Q-Tip

Released: November 30, 1999

Featuring: Meda Leacock

Songwriter: Meda Leacock Q-Tip J Dilla

Producer: J Dilla Q-Tip

[Q-Tip]
"Yo. Niggas be on the mic, they be all serious...
It's good to be serious but... effortless shit
Effortless... effa-efortless. Mmm-hmm
Turn my music up, Duro. Yo, yo, you my hero
Make the shit get louder. Even more in my headphones. Louder
Uh. Sweetheart, shake yo' ass cheeks
Bust it. Mmm-hmmm. Mmm-hmmm."

We gon' knock it down and put this
Rock solid Amplified shit up
It hurts like a sit-up
So you betta send a letta to the betta
We cut the bank and takin' all the bankin' chedda
Girls get pretty-ed up
Then they comin' out the club. Rap cats, lock it up
Worldwide vision where
Everybody sees clear
I could get you ten here
Uh. Makes no fuss. Keep my shit plush
Compliment, I get blushed. That's just how a brotha is
Big Willy kids and we really run our jibs
Ladies, breathe easy. Let your man please thee
Uh. Takin' rhymes to another zone
Is your mother home? Cause we can get the moans
And stay strickly on a rhythmic notion, and
Keep the joint close for the commotion and
Keep movin' around. Movie stars
Buy a little car, buy out the bar

[Q-Tip (Meda Leacock)]
("All in...") ...for the people who move wit' me
("All in...") ...for the nights of ecstasy
("All in...") ...for the way we work and play, doin' it
Everyday. This is how I need to be
("All in...") ...for the people who roll wit' me
("All in...") ...for the nights of ecstasy
("All in...") ...for the people who work and play, doin' it
Everyday. This is how I need to be

[Q-Tip]
"Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, what?"
We do it alive, blowin' the spot of this
Showin' to prove what rap is. ("What is it?")
Marauder, pass the blue moon
Hit 'chu wit' the ill tune
Ass cheeks move wit' the help of my jacket bloom
Insert the veteran
Who consecutively come wit' shit yet again
On the dance floor, chicks get horny
Hopin' that they all move on me
Word, for REAL for real
Do it hard for the love of the game
Pull your card and I'm askin' yo' name, bitch
Jay-Dee be champion
Tip be stylin' and definin' yo' chick, best compan-ion
I'd advise you to fix your self, for real
And do your shit wit' more zeal. ("More zeal.")
We in the mix and it's thickenin'
My rhyme and it's tickin' in
The hatin' and the shit is so sickenin'
Picasso, original. ("'Riginal.")
You forg-azy and the shit amaze me
Sharpen your contrast and put a little color in it
High Define your screen and put this brotha in it

[Q-Tip (Meda Leacock)]
("All in...") ...for the people who move wit' me
("All in...") ...for the nights of ecstasy
("All in...") ...for the way we work and play, doin' it
Everyday. This is how I need to be
("All in...") ...for the people who roll wit' me
("All in...") ...for the nights of ecstasy
("All in...") ...for the people who work and play, doin' it
Everyday. This is how I need to be
("All in...") ...for the people who move wit' me
("All in...") ...for the nights of ecstasy
("All in...") ...for the way we work and play, doin' it
Everyday. This is how I need to be
("All in...") ...for the people who roll wit' me
("All in...") ...for the nights of ecstasy
("All in...") ...for the people who work and play, doin' it
Everyday. This is how I need to be. ("Need to be...")

Jonathan Davis (born April 10, 1970), aka Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, aka Q-Tip is a rapper and producer known as a member of A Tribe Called Quest, the hip-hop group responsible for helping popularize “jazz rap” and releasing classics such as “Bonita Applebum,” “Scenario,” and “Electric Relaxation.” After Tribe released their fifth album in 1998, Q-Tip launched his solo career, releasing three albums and popular singles such as “Vivrant Thing” and “Breathe and Stop” before reuniting with Tribe in 2016 to release the group’s final album following the death of his rhyme partner Phife Dawg.

Q-Tip also produced on a number of other projects during his time with Tribe, most notably for Queens representatives Nas and Mobb Deep on their classic albums Illmatic and The Infamous respectively. In 1995, he connected with producer Jay Dee aka J Dilla and Tribe’s DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad to form the production crew The Ummah, and the trio produced and remixed tracks for Busta Rhymes, Janet Jackson, and Michael Jackson. Tip also produced for Run-DMC, The Roots, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and he also worked with both Jay-Z and Kanye West on their Watch the Throne album.

Q-Tip currently has his own Abstract Radio show on Apple Music’s Beats 1 station.

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