Q-Tip
A Tribe Called Quest had already released their debut album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm in spring of 1990 before we launched Giant Step in September of that same year. Tribe and other Native Tongues members (like Jungle Brothers and De La Soul) were huge influences and inspirations for us. They, along with Gang Starr, were already experimenting with merging jazz samples and hip hop. We met with their (then) manager Lyor Cohen to try and get them to perform at the club. Q-Tip started coming out to some of our early events, the first being our Groove Academy show with Bootsy Collins at SOB’s. Tip had recently guested, along with Bootsy and Maceo, on Deee-Lite’s “Groove Is In The Heart” (which was the hit of that summer).
It was Tribe’s 1991 Low End Theory release that perfectly articulated the burgeoning jazz hip hop movement, and that album was a major soundtrack at the club. Giant Step had the opportunity to present A Tribe Called Quest at The Ritz (former Studio 54). Tip made a guest appearance at our Brand New Heavies show, and along with J Dilla, appeared on a remix of Nuyorican Soul’s “Black Gold of The Sun.”
When Tribe eventually broke up and Tip released his solo albums, The Renaissance and Kamaal The Abstract, he wanted Giant Step to be a part of the marketing team. In 2009, we persuaded him to headline our annual SummerStage show and perform with a live band. That same summer, we worked together to present a huge birthday celebration for the recently deceased Michael Jackson with Mark Ronson and DJ Spinna.
When Tip started his weekly party called “Offline” - first at Irving Plaza and later at Output - he asked Giant Step to join this venture as his partner. “Offline” generated many classic nights with guests like Nile Rodgers, Phillip Bailey, Busta Rhymes, Mark Ronson, Grandmaster Flash, Dave Chappelle - the list goes on and on. There are no photographs documenting the legendary Output Offline parties, as photography was strictly forbidden there.
Most recently we’ve had fun times with Tip at the openings of the EDITION Hotels in New York and LA. Always a legend as an artist, producer, DJ or whatever he does, it’s been an honor for Q-Tip to have been a part of Giant Step’s journey.
Below are pictures of Q-Tip when he headlined our annual SummerStage show in 2009.
Check out the photos below of Q-Tip Presents Long Live The King A Birthday Celebration For Michael Jackson with Mark Ronson and DJ Spinna at Nokia Theater on August 29, 2009.
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