Q-Tip top

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THE new Q-Tip album, Kamaal The Abstract, sees him looking backwards while moving forwards.
Because the LP, the third from Q-Tip - real name Kamaal Ibn John Fareed - has a real retro feel to it, despite it marking a progression for the rapper.
For a start, he does as much singing here as rapping, over tracks that see old school hip hop melded with soulful, funky, jazzy grooves.
This is easily Q-Tip's best solo work - an album to put alongside A Tribe Called Quest's finest.
What's remarkable is that despite this, the album was actually written and recorded in 2001, but shamefully not released by his label as it was deemed un-commercial.
Thankfully, from Monday, it will finally be on the shelves - so buy it.