Amplified (Q-Tip album)

Amplified
Studio album by Q-Tip
Released November 30, 1999 (U.S/Canada)
Recorded 1998–99 at NRG Studios Recording Los Angeles,California and A&M ,Metalworks Studios
Genre Hip hop
Length 47:30
Label Arista
Producer Jay Dee, Q-Tip, DJ Scratch
Q-Tip chronology
Amplified
(1999)		 The Renaissance
(2008)The Renaissance2008
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Robert ChristgauA[2]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[3]
Los Angeles Times[4]
NME(8/10)[5]
Q[6]
Pitchfork Media(6.8/10)[7]
Rolling Stone[8]
USA Today[9]
The Village Voicefavorable[10]

Amplified is the debut solo album of American hip hop artist Q-Tip, released November 30, 1999, on Arista Records. Production was primarily handled by Q-Tip and J Dilla, who had previously produced for A Tribe Called Quest. Q-Tip's lyrics throughout the album feature boasts, playful seduction raps, and abstract lyricism.

The album debuted at #28 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling over 90,000 copies in its first week.[11] On January 5, 2000, it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments of 500,000 copies in the United States.[12] As of July 2008, Amplified has sold 675,000 copies in the U.S.[13]

Background

Recorded after the dissolution of Q-Tip's former group, A Tribe Called Quest,[14] the album was produced primarily by Q-Tip and Jay Dee, who had previously collaborated for production on A Tribe Called Quest's two last albums. The majority of the beats were initiated by Jay Dee with Q-Tip adding some final touches to it; “When we would work together, he would have it, like, 75 percent there and I would add a kick or bass line".[15]

Colin Ross of PopMatters writes of the album's music, "Amplified's content is very much a vibe-orientated affair. Infectious hooks, Jay Dee's trademark keys, and some seriously funky beats all work to create a captivating soundscape upon which Q-Tip drops his traditionally abstract rhymes".[16] Jon Pareles of The New York Times notes Q-Tip's lyrics as typified by boasts and playful seduction raps.[17]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wait Up"Kamaal Fareed, James Yancey3:43
2."Higher"Fareed, Yancey3:30
3."Breathe and Stop"Fareed, Yancey, Robert Bell, George "Funky" Brown, Roy Handy, Robert Mickens, Gene Redd, Jr., Claydes Smith, Dennis Thomas, Richard Westfield4:03
4."Moving with U"Fareed, Yancey3:22
5."Let's Ride"Fareed, Yancey4:07
6."Things U Do"Fareed, Yancey4:06
7."All In" (featuring Meda Leacock)Fareed, Yancey3:08
8."Go Hard"Fareed, Yancey3:02
9."Do It" (featuring Jessica Rivera)Rémy Bellenchombre, Fareed, Jean-Marc Monneville, George Spivey2:51
10."Vivrant Thing"Fareed, Barry White, Yancey3:11
11."N.T." (featuring Busta Rhymes)Fareed, Trevor Smith, Spivey3:54
12."End of Time" (featuring Korn)Jonathan Davis, Fareed, Yancey3:57
13."Do It, See It, Be It" (hidden track)Fareed, Yancey4:35

Sample credits

Sampling information for Amplified adapted from The-Breaks.[18]

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[19] 88
US Billboard 200[20] 28
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[21] 4

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
United States (RIAA)[22] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ Bush, John. "Amplified - Q-Tip". Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-09-28.
  2. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "CG: Q-Tip". The Village Voice: January 25, 2000. Archived from the original on 2009-09-28.
  3. ↑ Diehl, Matt (December 3, 1999). "Amplified". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  4. ↑ Baker, Soren. "Record Rack (Q-Tip: 'Amplified')". Los Angeles Times: 66. November 28, 1999. Archived from the original on 2009-09-28.
  5. ↑ Columnist. "Album Reviews - Amplified". NME: 29. January 10, 2000. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
  6. ↑ "Q-Tip - Amplified CD Album". Muze. CD Universe. Retrieved on 2011-04-20.
  7. ↑ Clark, Taylor M (November 30, 1999). "Q-Tip: Amplified". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on 2009-09-28.
  8. ↑ Ex, Kris (January 20, 2000). "Q-Tip: Amplified : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2007-10-02. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  9. ↑ Jones, Steve. "Experimental Metallica, quirky Q-Tip, grand Grimaud (Q-Tip, Amplified)". USA Today: 04.D. November 30, 1999. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
  10. ↑ Lewis, Miles Marshall (December 14, 1999). "New Abstract". The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2009-09-28.
  11. ↑ Basham, David. Celine, Backstreet, Britney Continue Chart Domination; Sisqo, Q-Tip Debut Strong. MTV. Retrieved on 2010-01-01.
  12. ↑ Search Results - "Amplified". Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed December 11, 2008.
  13. ↑ Concepcion, Mariel (July 31, 2008). Q-Tip Returns To Roots On 'The Renaissance'. Billboard. Accessed December 11, 2008.
  14. ↑ Harrington, Richard. "A Tribe and True Approach; Q-Tip Shed His Quest but Held On to Its Upbeat Jazz-Rap Sound". The Washington Post: G.14. December 5, 1999.
  15. ↑ Del F. Cowie "Verses From The Abstract". Exclaim. Retrieved on 2010-03-22.
  16. ↑ Ross, Colin. "Q-Tip: Amplified". PopMatters. Retrieved on 2009-09-28.
  17. ↑ Pareles, Jon (December 17, 1999). "ALBUM OF THE WEEK (Q-TIP: "Amplified")". The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-09-28.
  18. ↑ Rap Sample FAQ: Q-Tip. The Breaks. Retrieved on 2010-01-01.
  19. ↑ "Q-Tip | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Q-Tip – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Q-Tip. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Q-Tip – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Q-Tip. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  22. ↑ "American album certifications – Q-Tip – Amplified". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
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