Q-Tip's long-delayed jazzbo album Kamaal the Abstract just got released, but he's still promoting last year's The Renaissance via the video for "Life is Better," a Norah Jones-featuring jam. For the first half of the song, you'd be excused for thinking it's just a new Norah Jones joint, since Tip and Jones pretty much split the spotlight 50/50. Tip's verse is a rapid-fire rap name game, which is okay, I suppose, but when Norah Jones has the more profound lyrics on your song, and all she does is repeat the hook over and over again, something's out of whack.
The Renaissance is out now.
Q-Tip »
This song was actually on last year's album The Renaissance, not Kamaal the Abstract. And the song is just an ode to hip-hop pioneers past and present. What's wrong with that? I didn't realize all songs had to be "profound."