Kamaal Ibn John Fareed (born Jonathan William Davis, April 10, 1970 in Harl… Read Full Bio ↴Kamaal Ibn John Fareed (born Jonathan William Davis, April 10, 1970 in Harlem, New York), also known by his stage names Q-Tip, Kamaal the Abstract and The Abstract Poetic, is an American Grammy Award winning rapper, actor, producer and the former leader of the group A Tribe Called Quest. He converted to Islam in the mid-1990s and changed his name to Kamaal Ibn John Fareed. He later moved to Jamaica, Queens, New York as a child. As referenced in the song "Check the Rhime", he mostly resided at Linden Boulevard. He released his debut solo album Amplified in 1999 and followed this up in 2008 with The Renaissance. His third release, Kamaal/The Abstract, was recorded in 2002 but was shelved by his label Arista as they didn't believe it had commercial appeal, but it was eventually released on CD in 2009.

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."

Do It
Q-Tip Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I do it, eyes lookin' at me when the
Music should be the only thing you see
It's the score to a cinematic oddity
Lettin' off shit, hit your ass repeatedly
Acrobatic, what I'll pull something through your chest-piece
Before she came home, pit-stopped breast be
Watched the movie, and smoked a philly and
Took a hit of D. She actin' all silly and

I pull the brothers in depressed situations
When the thang hit the 'phere, we risin' up to the occasion
You're killin' me wit' petty, little rap beef
'No fingerprints' is how my expert-ass be
While I'm at it, I'mma stand my ground right here
Spotlight, where the chicks is found
You see this little-ass club we in? Yo, it's
Mine, intertwine, wink your bun, do it to the drum

"Yeah, that's alright
But I know you can do better than that!
Come on, come harder!"

Aight then
I guess we stand the same ground, same
Page and wanna freak shit
I wanna eat it, watch you beat it, cum real hard than repeatin' Yo!
The frivolous rap song he rap about is no good
Remove all the crap about my dogs is all in for the national
No passion, then I guess they be cashin' out
I keep my eyes on things and
I keep my shine on BLING!
My peoples ain't nothin' to toy wit'
Professional, leavin' a boy stiff
You doin' all while you're really talkin'
You need to get gun or get walkin'
This greedy-ass country we in? I guess it's
Mine, intertwine, wink ya bun, do it to the drum

What 'chu really wanna do?
I wanna really do it right
What 'chu really wanna do?
Grab ya hands, hug ya tight
For real?
For real
Well, what 'chu feel?
Well, what 'chu feel?
We can
Do it
What 'chu really wanna do?
I wanna really do it right
What 'chu really wanna do?
Grab ya hands, hug ya tight
For real?
For real
Well, what 'chu feel?
Well, what 'chu feel?
We can
Do it
What 'chu really wanna do?
I wanna really do it right
What 'chu really wanna do?
Grab ya hands, hug ya tight
For real?
For real
Well, what 'chu feel?
Well, what 'chu feel?
We can
Do it

Do it

"So, I was wondering what would happen, how would you feel if
I, came inside your bedroom, I took off all your clothes, and
Took all mines off, and, uh, I got the portable DVD thing
And, got the, right connections, I stick it in and put on top

Your spa basing to get you all fucked up over the bounce
And then, you can take it off and then

Overall Meaning

The song "Do It" by Q-Tip is a high-energy track that showcases the rapper's signature style of smooth rhymes and slick wordplay. The lyrics of the song revolve around Q-Tip's flair for the dramatic and his unique perspective on life. In the first verse, Q-Tip talks about how people seem to be more focused on him rather than the music, despite him being the one making the music. He then goes on to describe his love for cinematic references and his skill for delivering hard-hitting lines that hit you deep in your chest. The second verse is all about Q-Tip flexing his lyrical muscles and putting his haters on blast. He talks about how he keeps his eyes on the prize and refuses to let anyone stand in his way. In the final verse, Q-Tip switches things up and gets a bit more intimate. He talks about wanting to get closer to someone and really connect on a deeper level. The chorus repeats throughout the song, urging listeners to let loose and just do it.

One interesting fact about the song is that Q-Tip collaborated with legendary producer J Dilla on the beat. J Dilla is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop producers of all time, and his contribution to "Do It" is just one of many examples of his incredible talent. Another interesting fact is that the song was released as a single in 2008, several years after Q-Tip's last album. This was a huge moment for fans of the rapper, who had been eagerly awaiting new music from him. Additionally, "Do It" features a sample from the song "Planet Rock" by Afrika Bambaataa, which is one of the most famous hip-hop songs of all time. This sample has been used in countless other songs over the years, and its inclusion in "Do It" is a testament to Q-Tip's deep knowledge and appreciation of the roots of hip-hop.

Line by Line Meaning

When I do it, eyes lookin' at me when the
People watch me when I perform, but they should be focusing on the music instead

Music should be the only thing you see
Music is the most important aspect of this performance

It's the score to a cinematic oddity
The music provides the backdrop for a strange and unique experience

Lettin' off shit, hit your ass repeatedly
I'm releasing energy and making an impact through my music

Acrobatic, what I'll pull something through your chest-piece
My lyrics have a powerful impact, and I can hit you with unexpected, impressive lines

Before she came home, pit-stopped breast be
I took a break to smoke and relax before someone else arrived home

Watched the movie, and smoked a philly and
I enjoyed some entertainment and a cigarette

Took a hit of D. She actin' all silly and
I took a drug and it made the person I was with act strangely

I pull the brothers in depressed situations
I can uplift and inspire people who are struggling

When the thang hit the 'phere, we risin' up to the occasion
When the music starts playing, we come alive and rise to the moment

You're killin' me wit' petty, little rap beef
Your small-minded, pointless arguments are frustrating me

'No fingerprints' is how my expert-ass be
I'm skilled at what I do and leave no evidence behind

While I'm at it, I'mma stand my ground right here
I'm not backing down from anyone or anything

Spotlight, where the chicks is found
I'm in the spotlight where the women are gathered

You see this little-ass club we in? Yo, it's
This club is small, but it's mine

Mine, intertwine, wink your bun, do it to the drum
This place belongs to me, let's dance together and enjoy the music

That's alright But I know you can do better than that! Come on, come harder!
Your performance is okay, but I believe you have the potential to do even better

Aight then I guess we stand the same ground, same
Okay, we're on the same page

Page and wanna freak shit
We're both interested in sexual activity

I wanna eat it, watch you beat it, cum real hard than repeatin' Yo!
I want to engage in sexual acts with you, watch you reach orgasm and do it again

The frivolous rap song he rap about is no good
I don't approve of his superficial, meaningless music

Remove all the crap about my dogs is all in for the national
Stop the nonsense about my rap crew being patriotic

No passion, then I guess they be cashin' out
If you're not passionate about your music, then you're just chasing the money

I keep my eyes on things and
I'm aware of what's happening around me

I keep my shine on BLING!
I'm always shining and looking my best

My peoples ain't nothin' to toy wit'
My crew and supporters should not be underestimated or taken lightly

Professional, leavin' a boy stiff
We're serious professionals who will leave our opponents defeated

You doin' all while you're really talkin'
You're all talk and no action

You need to get gun or get walkin'
If you're not willing to fight, then you need to leave