#VitalFactz: Happy Birthday - Q-Tip
Happy Birthday @QtipTheAbstract Q-Tip. Born Jonathan William Davis April 10, 1970. Davis, a Harlem, NYC native is a founding member of the legendary group A Tribe Called Quest along with Phife Dawg (RIP), Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Jarobi White. In the mid 90's Davis converted to Islam & had his name legally changed to Kamaal Ibn John Fareed. He moved to Queens as a child. It was in Queens where he & the others formed in 1985. It was in 1988 that fellow Native Tongues members The Jungle Brothers coined the group A Tribe Called Quest. After a brief stint with Geffen Records (who decided against offering the group a record contract), the group signed with Jive Records. In 1990 they released their debut album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm which was Certified Gold. It features the singles I Left My Wallet in El Segundo & Bonita Applebum. In 1991 they released their highly anticipated follow-up album The Low End Theory. It was Certified Platinum & featured the singles Check the Rhyme, Jazz (We've Got) & the classic posse track Scenario. 1993 saw the release of their third album Midnight Marauders, another Platinum seller which features the hits Award Tour & Electric Relaxation. In 1996 the group released what would be their most successful album to date. Beats, Rhymes and Life peaked at #1 on Billboard's Hot 200 Albums Chart as well as The R&B Albums Chart & was their third consecutive Platinum selling album. In 1998 their released The Love Movement before disbanding a short time later. It was then that Q-Tip would pursue a solo career. in 1999 he released his debut effort Amplified. This album was Certified Gold & includes the singles Vivrant Thing & Breathe & Stop. In 2008 released his follow-up album The Renaissance which features Get Up & Move. Q-Tip has also made a name for himself as a producer, working with artists such as Nas (One Love), Mobb Deep (Temperature's Rising). In recent years Q-Tip has been hosting a radio show on Apple Music's Beats 1 station called Abstract Radio, named after his alternate professional name.
