Q-Tip vs. Madlib

by Kevin on November 8, 2008 · 20 comments

Black Ivory: “You and I”
From the album Don’t Turn Around (1972)

Q-Tip: “Gettin’ Up”
From the album The Renaissance (2008)
Produced by Q-Tip

Madlib “Understanding (Comprehension)”
From the album The Beat Konducta: Movie Scenes Vol 1-2 (2006) 
Produced by Madlib  

Last official post for Q-Tip Week… it has really been a blast! I wanna thank my contributers Beads, Deez, Krome, and Thomas for helping out tremendously this week. Without them, this week would not have been what it was. Make sure you got out and support real hip hop and buy The Renaissance! And look out for more artist themed weeks here at the site. Coming up in a few weeks, we’ll be celebrating new albums from Kanye West and Common. So if you think this week was hot, just wait until we hit those weeks up!

Aight, on to this flip. I absolutely love the sample Tip used in his latest track “Gettin’ Up”. It really makes the song. A couple years back, Madlib flipped the same sample for a track off his Beat Konducta series. Check em out and tell me who you think flipped the original better!

Who flipped it better?



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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Magnus November 8, 2008 at 12:32 pm

That being my favorite Madlib beat I think I’ll go with ‘Understanding’.

2 Anthony November 8, 2008 at 2:51 pm

I love that Tip Complemented the sample the way it should be in the spirit of the original but damn Madlib just flips the hell out of it!

3 G21 November 8, 2008 at 3:18 pm

I gotta laugh that Tip — the guy who wrote “rap ain’t pop, if you call it that we’ll stop” — made such a radio-friendly pop song out of the beat, while madlib’s is so damn soulful. No surprise that you don’t hear Madlib on the radio — unless you’re in college radio, programmers avoid that raw sound like the plague.

4 Rokwell November 8, 2008 at 3:25 pm

Q-tip didnt flipp the sample he just looped it.

Flippin a sample is when u actually create sumthing out of the sample like choppin it up or rearranging it.

5 trapperjohnmd November 8, 2008 at 9:55 pm

Madlib is more soulful, but you can’t say Gettin Up is a classic joint. That’s a joint you will through in 10yrs from now and go, “Yoooooooo that was the shit!!!!!!!!!”.

6 trapperjohnmd November 8, 2008 at 9:57 pm

Also that original is DOPE!!!!!!!

7 Dr. MaD November 9, 2008 at 2:56 am

See you cant really fuck with that nigga Madlib when its time to flipp a joint like dat – he is: The beat konducta!!! knam’sayin?

Well Q-tip was great too, but you know…

8 NLBK November 9, 2008 at 8:00 pm

I’d take the original anyday! Madlib murders the track.

9 plb November 10, 2008 at 12:38 pm

I like “Understanding” but “Gettin Up” is so soulful!!!

10 kev mas November 11, 2008 at 4:18 pm

TO ME ALTHOUGH I’M A TIP FAN BUT THIS IS JUST TOO CLOSE TO CALL FOR ME. I LIKE THE SOUL IN GETTIN UP BUT MADLIB COMES HARD ON HIS. WOW, JUST TOO CLOSE.

11 DJ Expanium November 11, 2008 at 4:23 pm

This was my first time hearing the original song…it’s beautiful. I first heard Madlib’s earlier this year, and I like the ways he does chopping it up and and the booom!!! to it!!! I can see Jay-Z, Jadakiss or Little Brother doing damage to Madlib’s version. Q-Tip’s version is nice too….It has that good vibe. It makes you wanna “Get UP!!!!” I like Madlib’s, cause it can really bang in my car.

12 smallpro November 11, 2008 at 10:20 pm

uhh…

‘Flippin a sample is when u actually create sumthing out of the sample like choppin it up or rearranging it.’

also in your definition should be adding live instruments, which tip did, and really made it more than a simple loop, ya’ll are up in here trying to act like dude jacked the sample; not only that, but it’s a 3 bar loop which is basically unheard of in hip-hop

gotta go w/ tip on this one…madlib made a nice beat out of the sample but tip made a dope song

13 smallpro November 11, 2008 at 10:22 pm

also gotta laugh at this being a radio-pop friendly song…wow; i’d see if he was singin with autotune over down south percussion and synths

14 JB November 12, 2008 at 6:16 pm

+1 EXACTLY WHAT SMALL PRO SAID.

15 Garcia's Grooves November 14, 2008 at 4:19 pm

Even though I’m a huge ATQC fan I gotta give it to Madlib on this one!

16 mousemusiq November 14, 2008 at 9:57 pm

Madlib…has more knock in the track, but Tip is nice too, kinda of a toss up…

17 Science O'Mega November 30, 2008 at 10:51 am

Well I voted for Madlib. He was the first known to rock that sample. I wasn’t feeling the disco-esque version that Q-Tip came with. I think all these rappers need to lay off this psuedo nu-soul, disco hop shit and maintain the intensity…that the industry will make you lose according to Common. Lose the industry and keep the intensity then! The papes will come for an artist that’s been had fan base since the 90’s. I find Getting Up quite a disappointment. =(

18 Nick Rams December 17, 2008 at 12:42 pm

Q-TIP… Madlib fools around and makes a cool beat but “gettin up” is such an ILL track. the beat goes perfectly with the lyrics.

19 jared January 28, 2009 at 12:34 pm

i voted q-tip, specifically because ive been loving that song ever since i first heard it on the album. gotta say, i also like the fact that he used a 3 bar sample instead of madlib’s 2 bar version. that being said, props to madlib (as always; he’s one of my favorite producers/musicians) for finding this sample first and putting it out there.

20 5+5 February 4, 2009 at 4:44 am

Damn man, can’t even vote on that shit. Madlib’s Understanding is like bread to me, Q got my feet groovin’ , and why don’t I have that origional LP/45? Damn man.

Keep up, keep up.

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