September 12, 2009

Originally set for an April 23, 2002, street date, A Tribe Called Quest leader Q-Tip's second solo album is a stark contrast to the polished swagger of his underrated 1999 debut, "Amplified." Soulful and organic, with roots in jazz and funk, "Kamaal the Abstract" finds Q-Tip not only rhyming in his trademark nasal cadence, but also singing—and surprisingly well to boot. But his label shelved the album after dubbing it "too uncommercial." Eight years later, "Kamaal the Abstract" finally gets an official release, thanks to Sony subsidiary Battery Records—and even after the long delay, the set seems ahead of its time. In addition to the original nine tracks—including the Prince-meets-Yusef Lateef slow burner "Do U Dig U?" and the airtight collaboration with sax great Kenny Garrett on "Abstractionisms"—this expanded edition contains two tracks left off the original release.—Ronald Hart

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