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 YoU Dig U?
Q-Tip Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did you show 'em love?
Even if you didn't there will never be another
Like you
Did you write the hit?
Did you hit the bong?
Even if you did it wit your friend under covers
Maybe it was on a strong run
Either way actin' like get it done
For the lovin' it was all one
'Cause girl you know it takes one to know one but
Do, do you, dig you?
Do, do you, dig you?
Did you drink the drink?
Talkin' up the sun?
Fightin' off the dragon when it's lookin' in the mirror
At you
Workin' all day
Playin' all night
All I wanna do it just get a little hit up
To you
It's you
Do you dig you?
The song "You" by Q-Tip is a reflection on self-love and self-worth. The lyrics ask questions about various actions that the listener might have taken, such as being late, showing love to others, writing a hit song or smoking marijuana. However, the song makes it clear that it doesn't matter what actions the listener has taken because there will never be another person like them. The lyrics emphasize the importance of self-love and accepting oneself for who they are since there is no one else like them in the world.
The chorus of the song, "Do you dig you?" repeats throughout the track, further emphasizing the theme of self-love. Q-Tip encourages the listener to take pride in their unique qualities and to embrace their true selves. The song's upbeat tempo, coupled with the positive message, makes "You" an empowering and uplifting track.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was originally released in 2008 on Q-Tip's album "The Renaissance" but was later remixed by DJ and producer Kaytranada in 2015. The remix received critical acclaim and helped bring the song to a new audience. Another interesting fact is that Q-Tip initially struggled with mental health issues and addiction before making a comeback in the early 2000s with a renewed focus on self-improvement and positivity.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you runnin' late?
Did you miss an important event or opportunity?
Did you show 'em love?
Did you express kindness and affection towards others?
Even if you didn't there will never be another
Like you
Even if you failed to show love, you're still a unique and irreplaceable individual.
Did you write the hit?
Did you create a successful and popular piece of art?
Did you hit the bong?
Did you smoke marijuana as a means of relaxation?
Even if you did it wit your friend under covers
It's you
Even if you engaged in drug use with a friend under the covers, you're still responsible for your actions.
Maybe it was on a strong run
Either way actin' like get it done
For the lovin' it was all one
'Cause girl you know it takes one to know one but
Perhaps you were on a good streak, but in either case, the important thing was to take action and get it done for the love of the work. You understand the mentality because you've been there too.
Do, do you, dig you?
Do, do you, dig you?
Do you truly appreciate and love yourself?
Did you drink the drink?
Talkin' up the sun?
Did you consume alcohol and engage in idle conversation?
Fightin' off the dragon when it's lookin' in the mirror
At you
Being strong and overcoming inner demons when they're staring back at you.
Workin' all day
Playin' all night
All I wanna do it just get a little hit up
To you
Whether you're working hard during the day or partying all night, all you want is to just get a little bit of love from yourself.
It's you
Do you dig you?
Ultimately, it's all about you and whether or not you truly love and appreciate yourself.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Guyora Kats, Kamaal Ibn Jonathan Davis Fareed, Kelvin Sholar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind