The Q in his name stands for Queens, and it is also said to be a name that represents his ability to get into one’s ears.
Early career:
Q-Tip's first appearance on record was on the Jungle Brothers' Straight Out the Jungle in 1988. Besides performing with his popular and successful jazz-influenced hip hop group, Tip also did production work (under his production alias "the Abstract" or often — along with fellow Tribe member Ali Shaheed Muhammad and the late Slum Village member Jay Dee — as part of The Ummah) for artists such as Nas ("One Love," from Illmatic, 1994), Mobb Deep (co-producer on "Give up the Goods (Just Step)," "Temperature's Rising," and "Drink Away the Pain," from The Infamous, 1995) and even R&B divas Mariah Carey ("Honey," from Butterfly, 1997) and Whitney Houston ("Fine," from Greatest Hits).
Solo career:
A Tribe Called Quest disbanded in 1998, after which Q-Tip pursued a solo career. His first solo singles, "Vivrant Thing" and "Breathe & Stop," were far more pop-oriented than anything he had done in A Tribe Called Quest, as was his solo debut LP for Arista Records, Amplified. His 2002 follow-up, Kamaal the Abstract, although critically acclaimed and issued a catalog number, was never released because the label believed that it did not have commercial appeal. His next album, The Renaissance, was released November 2008.
A Tribe Called Quest reunited in 2006 and played a limited number of dates. The group was composed of its original lineup, including Tip and occasional member Jarobi White. Early the next year, Tip signed a new solo deal with Motown/Universal Records.
As of late, Q-Tip has been very active, once again happily reunited with the full line-up of A Tribe Called Quest on the 2K7 NBA Bounce Tour and regaining control of his previously label-owned MySpace page. He has filled the page up with demos and rarities, (some of them from Kamaal the Abstract), and has announced he is negotiating for the ownership of the masters of earlier material from his previous labels and plans to release them independently. Currently, he resides in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
Q-Tip has recently stated that he will be forming a hip hop group with fellow rapper Common, called "The Standard."
Let's Ride
Q-Tip Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Four point something with a low ride something
Ain't nothing better than to ride out the hood with it
Who looking better and damn you looking good in it
Take a chance with a nigga in a choice ride
Listen to the CD's I play inside
Mos Def, Jay, Prince, and Stevie
Marvin Gaye, Led Zeppelin, and Biggie
And when the evening is over love
Gonna find a nice spot for the rover love
Do things to make the man in the moon blush
My mind race but I tell my waist don't rush
You's a upper echelon piece
So when you find its stashed then you don't freak
You want to nibble on a nigga ear
And do all the things that make a nigga want to get near
Oh I'm a Queens representative
Get wild by any means my incentive is
When we done, I start it up again
And ride round with you 'cause you my special friend, uh
Oh, me and you I think we should ride
Come on come on come on come on
Don't worry just done get inside
Come on come on come on come on
The second cut, her ride is like art
We get creative in it when we take it out and spin it
The backseat is the canvas we painting on
Abstract the word we creating on
The TV's in the back and the dash too
Got miss napkins and bamboo
Don't worry, the tip's past the legal one
Outkast's banging loud in my eardrum
The way the wheels spin cutting through the still wind
Outsiders looking in with the ill grin
Fuel injected brand new inspected
Emissions got tested details perfected
Got the armor all touch empty out the dutch
No tobacco spilling on my rug clutch
Kick off your shoes show off your pedicure
Shake off the blues we all forgetting more
Boy that thing
Stuff that brings ecstasy maybe you blink
A little harder than your average hugagraph
Lady tell me this is better than taking a cab
And when you back tell all your girls
You rode around hot-wheeling drinking no Earl
Vacationing, V up my V8
Just one night we drive and we escape
Oh, me and you I think we should ride
Come on come on come on come on
Don't worry just done get inside
Come on come on come on come on
Oh, me and you I think we should ride
Come on come on come on come on
Don't worry just done get inside
Come on come on come on come on
The lyrics to Q-Tip's song "Let's Ride" describe the experience of driving around in his brand new truck with a "butter soft seat" and a "low ride something." He suggests that there's nothing better than cruising around his neighborhood with someone who looks (and feels) good next to him. As they drive, they listen to a variety of artists, from Mos Def and Jay-Z to Marvin Gaye and Led Zeppelin, and they eventually find a spot for some intimate moments. In the second half of the song, Q-Tip emphasizes the creative potential of their ride, describing the backseat as a canvas to paint on, with TV screens and music blaring. Throughout the song, the idea of driving around with someone serves as a metaphor for freedom, exploration, and intimacy.
One way to interpret this song is as a celebration of car culture, particularly in hip-hop. For many rappers, owning and customizing a car has been an important symbol of success, creativity, and freedom. Q-Tip's lyrics suggest that the experience of cruising around with someone is just as important as the car itself, as it allows for a certain kind of connection and intimacy that transcends the physical act of driving. The name-dropping of a diverse set of musical artists also suggests a certain eclecticism and open-mindedness that mirrors the creative energy of hip-hop.
There are many possible interpretations of this song, but one thing that's clear is the infectious groove and catchy melody that makes listeners want to join in on the ride.
Line by Line Meaning
Brand new truck, butter soft seat
Q-Tip sets the scene with an exquisite and expensive truck with comfortable seats.
Four point something with a low ride something
The car Q-Tip is driving has a lower center of gravity, giving it better handling and a sleek look.
Ain't nothing better than to ride out the hood with it
There's nothing better than driving this car in the hood.
Who looking better and damn you looking good in it
Q-Tip admires his companion and thinks they look great in the car.
Take a chance with a nigga in a choice ride
Q-Tip is offering his companion the opportunity to take a ride with him in his luxurious car.
Listen to the CD's I play inside
Q-Tip is confident in his taste in music and wants his companion to hear the CDs he's playing in the car.
Mos Def, Jay, Prince, and Stevie
Q-Tip references some of his favorite artists to listen to while driving, including Mos Def, Jay Z, Prince, and Stevie Wonder.
Marvin Gaye, Led Zeppelin, and Biggie
Q-Tip also enjoys listening to Marvin Gaye, Led Zeppelin, and Biggie while driving.
And when the evening is over love
Once the night is over, and the ride is finished.
Gonna find a nice spot for the rover love
He's going to park the car somewhere nice.
Do things to make the man in the moon blush
He's going to do things with his companion that will leave them both feeling satisfied and fulfilled.
My mind race but I tell my waist don't rush
Even though he's eager to get intimate with his companion, he's controlling his desires.
You's a upper echelon piece
Q-Tip compliments his companion, saying that they are a top-notch individual.
So when you find its stashed then you don't freak
He reassures his companion to not worry or be afraid when they find what he has hidden in the car.
You want to nibble on a nigga ear
Q-Tip's companion desires to get intimate with him.
And do all the things that make a nigga want to get near
His companion wants to do things that will bring them closer together.
Oh I'm a Queens representative
Q-Tip represents Queens, New York, where he's from.
Get wild by any means my incentive is
He wants to have fun in any way possible.
When we done, I start it up again
After the ride is over, he wants to do it again.
And ride round with you 'cause you my special friend, uh
He wants to spend time with his companion because they are special to him.
The second cut, her ride is like art
Q-Tip's companion's car is also a work of art.
We get creative in it when we take it out and spin it
When they take the car for a spin, they have fun and get creative with it.
The backseat is the canvas we painting on
The backseat of the car is a canvas for them to create new experiences together.
Abstract the word we creating on
They're creating something new and unpredictable.
The TV's in the back and the dash too
There are screens in the backseat and front of the car.
Got miss napkins and bamboo
There are mispaced napkins and bamboo in the car.
Don't worry, the tip's past the legal one
He reassures his companion that he's past the legal limit of alcohol consumption.
Outkast's banging loud in my eardrum
Outkast's music is playing loudly in the car.
The way the wheels spin cutting through the still wind
The car's wheels are spinning impressively and smoothly through the air.
Outsiders looking in with the ill grin
People outside of the car are admiring them with a smile on their face.
Fuel injected brand new inspected
The car has been recently inspected and it's a new model with a fuel injection system.
Emissions got tested details perfected
The car's emissions have been tested and everything's perfect.
Got the armor all touch empty out the dutch
He's cleaned the car with Armor All, and emptied a Dutch (a type of cigar) outside of the car.
No tobacco spilling on my rug clutch
He doesn't want any tobacco to be spilt from the cigar onto his rug clutch.
Kick off your shoes show off your pedicure
He asks his companion to take off their shoes and show off their well-groomed feet.
Shake off the blues we all forgetting more
They're enjoying themselves and not worrying about anything else in the world.
Boy that thing
That thing is amazing.
Stuff that brings ecstasy maybe you blink
They're doing something that's bringing a lot of pleasure, maybe even causing them to shut their eyes.
A little harder than your average hugagraph
They're embracing and being more intimate than the average couple.
Lady tell me this is better than taking a cab
He asks his companion if this is better than taking a taxi.
And when you back tell all your girls
He wants his companion to share their experience with their friends.
You rode around hot-wheeling drinking no Earl
He wants his companion to tell their friends that they took an exhilarating ride while drinking without getting drunk.
Vacationing, V up my V8
He compares their ride to a vacation and wants to rev up his V8 engine.
Just one night we drive and we escape
They'll take this car on a single ride and escape their worries for the night.
Oh, me and you I think we should ride
Q-Tip wants to take his companion on a ride.
Come on come on come on come on
He's encouraging his companion to join him in the car.
Don't worry just done get inside
He tells his companion not to worry and just get inside the car.
Come on come on come on come on
He's still encouraging his companion to join him in the ride.
Oh, me and you I think we should ride
He repeats his desire to take his companion on a ride.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JAMES DEWITT YANCEY, KAMAAL IBN JOHN FAREED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind