Q-Tip
Photo: MTV News

While November 4 was obviously a day of celebration for many people around the country, when Barack Obama was elected president of the United States, veteran rapper Q-Tip cheered the day for another, more personal reason: the release of his second solo album, The Renaissance. Fans of the A Tribe Called Quest MC could further rejoice: It was his first solo LP to come out in nine years, after false starts shelved two previous, completed albums.

"I believe in what I'm doing, and I love this music, so those things in combination were motivation for me to keep going," Q-Tip told MTV News, explaining how two full-length albums — Kamaal the Abstract (2001) and Open (2005) — were both recorded, mastered and held up by his record labels. "I'm not a quitter."

In that way, The Renaissance is a triumph for Q-Tip. Kamaal the Abstract was recorded with a live band and featured Q-Tip experimenting with hippie-era pop influences, while Open was a free-flowing, deliberately non-commercial rap escapade. Both were never released, primarily because industry executives were cautious about his chances competing with the new, younger stars of the day — the Nellys, Jeezys and Soulja Boys. Tip's persistence in the face of such indifference, though, is one of his charms.

Indeed, Q-Tip has had his ups and downs in the industry, first emerging as one of the most iconic voices of the early '90s hip-hop scene. He seemed to reinvent himself in 1999, with the release of his first solo album, Amplified, which found him discovering a new take on club-banging hip-hop. Since then, people have questioned whether a 38-year-old veteran of another era has a place in today's rap world.

But several signs in recent years point to a rap renaissance, if you will: the emergence of Kanye West as one of hip-hop's biggest stars; the ascendency of the late J Dilla as an underground idol (Dilla's early work was in conjunction with Q-Tip); and the celebration of "throwback" artists like the Cool Kids, Kid Cudi and Pacific Division, who clearly take their cues from Q-Tip's Native Tongues heyday.

Tip also sees the climate in hip-hop changing. "You have some people who have cracked through, a Kanye or an Andre 3000 or a [Lil] Wayne, who I think is lyrically just a monster," Tip said. "Eventually, the tide is starting to give way back to how things were, when people are starting to pay attention to the quality of the music, not on, 'I'm not a good rapper, I'm a good hustler,' you know?

"I just want to put out something dope; that's the credence that I've tried to follow and stick to through the years," Q-Tip explained. "Sometimes it's questionable, I guess, but for the most part, people invest in you because of your taste barometer, so I try to keep mine in the red."

Tip maintains that barometer by diving into the culture of music the way he has since he was a young man. He regularly ducks into hole-in-the-wall record stores to keep up on his beat shopping. Before leaving on the 2K Sports Bounce Tour, his most recent tour with the Cool Kids, he live-streamed his impromptu, hours-long, jam-band rehearsals to any and all viewers. And he DJs a weekly Friday night party at an underground New York hot spot that has quickly become one of the city's best.

"I love DJing because it puts me in a position where I have to pay attention to what people want to hear, in a very direct way," he said. "Clubs and DJing and parties is like the church of hip-hop. It brings in so many different people from different backgrounds, colors and denominations for one cause. I think that's pretty powerful and influences me when I'm making music."

Tip knows that he probably won't sell as many records as some of his counterparts, or may not dominate in emerging music-industry markets like ringtones and commercial endorsements. But having seen it all in his 20 years in the music business, he seems genuinely at peace with that.

"I just think people should do what they feel," he said. "You can't please everybody all the time, obviously. You just gotta do what inspires you, what motivates you. And if you do that in an honest way, people can't help but respect it."

• Hitting The Record Store With Q-Tip

• Q-Tip
• A Tribe Called Quest

"Twilight" Soundtrack
Photo: Atlantic

After two weeks at #1, AC/DC's Black Ice — which has already broken the 1 million-sold barrier — has been bitten by the "Twilight" phenomenon.

The vampire flick opens next Friday, but before hitting the local cineplex, fans of the much-anticipated adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's novel hit their local record stores to pick up a copy of the movie's soundtrack, which features tracks by Muse, Perry Farrell, Paramore and Linkin Park.

The "Twilight" soundtrack debuts at #1 on next week's Billboard albums sales chart, having sold about 164,700 copies in its first week on store shelves. It becomes the year's third soundtrack to top the chart, following this summer's "Mamma Mia" soundtrack and the "Juno" set, which was released in 2007, but climbed to #1 in January. According to the latest sales totals compiled by Nielsen SoundScan, AC/DC's latest falls one spot to #2, with 159,500 week-three scans reported.

"Twilight" was among 17 new releases impacting next week's chart, and one of four to enter in the top 10. Following the soundtrack to "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," which holds at #3 with just under 110,000 sold, Hinder's Take It to the Limit bows at #4, after selling 81,400 units. Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli's Incanto opens at #8 with 62,200 copies scanned, and country star Brad Paisley's Play debuts at #9 with 53,700 sold.

Meanwhile, Pink's Funhouse drops three spots to #5, with 72,900 scans, while John Legend's Evolver falls two positions to #6, selling another 72,000 copies. T.I.'s Paper Trail holds for a second week at #7, thanks to almost 68,800 scans. Rascal Flatts' Greatest Hits, Volume 1 rounds things out at #10, with 39,100 sold.

A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip enters the chart at #11, after selling 34,200-plus copies of his latest, Renaissance, while Sarah Brightman's Winter Symphony debuts at #38, with 13,500 sold. Shiny Toy Guns' Season of Poison follows at #47, with sales reported at 12,200, and rapper UNK's Second Season makes its debut at #104, with 5,200 copies sold. Travis' Ode to J. Smith follows at #122, with week-one sales reported at about 4,600, while Switchfoot's The Best Yet trails at #123, with 4,500 sold.

• AC/DC
• Paramore
• Perry Farrell
• Travis
• Switchfoot

Nas and Jay-Z at Rock the Bells on Sunday
Photo: Soul Brother/ FilmMagic

LONG ISLAND, New York — On Sunday night, Nas gave the Rock the Bells show its most monumental moment, bringing out fellow legendary MC Jay-Z. After Nas, backed by a live band, performed "Breathe" — a prime cut from his Untitled LP — Hov came out to the music of "Success."

"Nas, let that bitch breathe," Jay yelled before going into his grumpy verse about being bored with all the spoils that go to the victor. "I used to give a f---, now I give a f--- less/ What do I think of success? It sucks."

Jigga cut the record short as the music changed to "Black Republican." The two hip-hop icons lacerated their mics during the performance, making the audience dance and throw up their Roc-A-Fella diamonds.

(Read more about Jay-Z's surprise appearance with Nas on our You R Here blog.)

Nas started his set off with a live band that played a heavy-rock swing for his intro. With his feet firmly in front of the people, he kicked into "N.*.*.*.E.R." (The Slave and the Master). "We trust no black leaders," he rhymed. "Use the stove to heat us/ Powdered eggs and government cheeses/ The calendars with Martin, JFK and Jesus."

The band continued to earn their keep with a frenetic rendition of "Hip Hop Is Dead." The live guitars really enhanced the song, and the instrumentation seemed to enhance Nas' mood. He was way more energetic than the last few times he performed in New York, at times even shouting his words.

In between songs, he once again declared the irrelevance of some of the elder black leaders and said he's ready and able to take on the responsibility of leading his communities. "Jesse Jackson, I love you, but his ass is outta here. Al Sharpton, his ass is outta here."

From there, it was a mini-Illmatic set with everyone on their feet to hear selections from his most lauded LP. Nas performed "New York State of Mind," "Ain't Hard to Tell" and "Represent" back-to-back-to-back, followed by "The World Is Yours" and "Life's a Bitch," leaving the crowd no time to get any air.

With no capes, masks or gloves, Nas and Jay-Z epitomized hip-hop crusaders standing side by side. Jay in his Yankees hat and Nas sporting the Mets logo above his brim brought dizzying energy to Jones Beach with just the sight of the two together. Their historical battle ended many moons ago, and their friendship has been a matter of public record for years. Still, whenever you see them together, it's an event. It feels like history.

A Tribe Called Quest were the show's closers, and their set also felt historic. It was the first time the timeless collective performed a proper concert in their hometown since disbanding in 1998.

Q-Tip set things off with a few minutes of his solo act, as his friend and obvious fan Mos Def played hypeman. Tip's black T-shirt read the opening lines from "Excursions," and as Tip rapped, Mos pointed out every word: "Back in the days when I was a teenager/ Before I had status and before I had a pager/ You could find the abstract listening to hip-hop/ My pops used to say it reminded him of bebop." Q finished with "Breathe & Stop" and "Vivrant Thing."

When it was finally time for the whole Tribe, DJ Scratch exchanged turntable duties with Ali Shaheed Muhammad from a set high above the stage, which was actually the top of a super-size TV screen. On the stage, long-lost Tribe member Jarobi joined Q-Tip and Phife Dawg for a live rummaging of their catalog, which included "Electric Relaxation" and "We Got the Jazz."

Phife, who looked like his health has been getting increasingly better since having a kidney transplant, wore a New York Knicks Jamal Crawford jersey and switched up his quotables from the latter record to make a statement about the group's label: "So jet to the store, and buy the LP/ On J.I.V.E., unfortunately."

Consequence came out during "Stir It Up," and Busta Rhymes trampled the stage during "Scenario." Mos Def, who couldn't contain himself, was out with the entire gang for that showstopper as well. Bus was then given time for "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See."

Tribe ended their triumphant return to New York with "Check the Rhyme" and "Award Tour," during which Q-Tip rapped from the crowd.

Method Man, no stranger to stage-diving, took his tireless enthusiasm to the expensive seats during his and Redman's set. Meth jumped in the audience, wearing a fan's sunglasses, and was even passed an extremely large pair of feminine bloomers. The duo promised to have a Blackout 2 LP ready this year and to start filming "How High 2" in early 2009.

Slick Rick came out for literally 30 seconds and did half a snippet of "La Di Da Di." EPMD — Long Island natives — made a surprise appearance with "It's My Thing" and "You Gots Ta Chill." Keith Murray helped Red and Meth close with "Rapper's Delight."

Guest appearances were in abundance Sunday. Pharoahe Monch and Talib Kweli held Mos Def down during his set. Cappadonna — really no big surprise — appeared with Ghostface and Raekwon the Chef during their show. Jay Electronica, Poison Pen, Immortal Technique, De La Soul and the Pharcyde also opened during the more than 10-hour-long festival.

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports. And send your own concert pics, videos and reviews to MTV News You R Here!

• A Tribe Called Quest
• Jay-Z
• Nas

A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, Common and Lupe Fiasco onstage at the 2007 VH1 Hip Hop Honors
Photo: WireImage/S Lovekin

Lupe Fiasco may have never uttered a more farsighted statement than the one he delivered to MTV News from the red carpet at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors taping last week.

"[Q-Tip] was really adamant [about selecting me to be a part of the A Tribe Called Quest tribute]," he said. "And then there's a little sub-story about why he was so adamant that we'll get into, I guess, after the awards. He's kind of giving me a hazing, giving me a reprimand."

What exactly he's referring to has been dubbed "Fiascogate" by the hip-hop blogosphere, and it stems from his flubbed performance during the Tribe tribute at the Honors show, a post he created some time ago about A Tribe Called Quest on Okayplayer.com, his claims (like the one above) that Q-Tip was adamant about him performing in the tribute — and subsequent reactions to all of the above.

In the post, Lupe wrote that he's not too familiar with Tribe's catalog, specifically 1993's classic Midnight Marauders,, which he claimed he'd never heard all the way through. Instead, Lupe — whose style is aesthetically very similar to Tribe and their "Native Tongues" contemporaries like De La Soul — said he grew up on West Coast gangsta rap more than East Coast "backpack" rap.

But the real controversy began when Lupe flubbed the lyrics to one of the album's standout tracks, "Electric Relaxation," during his performance. He also tripped up on Tribe's posse cut "Scenario." But rather than letting it go, Lupe let loose.

On Monday afternoon, before the show aired on television, he posted on Okayplayer again, rather aggressively explaining — in all caps — his mistake. And if you haven't been paying attention to the way Fiasco-gate has played out, below we'll take you step-by-step. [Editor's note: For readability, we have edited some of the following posts and put most all-caps posts into normal case.]

Saturday, October 6, 5:07 a.m.: Several news outlets, including MTV News, report about Lupe Fiasco's stumbling over his lyrics during the Tribe tribute. Messageboards react. Lupe responds in a thread on Okayplayer titled: "...Becuz Q-Tip Is My Friend And He Asked Me To..."

"So I've explained this to a lot of people...let me name-drop a few:

"#1 Fab 5 Freddy #2 Q-TIP!!!! ... that's right the leader of the group himself!!! #3 Common #4 ?uestlove

"and more ... ahem ...

"I DID NOT GROW UP ON ATCQ!!!...

"The little ghetto kid from the mean streets of the West side of Chicago grew up on Spice 1, 8Ball & MJG, N.W.A and Snoop Dogg. I wasn't a backpacker rap enthusiast! I never claimed to be. I grew up on gangsta rap! Have I listened to [Midnight Marauders] in its entirety? ... no!!! ... (sorry ?uest). Get off your high horses and your sacred cows. Some of ya'll make me sick. ...

"And fyi when [the Tribe tribute] was initially offered to me, I turned it down because I felt it was out of place for me to be honoring them, because while I was fully aware of their impact in hip-hop I wasn't really aware of their music like that ... but guess who wanted me to be a part of it ... hmmmm ... how about ... Q-Tip!!!

"So now are you going to hate on [A Tribe Called Quest] because they wanted somebody who didn't really know their music to honor them by covering some of their music? ... think on that [Okayplayers].

"P.S.: I forget the words to some of my own songs on stage ... hey it happens."

Saturday, October 6: Lupe clarifies his remarks to HipHopDX.com from the set of his forthcoming video, "Superstar."

"The label brought the idea to me and I told them that I didn't think it was cool because I didn't grow up on them," he explains. "People are going to think that's phony. I think people who know that I haven't listened to the Midnight Marauders album are going to look at me and say it's phony. They gave me mad press kits on Tribe and I was like, 'I know who they are!' But now this was becoming [even more] phony because I had to beef up and play a role [pretending] that I know them. Just for the sake of putting on a facade for my fans? I'll never do that."

Sunday, October 7, 12:01 a.m.: Some messageboard users are none too pleased by Lupe's post, with many calling the MC all kinds of disparaging names. Although Lupe has plenty of supporters as well, Phonte of North Carolina group Little Brother is not one of them. The rapper applauds Lupe as a peer before criticizing his thread in a post on Okayplayer titled: "Since Ahmir and None of Y/Our OG's Are Willing To Say This, I Will."

"You f---in' up, my n---a. Straight up and down.

"What's even more amazing is the same cats on this site defending your arrogance and ignorance on this topic are the same ones who would be ready to FLIP if the statements you made about MM were said by a Webbie, Plies or Soulja Boy.

"I purposely remained silent during Fiascogate just to see how it all would play out and to see how my man would gain control of the situation, but with you forgetting the lyrics to a classic song from a classic group on national television while paying tribute to them, the 2nd plane has officially hit the tower.

"You're my homeboy and a colleague that I hold in high regard. I'm a fan of your work. Even more so, we've chopped it up on numerous occasions so you know that everything I say is coming from a place of respect and concern. [Regarding your comments about growing up on gangsta rap], that's fine, but your music and more importantly your image leans more towards Native Tongues than killaman-killaman-saykillamankillaman-wit me glock. If it walks and talks like a duck, most people would call it one. You can't blame [Okayplayers] or anybody else for putting you inside a box that you were willing to sit comfortably in and benefit from."

Phonte then responds to most of Lupe's statements in the Okayplayer post in turn, concluding by saying:

"More than anything, it seems to me that Tip knew you were one of the only available celebrities that would translate to VH1's audience and do his legacy justice. ... You and Pharrell are the only celebrities who are (seemingly?) cut from Tribe's cloth and would make sense in the context of the show.

"Normally cats would be forgiving of a slip-up, but when that slip-up was preceded by several months of bragging about how 'I've never heard the album and really don't care to,' well ... you do the math.

"Just some words of concern, fam.

"Best of luck with 'The Cool' and I hope the remix comes out dope.

"Your Homie, Peer, and Fan,

Tigallo"

Tuesday, October 9: A Village Voice story on A Tribe Called Quest makes its way around the Web. In the story, Q-Tip pays his respect to Lupe and mentions being briefed on the rapper's comments about never having listened to Tribe.

"I dig Lupe, and somebody hit me today, showed me something that he said online about how he'd never heard Tribe," Tip says. "He said something like, 'I never heard Tribe and never listened to Tribe,' which I thought he was just saying to stir sh-- up. I know he doesn't believe that, and I certainly don't, and it's all good. I have love and respect for him."

Later that day, in an interview with New York radio station Hot 97's Miss Info, Q-Tip says that he did not beg Lupe to perform, but that Lupe's name, along with others, was presented to him in a shortlist by executives at VH1. Out of the list, Q-Tip selected the rapper, along with Common, Pharrell and Busta Rhymes.

"I'm not trying to make this any bigger than it is, but I just want to clear up one thing," Tip says. "We never hunted him down and begged him to be a part of the show or anything like that. His name was pitched to us by VH1, and we said 'OK cool.' The only time I spoke to Lupe about the Hip Hop Honors performance was on a conference call, which we did with the other artists too, like Busta and Common, to plan the performance. When VH1 brought his name up, based on what he had said about us before, I thought it was ironic and it kind of humored me.

"All that stuff he said about never listening to a Tribe album before and having no interest in doing so, it doesn't make sense to me. As I said on the show itself, it was listening to N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton that inspired us to make [1991's] The Low End Theory, and years later I spoke to Dr. Dre and he told me that hearing The Low End Theory inspired him to make The Chronic. That's what music does. That's what artists do, they seek out information of all kinds. But no, I never hunted him down to be part of the tribute. That didn't happen."

Wednesday, October 10: In an interview on Vibe.com, Lupe steadfastly refuses to back down. He further tries to explain his slip of the tongue by strangely reasoning that MC Hammer had greater prowess than Tribe.

"[Tribe] didn't sell 10 million records, so why would people think they had a blanket on the world like that? MC Hammer was way more popular to me than A Tribe Called Quest," he says. "Those hip-hop elitists who think [Tribe] hold the crown and the copyright to hip-hop ... I listen to 8Ball & MJG and I think they're better than [Tribe]."

Later in the day, Lupe appears on DJ Kay Slay's satellite-radio show and, when asked about his comments regarding Hammer and Tribe, the rapper says he'll be sending a cease-and-desist letter to Vibe and suing the magazine for presenting the interview out of context. According to Lupe, the online interview was conducted before the Hip-Hop Honors show. He later tells Kay Slay he's not mad at anyone over the incident — Phonte, Q-Tip or outlets that picked up the Vibe story.

"First, let's rewind," he tells Kay Slay. "First, I just want everyone to know I'll be suing Vibe for defamation of character. Shout to Q-Tip, shout to A Tribe Called Quest, shout to Phife Dawg, shout to Shaheed. So be clear: Vibe magazine — and this is where this comes from — took one of my interviews from a month ago that's supposed to come out next month. And the pretext to that interview was talking about the elitism in hip-hop and how that people feel that you have to have. ... I don't know the lyrics to certain songs to Midnight Marauders. And then I'll turn around and ask someone, 'Do you know the first verse to "Lay It Down" on 8ball & MJG's Comin' Out Hard?' [Editor's note: "Lay It Down" actually appears on the duo's 1994 On the Outside Looking In album.] But I'm a country bama because I don't know that? Do I attack you because you don't know that? ... Vibe magazine took that and made it seem as if I was responding to Q-Tip, my man, my brother ... this is a quote from a month ago."

(MTV News' requests for comment on the matter from Vibe had not been granted at press time.)

Thursday, October 11: Vibe's Web site updated the Lupe story by placing a disclaimer above the text revealing that the interview had in fact been completed before the Hip Hop Honors event.

"The interview with Lupe Fiasco regarding his feelings about Tribe and Midnight Marauders was conducted prior to his Hip Hop Honors performance," the statement reads. "The article should have made clearer that Lupe Fiasco was responding to statements he'd previously made, not his Hip Hop Honors performance."

And that's the story for now — until the posts start heating up again ...

• Stars Spread The Love At VH1 Hip Hop Honors

• Snoop, Pharrell, Diddy, Ciara And More At The 2007 VH1 Hip Hop Honors

• Lupe Fiasco
• A Tribe Called Quest
• Q-Tip

Snoop Dogg at the 2007 VH1 Hip Hop Honors
Photo: Scott Gries/ Getty Images

NEW YORK — Q-Tip might refer to himself as "The Abstract," but there was nothing hard to understand about his and A Tribe Called Quest's performance as a part of the fourth annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors tribute held at the Hammerstein Ballroom on Thursday night (October 4) in Manhattan. The show is set to air Monday at 10 p.m. ET on VH1.

The legendary Queens, New York, trio (rounded out to a quartet once again with Jarobi back in the fold for the night) were the main honorees, and the love movement was in full effect as Pharrell, Common, Lupe Fiasco and Busta Rhymes came together to pay homage to Linden Boulevard's finest.

"[Tribe] brought a real sense of the tribal aspect and togetherness to hip-hop," KRS-One said of the group on the red carpet before the show.

Those feelings poured out onto the stage for sure.

Common kicked the set off, beginning with the group's first-ever single, "Bonita Applebaum," and walking past — and touching — a bevy of beauties.

Pharrell and Lupe then traded verses on "Electric Relaxation," before the Chicago MC tripped up a few words on the track.

(Check out pictures of Pharrell, Snoop Dogg, Eve, Ne-Yo and more at this year's Hip Hop Honors.)

Prior to the show, Lupe told MTV News that Q-Tip was adamant about having him spit for them as a sort of "hazing." The young rapper wouldn't clarify specifics, but it likely had to do with a post on the Internet that circulated about Lupe not being all the way familiar with one of ATCQ's landmark albums, Midnight Marauders. Tip, it seems, put him to the test.

But if Lupe didn't pass, Busta definitely did and with flying colors.

The longtime Tribe associate roared onstage for the conclusion of "Scenario," decked out in a vintage Leaders of the New School outfit, and brought the place down.

Queens had its day, but Uptown — Harlem, that is — was also in the house without a doubt.

Producer Teddy Riley and veteran exec Andre Harrell pioneered the new jack swing era and Uptown Records run, respectfully. Appropriately, Diddy introduced the duo's video montage; the Bad Boy CEO interned at Uptown before starting his own empire, and his marriage of hip-hop and R&B was an extension of the trend Riley previously kicked off.

Ne-Yo and Keyshia Cole performed the Riley-produced Michael Jackson hit "Remember the Time," and then T-Pain went from rapper-turned-singer to TR impersonator, as he put his own vocal acrobats to Keith Sweat's "I Want Her."

Riley reunited with Blackstreet member Chauncey Black as the two hit the stage to briefly perform the group's "No Diggity."

Whodini and "Wild Style" director Charlie Ahearn and Fab 5 Freddy were also honored.

Jermaine Dupri (who used to dance onstage at early Whodini shows), Nelly and Nick Cannon paid tribute to the "Freaks Come Out at Night" group. Nelly impressed with a mean doo-wop back and forth with one of the Whodini members during a boogie session.

Missy Elliott and Snoop Dogg continued the '90s invasion that was started last year by the Wu-Tang Clan. The lone female among the honorees, however, wasn't lost within the testosterone-fueled performances.

Missy collaborators Eve, Tweet, Ciara and Keyshia Cole paid tribute to the Virginia native; Tweet rocked alongside Timbaland for "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)," while Eve performed "Work It" and her verse from "Hot Boyz." There were no trash-bag sightings, à la the Hype Williams-directed "Rain" video.

Nelly Furtado, with gold tresses matching her gold bangles and bracelets, also performed, rhyming over Elliott's "Get Ur Freak On." Missy was the only honored artist who didn't also perform herself.

Snoop was the sole West Coast artist on the bill, but the L.A. rapper brought a gang of homies with him. Bow Wow, Pharrell, Ice-T, T.I., Daz and B.G. all joined him; first T.I. and B.G. rode on Snoop and Dr. Dre's "Deep Cover." T.I. was in the spirit, decked out in a full khaki suit, Chucks and a Dodgers cap.

It then turned into a full gangster party when the Doggfather went into "Drop It Like It's Hot."

Host Tracy Morgan kept the laughs going throughout the evening with a number of jokes in televised sketches.

"Have you ever been hit in the head with a cell phone by Foxy Brown?" the actor, dressed like a cab driver, asked a passenger. "Then you ain't hip-hop."

"Do you have beef with 50 Cent?" he continued.

But on this night, it was nothing but love.

Chuck D, LL Cool J, Chris Rock, Kool Moe Dee, actress Kerry Washington, Salt-N-Pepa, Michael Eric Dyson and Melle Mel were also on hand, among others.

• Stars Spread The Love At VH1 Hip Hop Honors

• Snoop, Pharrell, Diddy, Ciara And More At The 2007 VH1 Hip Hop Honors

• Snoop Dogg
• A Tribe Called Quest
• Missy Elliott
• T.I.
• Pharrell Williams

Run DMC
Photo: Priority

• UGK
• The Fugees
• Salt & Pepper
• Wu-Tang Clan
• Run-D.M.C.

• OutKast
• A Tribe Called Quest
• Young Buck

A Tribe Called Quest
Photo: Jive Records

Break out the backpacks — A Tribe Called Quest are going back on tour.

Eight years after they broke up, Q-Tip, Phife Dawg and Ali Shaheed Muhammad are planning more than a dozen dates this fall. And what's brought these Midnight Marauders back? A video game, of all things.

Tribe are the headline act for the 2K Sports Bounce Tour, which will promote the basketball game "NBA 2K7." Last year's inaugural Bounce Tour showcased the Roots.

Rumors of a Tribe reunion tour started brewing in the spring (see "Mixtape Monday: Tribe Plan Reunion Tour; Wu-Tang Open Vault"). At about that time, 2K Sports' Tim Rosa mentioned his dream of reuniting Tribe for the Bounce Tour, said Peter Bittenbender of Decon Media, the company putting together the "NBA 2K7" soundtrack. Bittenbender knew someone who knew the group, and the deal was done.

"I think it was just time," Bittenbender said. "It was like magic."

According to Bittenbender and hip-hop producer Dan the Automator — who worked with Decon to compile the game's soundtrack — Phife Dawg is a video game fanatic, which helped seal the deal. Phife will appear as a playable character in the game, as will Flavor Flav, Common, the Roots' ?uestlove and a host of other rappers.

The Bounce Tour will stretch from Atlantic City, New Jersey to Los Angeles. As for a show in Tribe's hometown, the 2K team has penciled in an October slot for a New York show, but the specific date and venue have not been announced.

Dan the Automator's remix of Tribe's "Lyrics to Go" — from the group's 1993 album, Midnight Marauders — will be featured on the game's soundtrack. That's the only remix on a 12-song album that includes original songs from Ghostface Killah, Fabolous, Rhymefest, Hieroglyphics and others from both the mainstream and underground hip-hop scenes. The album will be featured in the game and released as a standalone CD and for iTunes download in mid-September.

"NBA 2K7" will be available for Xbox 360, Xbox and PlayStation 2 this fall. A PS3 version is also in development.

A Tribe Called Quest tour dates, according to the 2K Sports Bounce Tour Web site:

• 9/8 - Las Vegas, NV @ Red Rock
• 9/9 - Berkeley, CA @ Berkeley Community Theatre
• 9/10 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern LG
• 9/13 - Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
• 9/15 - Chicago, IL @ Congress Theatre
• 9/16 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave/ Eagles Club
• 9/17 - Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus
• 9/20 - Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live
• 9/22 - Washington, DC @ Love the Club
• 9/23 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
• 9/24 - Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues
• 9/28 - Atlantic City, NJ @ House of Blues
• 9/29 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
• 10/1 - Sayreville, NJ @ The Starland Ballroom

• A Tribe Called Quest

• A Tribe Called Quest
• Wu-Tang Clan

Usher and Nelly at Usher's post-Grammy party on Sunday Night
Photo: Frank Micelotta

Hollywood was swinging with post-Grammy Awards parties Sunday night — but as usual, you needed serious connections even to find out where they were, let alone get in.

The big battle for the flyest afterparty was between Kanye West and Usher. Ush's fiesta was held at the Geisha House, a club/restaurant co-owned by Ashton Kutcher. Mr. Entertainment was seen there popping a couple of bottles and greeting people like Wesley Snipes, Kelly Rowland, Nelly and Paris Hilton. The line outside stayed long and strong up until 2 a.m., and inside at times it was too crowded to even dance.

Kanye, on the other hand, had a function in Hollywood to which only a select few were invited — and the only way to get the address was to RSVP. West's party was attended by Ludacris and was divided into three different sections, one of which had a live orchestra playing hip-hop tunes. "They're dope," Kanye was heard saying when he peeped them out. "I might have to work with them."

Prince — who, although he won two awards, didn't attend the ceremony — held a secret soiree at his mansion up in the Hollywood Hills,

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Not far from Usher and Kanye's events, guitarist D'Wayne Wiggins hosted a party for multiple winner Alicia Keys. Although the event had only been announced on Friday, the Day After club reached capacity so fast that hundreds were left standing outside for most of the night.

Meanwhile, across town at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, Green Day, Linkin Park, Kid Rock, Amy Lee, Twista, Rob Zombie, Rob Thomas, Jimmy Page, newcomers Louis XIV and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog were among those checking out the Warner Bros. party.

Believe it or not, the guys holding the liveliest function of the night were not nominated for a Grammy — and haven't even put out an album for years. A Tribe Called Quest, who split in 1998 but have done a smattering of shows over the past several months, reunited and reignited at the House of Blues and had fans falling in love with them all over again during their pre-Valentine's Day gig.

Q-Tip, Phife, Jairobi and Ali Shaheed Muhammad went in early, setting the stage for a spiritual night of hip-hop throwback classics like "Oh My God" and "Jazz (We've Got)." Quest then went into what Tip called "obscure" album cuts, but records like "Infamous Date Rape" were rapped along with by the audience as if they were #1 singles.

Even "Steve Biko (Stir It Up)" from 1993's Midnight Marauders had the crowd literally jumping. "Linden Boulevard represent, represent," Phife rapped, "Tribe Called Quest represent, represent/ When the mic is in my hand, I'm never hesitant/ My favorite jam back in the day was 'Eric B. for President.'" Later, Mos Def came out to freestyle, and when Q-Tip said he could do whatever he wanted to do, Mos joined the group as its fifth member, acting as a hypeman.

As their set seemed to be winding down, Q-Tip started beatboxing and asked the crowd "Can I kick it?" — which of course led into the classic song by that name and had the audience jumping yet again.

Tribe and Mos later said their good nights and exited the stage, but no one in the audience moved. The crowd's persistence was rewarded with more sure shots: Tribe and Mos ran back onstage rapping "Scenario," and Busta Rhymes ran out minutes later for his "Rah, rah, like a dungeon dragon" verse.

With the audience's voices sore from yelling, Tribe launched their final assault of "Award Tour" and "Check the Rhime." As the group left the stage, Busta yelled, "Tribe Called Quest, mutha----as!"

As this year's Grammys approach, you can get all the latest news on the show, the scene and the nominees in our Grammy news archive. On the big night, February 8, be sure to tune in to MTV at 7 p.m. for our "All up in the Grammys" preshow. Plus check out videos of the nominees and more right here on mtv.com.

• Usher
• Kanye West
• Nelly
• Kelly Rowland
• Ludacris