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."
The Truth
Q-Tip Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Re nyaka nyaka nyaka Diya maleng
Re Tsoga mašego re lala maweng
Re khutša Go sele re tsoga nageng
I know ba tshepile nna mo lapeng
This Pedi rap e sale tlaleng
E ne Mabele a sale lwaleng
Ke yetla Go šila ke sale tseleng
I'm on my own
I'm on my own
I'm on my own
Oh oh oh
I'm on my own I'm coming up Without a favour yeah yeah
I'm on my own
I'm on my own
I'm on my own
Oh oh oh
I rap a lot and I'm feeding my cravings
I got a drop top now I need a Mercedes
Just call on my phone and I'll be at your service
I still remember them calling me average
Ke wela ditsela kea tsena ka kgang
Ke tseba Mohlako ketseba tshokolo
Ke rutegile ke tseni sekolo
Nako le nako I lead and they follow
Down on my knees for mafulo a ma tala
Kea pusher kea lwela ke fetšiša tlala
Ba ntšhaba ba ntseba ba ntshwara Mosela
Ke kotsi kea senya oka mpitša masenya
Rena di nkgwete re Sela nageng
Re nyaka nyaka nyaka Diya maleng
Re Tsoga mašego re lala maweng
Re khutša Go sele re tsoga nageng
Rena di nkgwete re Sela nageng
Re nyaka nyaka nyaka Diya maleng
Re Tsoga mašego re lala maweng
Re khutša Go sele re tsoga nageng
I know ba tshepile nna mo lapeng This Pedi rap e sale tlaleng
E ne Mabele a sale lwaleng
Ke yetla Go šila ke sale tseleng
I'm on my own I'm coming up Without a favour yeah yeah
I'm on my own
I'm on my own
I'm on my own
Oh oh oh
I'm on my own I'm coming up
Without a favour yeah yeah
I'm on my own
I'm on my own
I'm on my own
Oh oh oh
Looking so fresh like the Easter Bunny
I'm about the business I'm getting the money
I'm in the fast lane I'm running
I'm on my own Nd I got no worries
Look at the village BOI shaking things up
Look at the enemies making things up
I'm about to kill the game I'm pulling the plug
I'm the main show I'm pulling crowd
Getting money making my mama proud
If u looking for hits give me a shout
Call me a king without a doubt
They know my name they know what I'm about
I keep on raising the bar
Enemies Kamo ba sa ja dinala
They tryna deny me my name
You should be calling me a goat I'm a star
Rena di nkgwete re Sela nageng
Re nyaka nyaka nyaka Diya maleng
Re Tsoga mašego re lala maweng
Re khutša Go sele re tsoga nageng
I know ba tshepile nna mo lapeng
This Pedi rap e sale tlaleng
E ne Mabele a sale lwaleng
Ke yetla Go šila ke sale tseleng
I'm on my own I'm coming up Without a favour yeah yeah
I'm on my own
I'm on my own
I'm on my own
Oh oh oh
I'm on my own I'm coming up Without a favour yeah yeah
I'm on my own
I'm on my own
I'm on my own
Oh oh oh
Re Sela nageng
Diya maleng
Re lala maweng
Re tsoga nageng
Re Sela nageng
Diya maleng
Re lala maweng
Re tsoga nageng
The lyrics to Q-TIP's song "The Truth" convey a sense of independence and self-confidence. The repetition of phrases like "I'm on my own" and "without a favor" emphasizes a determination to succeed without relying on others. The verses touch on the artist's journey and the obstacles he has faced, such as being underestimated and called average. However, he confidently asserts his talent and drive, proclaiming that he is rising and making a name for himself.
The lyrics also touch on themes of empowerment and breaking through societal expectations. The lines "Look at the enemies making things up" and "I'm about to kill the game, I'm pulling the plug" suggest a defiance against those who try to undermine him. Q-TIP asserts his worth and capability, declaring himself a king and a star. The lyrics imply that he is ready to reach new heights and leave a lasting impact on the music industry.
Overall, "The Truth" is a powerful anthem celebrating individuality, perseverance, and self-belief. It encourages listeners to embrace their uniqueness, pursue their goals, and overcome challenges in their own journey towards success.
Line by Line Meaning
Rena di nkgwete re Sela nageng
We are setting fire to the country
Re nyaka nyaka nyaka Diya maleng
We want, we want, we want to shine brightly
Re Tsoga mašego re lala maweng
We arise with strength, we sleep with accomplishments
Re khutša Go sele re tsoga nageng
We strive to rise and stand tall in the country
I know ba tshepile nna mo lapeng
I know they believe in me at home
This Pedi rap e sale tlaleng
This Pedi rap is selling everywhere
E ne Mabele a sale lwaleng
Even the maize is selling while it's still growing
Ke yetla Go šila ke sale tseleng
I'm going to finish my journey until I reach success
I'm on my own I'm coming up Without a favour yeah yeah
I'm achieving success by myself, without any handouts
I rap a lot and I'm feeding my cravings
I rap frequently and satisfy my desires
I got a drop top now I need a Mercedes
I already have a convertible car, now I want a luxury Mercedes
Just call on my phone and I'll be at your service
Just contact me and I'll assist you immediately
I still remember them calling me average
I haven't forgotten when they used to call me ordinary
Ke wela ditsela kea tsena ka kgang
I walk my own path, entering with confidence
Ke tseba Mohlako ketseba tshokolo
I know the law, I know the rules
Ke rutegile ke tseni sekolo
I've graduated, I've entered into society
Nako le nako I lead and they follow
Time after time, I take the lead and others follow
Down on my knees for mafulo a ma tala
I kneel down for rare opportunities
Kea pusher kea lwela ke fetšiša tlala
I'm a hustler, I strive and eliminate hunger
Ba ntšhaba ba ntseba ba ntshwara Mosela
People talk, people know, people are fond of criticising
Ke kotsi kea senya oka mpitša masenya
I'm a king, I conquer and surpass challenges
Looking so fresh like the Easter Bunny
Appearing very fresh, just like the Easter Bunny
I'm about the business I'm getting the money
I'm focused on my business, making money
I'm in the fast lane I'm running
I'm moving quickly, I'm running towards success
I'm on my own Nd I got no worries
I'm alone and I have no worries
Look at the village BOI shaking things up
Observe how I, a village boy, am causing disruption
Look at the enemies making things up
See how my enemies fabricate stories
I'm about to kill the game I'm pulling the plug
I'm about to dominate the industry, I'm shutting it down
I'm the main show I'm pulling crowd
I'm the main attraction, I've gathered a crowd
Getting money making my mama proud
I'm earning money and making my mother proud
If u looking for hits give me a shout
If you're searching for hit songs, contact me
Call me a king without a doubt
Refer to me as a king without any uncertainty
They know my name they know what I'm about
They know my name and understand my purpose
I keep on raising the bar
I continuously set higher standards
Enemies Kamo ba sa ja dinala
Enemies, although they don't eat maize porridge
They tryna deny me my name
They are attempting to take away my identity
You should be calling me a goat I'm a star
You should refer to me as a legend, I'm a star
Re Sela nageng
We are setting fire to the country
Diya maleng
We want to shine brightly
Re lala maweng
We sleep with accomplishments
Re tsoga nageng
We arise in the country
Re Sela nageng
We are setting fire to the country
Diya maleng
We want to shine brightly
Re lala maweng
We sleep with accomplishments
Re tsoga nageng
We arise in the country
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Ngwanatsomane Mokiri, Windy Molope
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@_hihi_0.0
My mom stopped buying these for us, I now know why.
@CoolDrip-G77
Yeah bc Ur Motherless💀
@miserable_meat4232
What was the “ayo” for? There is nothing sus about this comment.
@InfinityGod
@@miserable_meat4232 lmao you won't understand
@lorenzozangrilli5368
How did you cleaned your ears after
@LiberianChimp
@@lorenzozangrilli5368 using earpick removal is pretty common. I’m not really sure what’s it called but it’s that skinny metal thing for picking out earwax
@RoxkSoxks
me watching this while cleaning out my ear with a q-tip
“well sh-“
@itscraftune2855
That' literally me 😅 but it feels relaxing af I can't stop me
@chickentender911
haha so funny u cut off ur sentence even online
@user-Coco867
Fav comment!!!