Amplified is the debut solo album of American hip hop artist Q-Tip, released November 23, 1999, on Arista Records. The album was recorded following the dissolution of Q-Tip's former group, A Tribe Called Quest. 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 number 28 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 89,000 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]
[edit] 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]
[edit] Track listing
| Writer(s) |
Producer |
| 1. |
"Wait Up" |
Fareed, Yancey |
Jay Dee, Q-Tip |
3:43 |
| 2. |
"Higher" |
Fareed, Yancey |
Jay Dee, Q-Tip |
3:30 |
| 3. |
"Breathe and Stop" |
Fareed, Yancey Bell, Brown, Handy, Mickens, Redd, Smith, Thomas, Westfield |
Jay Dee, Q-Tip |
4:03 |
| 4. |
"Moving with U" |
Fareed, Yancey |
Jay Dee, Q-Tip |
3:22 |
| 5. |
"Let's Ride" |
Fareed, Yancey |
Jay Dee, Q-Tip |
4:07 |
| 6. |
"Things U Do" |
Fareed, Yancey |
Jay Dee, Q-Tip |
4:06 |
| 7. |
"All In" (feat. Meda Leacock) |
Fareed, Yancey |
Jay Dee, Q-Tip |
3:08 |
| 8. |
"Go Hard" |
Fareed, Yancey |
Jay Dee, Q-Tip |
3:02 |
| 9. |
"Do It" (feat. Jessica Rivera) |
Bellenchombre, Fareed, Monneville, Spivey |
DJ Scratch |
2:51 |
| 10. |
"Vivrant Thing" |
Fareed, White, Yancey |
Jay Dee, Q-Tip |
3:11 |
| 11. |
"N.T." (feat. Busta Rhymes) |
Fareed, Smith, Spivey |
DJ Scratch |
3:54 |
| 12. |
"End of Time" (feat. Korn) |
Davis, Fareed, Yancey |
Jay Dee, Q-Tip |
3:57 |
| 13. |
"Do It, See It, Be It" (hidden track) |
Fareed, Yancey |
Jay Dee, Q-Tip |
4:35 |
[edit] Sample credits
Sampling information for Amplified adapted from The-Breaks.[18]
- "Breathe and Stop"
- "Higher"
- "Let's Ride"
- "Giant Steps" by Joe Pass (from the 1976 album "Virtuoso #2")
- "UFO" by ESG (from the 1981 album "ESG")
- "The Humpty Dump" by The Vibrettes
- "All In"
- "Go Hard"
- "M3000 (Opus VI)" by Mandre (from the 1979 album "M3000")
- "Vivrant Thing"
[edit] Charts
[edit] Singles
[edit] References
- ^ Bush, John. Review: Amplified. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-09-28.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide: Amplified". The Village Voice: January 25, 2000. Archived from the original on 2009-09-28.
- ^ Diehl, Matt. Review: Amplified. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-09-28.
- ^ Baker, Soren. "Review: Amplified". Los Angeles Times: 66. November 28, 1999. Archived from the original on 2009-09-28.
- ^ Columnist. "Review: Amplified". NME: 29. January 10, 2000. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
- ^ Q-Tip - Amplified CD Album. Muze. CD Universe. Retrieved on 2011-04-20.
- ^ Clark, Taylor M. Review: Amplified. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on 2009-09-28.
- ^ Ex, Kris. Review: Amplified. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2009-09-28.
- ^ Jones, Steve. "Review: Amplified". USA Today: 04.D. November 30, 1999. Archived from the original on 2009-09-28. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
- ^ Lewis, Miles Marshall. Review: Amplified. The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2009-09-28.
- ^ Basham, David. Celine, Backstreet, Britney Continue Chart Domination; Sisqo, Q-Tip Debut Strong. MTV. Retrieved on 2010-01-01.
- ^ Search Results - "Amplified". Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed December 11, 2008.
- ^ Concepcion, Mariel (July 31, 2008). Q-Tip Returns To Roots On 'The Renaissance'. Billboard. Accessed December 11, 2008.
- ^ Harrington, Richard. "Review: Amplified". The Washington Post: G.14. December 5, 1999.
- ^ Del F. Cowie Verses From The Abstract. Exclaim. Retrieved on 2010-03-22.
- ^ Ross, Colin. Review: Amplified. PopMatters. Retrieved on 2009-09-28.
- ^ Pareles, Jon. Review: Amplified. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-09-28.
- ^ Rap Sample FAQ: Q-Tip. The Breaks. Retrieved on 2010-01-01.
- ^ allmusic ((( Amplified > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums ))). Allmusic. Accessed December 11, 2008.
- ^ allmusic ((( Amplified > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles ))). Allmusic. Accessed December 11, 2008.
[edit] External links
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