Q-Tip   Venue: The Roundhouse, London Date: March 14, 2009 Reviewer: DJ Z Rating: 7.5 / 10 TIP: BREATHE AND STOP - Photograph (c) Paul Hampartsoumian Time and distance, so they say, can make the heart grow fonder. As part of one of the Top Five hip hop groups of all time, the Abstract Poetic was a key figurehead in an era-defining movement that crossed boundaries and borders, delivering a slew of classic albums and countless genuine anthems. Then, as with so many of the greatest rap outfits, A Tribe Called Quest imploded: solo albums and projects from the crew appeared irregularly thereafter, with the club-friendly set Amplified and last year's sublime The Renaissance singling the group's leader out as first among that particular posse of equals. All the while, European fans had to make do without a live appearance: but now, 13 long years since Tribe last gigged on the continent, Q-Tip is back. There'd been so many false rumours over the years that even the most ardent Native Tongues fan had reason to doubt this gig would take place (Tribe's recent Rock the Bells reunion tour didn't make it across the Atlantic). Looking around you saw all walks of the rap spectrum, from retro b-boys to Stakes Is High t-shirt-clad backpackers - a stylistically diverse cross-section of the raposphere, all united in their worship of one of hip hop's icons. When he appeared on stage rocking a slick waistcoat, jeans and shiny silver high-top sneaker combo, Tip was energetic and electrifying. Supported by a live band that included Roy Hargrove on the keys and Statik Selektah on the decks, he stomped the floor, worked the 3,000-deep audience ("if you feel good, say 'real good'!" was his call and response theme of the night) and shook his thang while taking us on a thoroughly enjoyable trip though his 20-year discography. The set varied in tone from the party-starting likes of Check the Rhime, Scenario, Award Tour, Vivrant Thing and Let's Ride to the smoother grooves of Bonita Applebum and recent single, Gettin' Up. With talk kept minimal, the touching moment of the night was when Tip explained it was J Dilla in his final days that persuaded him to make another hip hop album. There was something missing, though. It's hard to fully appreciate many Tribe gems when the performance was limited to one or two verses, let alone omitting the devastating moments typified by Bussa-Bus on Scenario (Statik Selektah standing gamely in for the big man, but not attempting the "dungeon dragon" part of that legendary verse). Even Tip's recent material lacked something when he tried to emulate the dulcet tones of the guest artists such as Raphael Saadiq, and despite literally walking into the crowd to invite them to sing Norah Jones' part from Life Is Better. So: a solo Q-Tip show was what was promised, and that was what was delivered. And it was highly welcome after such a lengthy wait. We just hope he doesn't leave it that long until the next time, and would be that bit more over the moon if he brought Ali Shaheed and Phife Diggy with him then, too [Wot? No Jairobi? - Ed]. That really would be something to warm even the most cool of hip hop hearts.