@QTIPTHEABSTRACT #ATCQ
You might remember about a month ago we discussed the then brand new Documentary about the life and times of “A Tribe Called Quest” directed by Michael Rapaport.  And although A Tribe Called Quest fans have applauded the film, Rapaport hasn’t received the same critical acclaim from the group he sought to immortalize namely Q-Tip.

It seems like we’ve heard this story before whether its VH1 trying to honor Luther Campbell, Lil Kim and her depiction in “Notorious” or KRS-One boycotting the Hip Hop Hall of Fame bottom line,  Hip Hop is never happy.  There’s always a problem and Q-Tip is no exception.  He has been very vocal about his detest for the  final cut of the film. Last week, Rapaport chopped it up with MTV sharing his side of the story.

“I think the reason he did his little Twitter thing was because when he realized that the movie was coming to completion and going to get seen by people,” Rapaport said. “I can’t really speak for him but I think he got a little nervous. He’s a very protective of the legacy of A Tribe Called Quest and the movie is a very honest depiction of my time with them and the information that I was given in interviews and content.”

I was a little disheartened to discover that Q-Tip felt the need to once again fire back.

@QTIPTHEABSTRACT: “Speaking of 1nce again… here i some tribe chat. the director of the film cannot speak to what is in my head abt the documentary. nor can this director EVER say the i dont speak for the group. when i say i do then belive me i do. tribe is no different than any other collective. we experience bumps bruises and disagreements then and we still do.

But knowing our history and our messages in our music we will NEVER be taken advantage of like we were in the past. we dont care who it is. but we are truly thankful for your interest in our music and your interest in this flattering look at our career. if @alishaheed @jarobione or @diggymusberger says they speak for the group then THEY do. no one else! peace….”

I respect Michael Rapaport but I also respect Tribe so its almost as sad to see this little rift as it was when Tribe broke up.  I know Tip to be a very passionate dude. I don’t know him personally but I follow his tweets and like myself he’s very passionate about the culture and legacy of the game and to a greater extent his music.  I can’t fault him but at some point we have to realize if we want any legacy we’re going to let someone tell our story and pass it along to the next generation.  It sounds like Tip is struggling with the same thing I do with regard to perception of Hip Hop.  Its not perfect, but that’s why I loved it when I was young.  It was rough, mispelled and innocent.  Now that I’m more mature I guess I hoped it would grow up with me.  Tip Tribe is then, not now.  So what you see on the film is what it was.  We can’t change that with any final director’s cut.  We love Tribe man…let it go.