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YFWB Rating: 5 out of 5

I normally do Haiku Reviews on mixtapes, but this is a monumental enough release that it deserves an actual review.  You can always tell when an artist loves their craft.  It goes beyond just putting out a product, its more like releasing a piece of themselves.  It is obvious from the first track that NY DJ J. Period loves hip-hop to the fullest.   And he has a particular affection for Q-Tip, A Tribe Called Quest and the Native Tongues.

Now some of you may not be familiar.  Shame on you.  The Native Tongues (De La Soul, Tribe, Jungle Brothers, Black Sheep, Queen Latifah, Monie Love and Prince Paul) were incredibly important in shaping much of the hip-hop you listen to and enjoy today.  Rappers from Kanye West to Blu to Little Brother were all heavily influenced by the joints that were birthed by this collective in the late 80’s, early 90’s and beyond.  With Q-Tip as his main subject, J. Period has created a tribute that only a hardcore, long-time fan could construct.

The [Abstract] Best is a ride through the legacy Q-Tip has created in hip-hop, in the formula of 70’s era TV show This Is Your Life: many artist and figures who played a role in Tip’s career make an appearance, either behind the mic or as an interlude sharing their memories.  Everyone from Big Daddy Kane, Stevie Wonder, Beastie Boys, Dee-Lite, Busta Rhymes, Talib Kweli, Kid Kudi and even engineer Bob Power pop up through the 49 tracks.

To his credit, J. Period isn’t constrained to one formula.  He includes remakes by new artists (“Bugging Out 2009″), remixes (“Breath & Stop”) and complete rethinking of classic joints (“Giving Up The Goods”).  We even get a few unreleased  Q-Tip joints (“N.T.”) for good measure.

“What The Fuss?” (Q-Tip Ft. Stevie Wonder)

What makes this mixtape so damn dope is that you get a real insight into how the sound came to life through specific samples, what Tip and his collaborators were thinking when they were laying these tracks down and the history behind Q-Tip’s greatest joints.  Ever wondered how that dope bassline in “Award Tour” came about?  Wonder no more.

This is timeless hip-hop.  It still sounds as good and is as relevant as it was when it came out as far back as 20 years ago. But the most impressive part is that Q-Tip is still a dominant force in hip-hop.  With the release and critical acclaim of of The Renaissance last year, Q-Tip has proven beyond a doubt that the Native Tongue spirit is alive and strong.

But J. Period shows exactly how strong that spirit is.  This is the kind of hip-hop that had dope lyrics, dope beats and a dope message.   This was and still is grown-up music, even before the men making it were fully grown themselves.    The greatest legacy Q-Tip has created is that this music can still go up against anything on record stores today.

Just be thankful that all this incredible material was in the hands of someone who cares.  J. Period knew what he was dealing with and treats the music with the respect it deserves.  At the same time, he gives it his own original stamp.  Given the content, that’s not a small feat.

J. Period has set the pace for all mixtapes to follow.  Try to keep up.

Tags: J Period, Mixtape, Q-Tip, The Abstract Best