icon's second term.

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NOW Magazine

So the cookie-cutter joints are tossed out the window for The Renaissance as Q-Tip attempts to show that he can creatively flow over whatever unusual progression or production twist comes along with each successive track.

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Village Voice

After myriad delays and label woes, it's clear the interminable wait for new material was worth it.

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cokemachineglow

The Renaissance functions as a representation that he’s never needed to say much of anything to be immensely enjoyable.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

It's an appropriately elegiac, bittersweet conclusion to a solid though less-than-transcendent comeback album from a hip-hop icon who has survived to make good music, even if he hasn't exactly thrived.

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Blender

The Renaissance hints at newness, but its cushy boom-bap grooves, airy soulfulness and rhymes about struggle and redemption recall rap’s Edenic “golden age.”

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Hot Press

Q-Tip demonstrates his unique talent in this sleek, soulful, silky-smooth hip-hop album.

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The New York Times

Some of this works wickedly--'Believe,' the D’Angelo track, is a keeper, as is 'Gettin’ Up,' a charismatic come-on--but there are just as many small missteps.

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Urb

In a sentence, Q-Tip’s long-awaited release looks to get people to thinking, loving, and dancing, as usual.

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New York Magazine

Q-Tip's flow on his new disc remains mellow, freewheeling, and vaguely inspirational. But it doesn't feel relevant.

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Uncut

The Renaissance offers a compromise between the rootsy East Coast rap he helped to define and the LP you imagine the label wanted. [Jan 2008, p.111]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 9.2 (out of 10) based on 38 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Toma D gave it a9:
One of the best Hip-Hop albums I've heard in ages! Easily one of the best of the 2000's decade. Keep it up Q-Man!

Claire F gave it a10:
One of the best albums I have bought in years...immense!

Eric M gave it a10:
This album is magnificent, a great experience

Bryden S gave it a9:
One of the forefathers of conscious rap reemerges after a lengthy absence and two shelved albums to release his best album since Tribe's prime and easily one of the finest hip-hop releases of 2008. He expands his vocal palette singing more and rapping less as well as collaborating with guests from the usual suspects the late great DIlla to those unexpected, Norah Jones. Despite the stylistic variations Q-Tip's material remains consistently high quality throughout. Hopefully the followup won't take nearly a decade to surface.

steve C gave it a9:
After the massive disappointment of Amplified nearly 10 years ago ('Breathe & Stop' only sounded good on the much-played Michael Jackson Don't stop till you get enough mash-up bootleg) - this is so worth the wait. A layered, yet accessible piece which breathes life into hip-hop. Stand out tracks: Move, You (a masterpiece), Johnny is Dead, Gettin up, Life is Better. You have to buy this.

Johan K gave it a10:
Big up and thanks to Q-Tip! This is definetly a top 3 album of the year.

Deadrick D gave it a10:
I've played the album like 3 times back to back. It has soulful vibe that reminds me of some of the old Tribe Called Quest tracks. Its a great album. Welcome back, Q-Tip! The game needs you man!

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The Renaissance

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