Q-Tip’s Kamaal the Abstract LP is undoubtedly one of the best unreleased hip-hop albums ever. Fortunately, Kamaal the Abstract will finally see the light of day this fall. The album was originally slated to drop in 2002, but label politics got in the way. Tip kept the original artwork and tracklist, but the album has now been remixed and remastered for the new release.

If you’ve never heard Kamaal the Abstract, you know what to do after the jump.
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Q-Tip – “Renaissance Rap” Remix (Ft. Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, & Lil Wayne)

What do Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes have in common? For starters, they both hold the same “person” responsible for hip-hop’s demise. Whatever that means. More importantly, they’re senior citizen rappers who have managed to stay relevant without resorting to brainless gimmicks. So, drink to this, Internets, and keep senior citizen rappers from going extinct.

PS: Some might think that the presence of Lil Wayne on a song alongside three rap elder statesmen symbolizes a passing of the torch from one generation to another. You’re dead wrong. Master Wayne agreed to appear on the “Renaissance Rap” remix so as to acknowledge a few of the lyricists he has influenced over the years. Carry on.

PPS: How weird is it that Megaupload generated the following verification code while I was downloading this song: “A-S-S”?

[Raise one to Legend]

[Three/21 Media]

“So here we go now, it’s the midnight marauder on your scene…”

I woke up mouthing off the lyrics to “Gettin’ Up” with the gaze of a zombie kid. Now “Renaissance Rap” is stuck in my head for the rest of the day, thanks to this video. Damn, I miss Tribe.

[Props to the indomitable Rik Cordero]

In case you needed further proof that Q-Tip knows his hip-hop. Anyone who puts Rakim in the Top 3 is alright with me. “Just because you say you’re the greatest doesn’t mean you are.” Weezyiana, he’s looking at you.

On a side note, The Renaissance is a contender for Rap Album of the Year.

This is a slightly modified version of “Shaka,” off Q-Tip’s The Renaissance, due out on election day. They modified it to include an excerpt of Obama’s speech at the beginning. Whatever happened to the actual collaboration we were promised?

Haha! I’m only posting this because Q-Tip is the man. On the real, Tip, you’re wasting your breath. You can scream “Nuuuu Yawwwk” from now till Kingdom Come but it won’t help them make playoffs. With all due respect to Mike D’Antoni, the Knicks will end up with in the bottom 2 again this season.

And with Iverson now back in the East, the path to post-season just got a little harder.

Here’s Q-Tip’s “Move” music video. Directed by the incomparable Rik Cordero.