Let's go ahead and wish Q-Tip a Happy Born Day today on his 47th!! The article above is a lengthy feature with Q-Tip in Spin, August 2008. Q-Tip's love for music has always been clear; as one of the most progressive producers of our generation, he crafted a sound that has lead to some of the most sonically consistent ALBUMS ever released in hip-hop. Not to mention all his feature work and how he's inspired 2 generations of producers after him. Being around since hip-hop's humble beginnings, I could never fully embrace the singles era, understanding that artists like Q-Tip and A Tribe Called Quest crafted albums that could be played from beginning to end, raising us with each release. In Q-Tip's words, "I just gravitated toward music. I just loved it. It was an extension of my thoughts. It was an extension of my imagination. And it was an extension of my dreams." Would you agree that 'Midnight Marauders' wasn't a 5 star album? That 'Beats, Rhymes & Life' was 2.5? Either way, I've said it on numerous occasions, but the importance of Tip & Tribe as voices for our generation can never be understated, so I wish him continued success and good health. Bonus: J Period's 'The Abstract' Volume 1 (2009), to celebrate the legendary producer from Queens! Listen...