The Abstract aka Q-Tip/ Just Blaze/ Wha Mood Production/ Beetle/ DJ Rub-A-Dub/ DJ Jahmedicine in The Panther Room

Legendary hip-hop innovator Q-Tip first rose to prominence in 1988 as one of the founders of the trailblazing hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, whose cerebral wordplay, socially conscious themes, and intricate fusion of jazz and other genre-bending influences changed hip-hop's lexicon forever. After disbanding, Q-Tip launched his solo career with Amplified soon after. In 2008, he released his sophomore album, The Renaissance, which garnered widespread critical acclaim and the 2009 Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. The long-awaited album Kamaal the Abstract was released in 2009 and was further proof of Q-Tip's jazz sensibilities and skilled musicianship. Q-Tip has recently become the newest addition to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music / Def Jam Recordings, and fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapter of the Q-Tip story leading up to the release of his fourth solo album, The Last Zulu.


Just Blaze worked closely with Roc-a-Fella Records in the early 2000s, producing hits like Cam'ron's "Oh Boy," Jay-Z's "Girls, Girls, Girls," and Beanie Sigel and Freeway's "Rock the Mic." He worked closely with Roc-a-Fella's other in-house producer, Kanye West, on the label's many albums released during this same period. And like West, he developed a trademark knack for using old-school soul samples in unique ways for his hooks. Besides the Roc-a-Fella stable of rappers, Just Blaze also produced tracks for big-name East Coast rappers such as Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, DMX, and Fabolous. By the turn of the century, he'd become one of the rap industry's leading producers, along with Timbaland, the Neptunes, and Swizz Beatz.