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."
All In
Q-Tip Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
("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
"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
("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")
The song "All In" by Q-Tip is an upbeat track that encourages listeners to let loose and have a good time. Q-Tip criticizes other rappers who take themselves too seriously and emphasizes the importance of effortless enjoyment in music. Throughout the song, he raps about partying, dancing, and being unapologetically himself. The chorus repeats the phrase "all in" as a rallying cry for listeners to fully commit to enjoying life.
One interesting fact about "All In" is that it features production from the legendary J Dilla, who was a friend and frequent collaborator of Q-Tip's. The track was released in 2002 as part of Q-Tip's debut solo album, "Amplified", which also featured guest appearances from Busta Rhymes and Korn's Jonathan Davis. Another interesting fact is that the song samples the melody of "Inside My Love" by Minnie Riperton, which has been used by numerous artists in hip-hop and R&B over the years.
In addition, "All In" was praised by critics upon its release and helped establish Q-Tip as a successful solo artist after his tenure with the group A Tribe Called Quest. The song's catchy chorus and infectious beat make it a fan-favorite to this day, and it remains a popular choice for DJs and party playlists. Overall, "All In" is a testament to the power of music to bring people together and promote positivity and joy.
Chords: Unfortunately, the chords for this song are not readily available.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, niggas be on the mic, they be all serious
People take themselves too seriously when they rap
It's good to be serious but, effortless shit
Being serious is great, but it's important to make it look easy
Effortless effa-efortless, mmm-hmm
Doing something with ease is key, 'effortless' is that much easier
Turn my music up, Duro, yo, yo, you my hero
DJ Duro is essential to make his songs sound amazing
Make the shit get louder
Increase the volume to make it sound better
Even more in my headphones, louder
Louder volume in the headphones give a better feel of the music
Uh, sweetheart, shake yo' ass cheeks
Encouraging women to dance and have fun
Bust it, mmm-hmmm, mmm-hmmm
Encouragement to have fun and enjoy the music
We gon' knock it down and put this
We're going to take over and replace what's currently popular
Rock solid Amplified shit up
Creating something with a solid foundation that's also amplified
It hurts like a sit-up
The hard work and effort put into creating music can be physically exhausting
So you betta send a letta to the betta
Send a message to the best and ask for their approval
We cut the bank and takin' all the bankin' chedda
Taking the industry by storm and making all the money
Girls get pretty-ed up
Women get dolled up and ready to go out
Then they comin' out the club
Women are out enjoying themselves in clubs
Rap cats, lock it up
Rappers should work hard and perfect their craft
Worldwide vision where
Having a clear vision for the future and a global reach
Everybody sees clear
Everyone can understand the vision and message
I could get you ten here
I have a large following and can bring people together
Uh, makes no fuss
No need to worry, things will fall into place
Keep my shit plush
Maintain a high level of quality in one's work
Compliment, I get blushed
Appreciating compliments and feeling proud of one's accomplishments
That's just how a brotha is
Not being afraid to embrace one's personality and identity
Big Willy kids and we really run our jibs
Confident in their abilities and in control of their own careers
Ladies, breathe easy
Women should relax and enjoy the moment
Let your man please thee
Allow the man to treat them and enjoy the experience
Takin' rhymes to another zone
Pushing boundaries and experimenting with new sounds and styles
Is your mother home? Cause we can get the moans
Inviting someone to be intimate with them
And stay strickly on a rhythmic notion, and
Maintaining a consistent flow and rhythm in their music
Keep the joint close for the commotion and
Keeping the party going and close together
Keep movin' around, movie stars
Continuing to move and evolve with their careers
Buy a little car, buy out the bar
Enjoying the fruits of their labor and success
('All in') for the people who move wit' me
Fully committed to those who support and move with them
('All in') for the nights of ecstasy
Fully committed to the good times and happy moments
('All in') for the way we work and play, doin' it
Fully committed to working hard and enjoying life
Everyday, this is how I need to be
Making this lifestyle and mindset a daily habit
We do it alive, blowin' the spot of this
Creating a lively and energetic atmosphere
Showin' to prove what rap is ('What is it?')
Demonstrating what real rap music should sound like
Marauder, pass the blue moon
Being a trailblazer and leading the pack
Hit 'chu wit' the ill tune
Creating music that's fresh and unique
Ass cheeks move wit' the help of my jacket bloom
Women are dancing and moving because of the music
Insert the veteran
Bringing in someone who's highly experienced and skilled
Who consecutively come wit' shit yet again
Consistently creating great music time after time
On the dance floor, chicks get horny
The music creates a fun and sexy atmosphere
Hopin' that they all move on me
Women are attracted to them and want to dance with them
Do it hard for the love of the game
Working hard because they're passionate about their music
Pull your card and I'm askin' yo' name, bitch
Challenging others in the industry and demanding respect
Jay-Dee be champion
J Dilla is a legend and a champion in the industry
Tip be stylin' and definin' yo' chick, best compan-ion
Q-Tip has style and is known for empowering women
I'd advise you to fix your self, for real
Encouraging others to improve themselves and their skills
And do your shit wit' more zeal ('More zeal')
Put more passion and enthusiasm into their work
We in the mix and it's thickenin'
In the midst of creating something great
My rhyme and it's tickin' in
The music is flowing and sounding great
The hatin' and the shit is so sickenin'
People who are negative and jealous can be draining
Picasso, original ('Riginal')
Creating something unique and original like Picasso's art
You forg-azy and the shit amaze me
People who are lazy and uncreative are unimpressive
Sharpen your contrast and put a little color in it
Improve your skills and add your own unique touch
High Define your screen and put this brotha in it
Creating high-quality music and videos that are visually impressive
('All in') for the people who roll wit' me
Committed to those who support and roll with them
('All in') for the people who work and play, doin' it
Committed to being dedicated and having fun at the same time
('All in') for the nights of ecstasy
Fully committed to enjoying themselves and having a good time
Everyday, this is how I need to be ('Need to be')
Making this lifestyle and mindset a necessity every single day
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: James Dewitt Yancey, Kamaal Ibn John Fareed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind