Photo by Marc Baptiste

Kamaal "Q-Tip" Fareed is the leader of Queens, New York–based group A Tribe Called Quest, whose innovative first three albums are perhaps hip-hop's most universally beloved -- by both fans and critics. Tensions plagued 1996's disappointing fourth, Beats, Rhymes and Life, and the trio split in 1998. But despite reuniting a few times -- including for the current Rock the Bells tour -- Q-Tip, 38, is still uneasy mulling over his legacy. "I'm just tired of talking about Tribe, B," he says over the phone, three days after our initial interview, which took place at Universal Records' Midtown Manhattan offices. "It's like, I've been talking about it the whole time." Maybe that's because it's been nine years since the release of his solo debut, Amplified (the jazzy full-band mishmash Kamaal the Abstract and the more conventional Open are only available as online bootlegs), and in the meantime, he's become better known to a new generation as a stylish Hollywood sidekick (hitting clubs with Leonardo DiCaprio, dating Nicole Kidman). But with The Renaissance, set for release in September, the Abstract Poetic MC may have rediscovered his groove.

Before heading to a meeting in the East Village with his old friend, producer Mark Ronson, Q-Tip chatted thoughtfully about his early interest in music, the relationship between hip-hop stars and their fans, and, yes, A Tribe Called Quest.

Read the full interview with Q-Tip via SPIN Digital, our free online version of SPIN >>