Pitchfork

On his the first single from the oft-delayed The Renaissance, Q-Tip makes note of how much has changed in the eight years since Amplified: "Ring tone/ The labels cashing in/ They think they're gonna win/ From this phenomenon." Er, he may be overestimating their optimism. His instrument, however, hasn't changed a whit -- despite his elder statesman status, he still sounds like the smart kid with the high voice describing his world in clear, vivid couplets.

Stream:> Q-Tip - "WorkItOut" [.mov]
Stream:> Q-Tip - "WorkItOut" [.asx]

[From the forthcoming The Renaissance; due in September from Universal/Motown]