“Rawr, Rawr like a dungeon dragon!” Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes are back on a collaborative mix tape

I was a freshman in high-school when People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm came out. My family had been in Denver for a few years after moving from New York, and I was desperately in need to connect with the culture we had left behind. I went from being immersed in a pure Hip Hop culture, to struggling to find b-boys and emcees.

One day, my buddy Christian popped in a tape. Back then, unwrapping album art was like opening a Christmas gift. I was amazed. Before Push it Along even began I was a fan for life. A Tribe Called Quest single-handedly gave me part of my essence back. For that matter, so did the entire Native Tongue family. Groups like De La Soul, and Leaders of the New School spoke to me almost directly. They embodied what it was like to be a nerdy street kid. Busta Rhymes’ delivery was refreshing. He rapped like an unchained beast. He was every bit a creative genius as his Abstract and the Dragon counter-part, Q-Tip.

The pair have been friends for decades and collaboration is long over-due. Q-Tip has teamed up with Busta on several different projects. We have all belted out the now classic line, “Rawr rawr like a dungeon dragon!” verse on Scenario. Q-Tip’s first solo project, Amplified, was disappointing but also featured our dragon emcee. There are some real old school gems on this project, but not nearly enough new work. Standouts like We Taking Off and Butch and Sundance will get notable rotation in your playlists. Consequently, I’m not a fan of the lead off track from this project, Thank You. Lil’ Wayne and Kanye provide slight vocals on this club friendly joint, but don’t add any flavor to the already lyrically heavy song. Personally I didn’t see the point of having them on the record at all. Anyone remotely interested in this project would be happy enough with Busta Bus and Kamaal. Q-Tip’s partnership with G.O.O.D. Music is clearly the reason for the Yeezus appearance.

The Abstract and the Dragon is a free mix tape. The tracks on this project are a mix of collaborations, previous songs from the 1990s and previews of tracks from new solo projects from Q-Tip: The Last Zulu and Busta Rhymes: Extinction Level Event 2. Busta gives narration in-between tracks to guide us through memory lane. If you never owned jean overalls and rocked one leg up, you may not appreciate this project. This mix tape is for the former African medallion wearing, Starter-Jacket rocking, high-top fade sporting, “Rap is dead now,” Hip-Hop heads. Truthfully, you should already have at least 12 of these tracks.

The album art is a tribute to the Low End Theory’s painted woman cover art. The cover was originally Q-Tip’s idea. He was inspired by The Ohio Players albums, but wanted to give Tribe an afro-centric, avant garde look. You have to admit, this would make a sick t-shirt design!

This mix tape is definitely worth the zip file. I’m glad that they collected all of their classics into one project. You can download Abstract and the Dragon here.

Hushcomics gives Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip a B- for nostalgia, but let’s hope their solo projects revisit that Native Tongue sound we all love.

1. Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip – Intro
2. A Tribe Called Quest Feat. Busta Rhymes – God Lives Through
3. Q-Tip Feat. Busta Rhymes – Gettin’ Up (DJ Scratch Remix)
4. A Tribe Called Quest Feat. Busta Rhymes & Redman – Steppin’ It Up
5. Busta Rhymes Feat. Q-Tip, Lil Wayne & Kanye West – Thank You (Kid Capri Remix)
6. Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip – Always Add On (Interlude)
7. Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip – The Abstract & The Dragon
8. A Tribe Called Quest Feat. Busta Rhymes – Wild Hot
9. Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip – Speaks (Skit)
10. A Tribe Called Quest Feat. Busta Rhymes – One Two Shit
11. Bust Rhymes & Q-Tip – We Taking Off
12. Q-Tip Feat. Busta Rhymes, Raekwon & Lil Wayne – Renaissance Rap (Remix)
13. Q-Tip Feat. Busta Rhymes – Get Down
14. Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip – Butch & Sundance
15. Shaheem Reid – Speaks (Skit)
16. Busta Rhymes – Pardon My Ways (ELE 2 Exclusive)
17. Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip – Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming (Skit)
18. Busta Rhymes Feat. Q-Tip – For The Nasty
19. Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip – Come On Down (Skit)
20. Big Daddy Kane Feat. Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip – Come On Down
21. Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip – J Dilla (Skit)
22. Busta Rhymes Feat. Q-Tip – You Can’t Hold The Torch
23. Busta Rhymes Feat. Q-Tip & Talib Kweli – Lightworks
24. Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip – Chris Lighty (Skit)
25. Q-Tip Feat. Busta Rhymes & Missy Elliott – Vivrant Thing
26. Busta Rhymes Feat. Q-Tip – Ill Vibe
27. A Tribe Called Quest Feat. Leaders Of The New School – Scenario
28. A Tribe Called Quest Feat. Hood & Leaders Of The New School – Scenario (Remix)

Written by John Soweto