quick talk with q tip by mike d

What follows is a quick conversation that I had with my man Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest. After seeing Quest wreck shop at the Palladium in N.Y.C., performing songs off Low End Theory and their upcoming Midnight Mauraders, I left feeling hyped, looking forward to what they will bring for 1994. After promptly getting my hands on an advance tape of the new LP, I gave Q-Tip a call to check in.

MIKE: What is your favorite old school rap record?

Q-TIP: I'm supposed to get these tapes from Biz. Shit like Lisa Lee.

MIKE: Who's that?

Q-TIP: She was down with Bambaattaa and the Zulu Nation. She was out when Pebbly-Poo and Sha Rock were around. [Q Tip sings bass line from Busy Bee's "Makin' Cash Money"] Yo what record is that bass line from?

MIKE: That's "Makin' Cash Money" by Busy Bee, but I also got Spoonie Gee doin' somethin' over that shit.

Q-TIP: You have "The Big Beat" by Spoonie Gee?

MIKE: When was that, after "Spankin and Freakin'"?

Q-TIP: Yeah that shit was dope. But that's my favorite old school rap 12 inch "Makin' cash Money." Is there an instrumental?

MIKE: Yeah, we used to do the last verse of "Hold It Now" over it in concert.

Q-TIP: Yeah that's what I want to do--freak it for our live show.

MIKE: What are your favorite Biz Mark records?

Q-TIP: [Sings] Biz Markie's "Goin' Off". My favorite Biz records are "Pickin' Boogers" and "The Doo Doo".

MIKE: But you like when he beat boxes on that Roxanne Shante 12 inch?

Q-TIP: Yeah.

MIKE: What's your favorite beat on your new album?

Q-TIP: I don't have one. Yo you should ask me what my favorite mix of groups would be.

MIKE: OK.

Q-TIP: I would have Sly Stone do a record with James Brown in 1971 . No, '69, I'd have them do a record in 1969.

MIKE: What about that one time when we were comparing Kool And The Gang and The Ohio Players? Who's better?

Q-TIP: Kool And The Gang. They're better musicians. Their horn section was the shit.

MIKE: And plus their shit was deeper, they had more funky records.

Q-TIP: Yeah, you can't fuck with Kool And The Gang.

MIKE: What about organ players? Do you like Brother Jack McDuff?

Q-TIP: Yeah, but I really like Lonnie Smith.

MIKE: Who should we be checking for in the next year?

Q-TIP: Nasty Nas. And I think the Pharcyde is gonna take over the whole shit--they're dope.

MIKE: Who's that on the song, "Award Tour," on your album?

Q-TIP: That's Dove from De La.

MIKE: What else should I ask you about your new album?

Q-TIP: What's up with your new album? What are you gonna call it

MIKE: I don't know, we were thinking about Par For The Course.

Q-TIP: [Laughs] . That's dope. Are you gonna have two 1200s out on the golf course with your mics wrapped up in your nine iron? You should have the cover be like Yauch hitting the ball and you and Adam and Mario watching where it's going. Yo you know who's dope? The Hieroglyphics.

MIKE:Yeah I like Casual a lot.

Q-TIP: Del is dope. His shit is fat. Our next album is gonna be somethin'. It's gonna be called Bonanza Rides. It's gonna be all freestyle and all songs about girls! Like Tanika, Stacy, shit like that and a lot of freestylin'.

MIKE: What happened to that other group you were doing on the side?

Q-TlP: Oh that was The Fabulous Fleas. It was me, Pos (of De La), and Ju Ju from the Beatnuts. We recorded a few songs but then we fell off.

MIKE: What happened to the jazz group you were gonna do?

Q-TIP: I'm still down to do that.

MIKE: What happened to the Nasal Poets?

Q-TIP: Me, Adrock and Be Real? I'm still down to do that. I'm down for all that. You know, like Eddie Harris, I'm gonna live forever. Yo, I should go, I'm about to watch my man Kurt Loder, find out what goes on in the world of rock. Cos I don't know shit!

MIKE: Alright peace.