Q-Tip formerly of the band A Tribe Called Quest has appeared in a few films and even written one, Prison Song. But none of that could possibly compare to the experience of having the role in the new Spike Lee film, She Hate Me.
She Hate Me is the story of a young black biotech executive [Anthony Mackie] who is fired from his job for exposing corrupt business practices, then turns to impregnating wealthy lesbians for profit.
Q-Tip has the role of Vada who is mostly played for comic relief because he has a low sperm count.
When he sat down for an interview Q-Tip hid behind his sunglasses the whole time. In fact I saw that sometimes he even had his eyes closed when he was answering our questions. It was somewhat bizarre and not at all what I expected when talking to one of the people that pioneered the Native Tongues Posse which was made up of De La Soul, Queen Latifah, the Jungle Brothers and Monie Love.
Since Q-Tip went solo he released Amplified to mixed reviews and this fall he is releasing the long awaited Kamaal the Abstract.
Check out the official website for She Hate Me.
Daniel Robert Epstein: What was it like getting to act in a Spike Lee film?
Q-TIP: Yeah it was a big deal for me. Spike is a great auteur filmmaker and African-American actors like to pass through his door. Its a prestigious gig so it was a pleasure.
DRE: Did you want to contribute a song or was that never an issue?
Q-TIP: Well of course if he wanted me to he would ask but I guess it didnt pan out for whatever reason. Not a big deal. He approached initially about acting, which I was honored to do.
DRE: Was it rough playing someone with a low sperm count?
Q-TIP: No, I studied for acting for 11 years so its just another part of myself that is hidden that I got to dig through to find it. I had to do it.
DRE: As a hip-hop star, did playing this role affect your machismo?
Q-TIP: [laughs] No, its just a movie. You have to approach things as they come and you cant take yourself too seriously. I certainly dont.
DRE: How much improvisation does Spike allow on set?
Q-TIP: Its great working with him because its all about the rehearsal. You are kind of free to improv and bring up questions. I love his approach and to him shooting the movie is the easiest part. He has the storyboards and its all set up. He knows exactly what he wants. He gave us freedom in rehearsal to discover new things though, then we get it tight and shot.
DRE: Have you taken acting classes?
Q-TIP: Ive studied maybe three and a half years at HB Studio, the Uta Hagen thing and ever since then Ive studied with Susan Batson who has worked with Nicole Kidman.
DRE: You were in the tabloids last year because supposedly you were dating Nicole Kidman. Was it tough to get that kind of attention?
Q-TIP: No I think were in the business for getting attention. I definitely wasnt looking for attention about a friendship I had. It must be tough for her to have everyone in her business like that. I dont even think twice about stuff like that.
DRE: So it was only a friendship?
Q-TIP: Yeah.
DRE: Have you thought how you might be lumped in with all the other rappers who act?
Q-TIP: I know Im a part of that just because of circumstance but I really dont think about that. I feel like my responsibility is to the work and to do my craft whether its acting or writing music, and just being honest and truthful in that.
DRE: Have you thought about acting in the theater?
Q-TIP: Definitely. I have a lot of ideas that I write down because I feel that its really difficult for African-Americans to find really good roles and material, unfortunately. If we want to be seen and heard we have to be proactive. So Ive been working on several things including theater. But Im not going to jump into it without any regard for the craft because its a whole other animal that needs to be respected. You have to work at it so you can pull it off night after night. As an actor, film is great because you can play around a bit and figure out what works and what doesnt. Onstage everyone is watching so it has to be flawless.
DRE: Would you feel more comfortable onstage because youve performed your music live so many times?
Q-TIP: Its different because when you're doing music its your show and you have the ability to improv but when you're doing a four and half hour long ONeil piece which calls for this certain line to said with this emotion on this part of the stage, you have to be meticulous. The only thing that is similar is that they are both on a stage.
DRE: Did you find any commonalities between acting and music?
Q-TIP: Its all art. The thing thats cool about art is that there are a lot of liberties you can have with it. Today you can see that there is a lot of structure in the art world thats been co-opted by business. They want to wrap their minds about it, package it, figure it out and put it into a box. But that can stagnant the growth of artists. I encourage anybody who has the voice and vision to see themselves as having a multi-pronged type of thing.
DRE: What did you gain from working on She Hate Me?
Q-TIP: The thing that I got from Spike is something I have to work on, is being on time [laughs]. Spike knows how to manage time, which is strange to me because you can get really lost especially when you have to manage such a huge vessel. Spike sits there looking at his watch going Cut! Next shot! Action! Cut! One more time! Check the gate! Next shot! Action! Cut! Then hes done. He doesnt play and it is something to be admired.
DRE: Do you have an opinion on selling your sperm?
Q-TIP: It must be tough. Life gives you a whole bunch of situations and some people really want to start families and others just want to have children regardless of their sexual orientation. I think everyone has that right, so why not? Im for it. Why not bring a life into the world if you can.
DRE: Do you ever want to direct a film?
Q-TIP: I guess everyone thinks about directing but thats like 20 years down the line. Right now I am just trying to get my feet wet with more acting and writing.
DRE: What ideas do you have for movies?
Q-TIP: I cant tell you that [laughs].
DRE: What movie directors do you like?
Q-TIP: I like a little bit of everybody but probably [Akira] Kurosawa is my favorite. Of course Scorsese, Capra, Orson Welles, Paul Thomas Anderson, Darren Aronofsky, Todd Haynes.
DRE: So you're a real a film buff.
Q-TIP: Yeah Im a cinefile.
DRE: Whats the next project for you?
Q-TIP: I have a solo album coming out around October on Interscope/Geffen and Im looking forward to that.
DRE: What guests are on it?
Q-TIP: Common, DAngelo, Andre 3000 and more.
DRE: Why did A Tribe Called Quest have to break up?
Q-TIP: We grow and we move.
DRE: You dont see it coming back together?
Q-TIP: No. Ill issue a challenge if Lauren, Wyclef and those guys get back together then well get back together and well all do a tour.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
She Hate Me is the story of a young black biotech executive [Anthony Mackie] who is fired from his job for exposing corrupt business practices, then turns to impregnating wealthy lesbians for profit.
Q-Tip has the role of Vada who is mostly played for comic relief because he has a low sperm count.
When he sat down for an interview Q-Tip hid behind his sunglasses the whole time. In fact I saw that sometimes he even had his eyes closed when he was answering our questions. It was somewhat bizarre and not at all what I expected when talking to one of the people that pioneered the Native Tongues Posse which was made up of De La Soul, Queen Latifah, the Jungle Brothers and Monie Love.
Since Q-Tip went solo he released Amplified to mixed reviews and this fall he is releasing the long awaited Kamaal the Abstract.
Check out the official website for She Hate Me.
Daniel Robert Epstein: What was it like getting to act in a Spike Lee film?
Q-TIP: Yeah it was a big deal for me. Spike is a great auteur filmmaker and African-American actors like to pass through his door. Its a prestigious gig so it was a pleasure.
DRE: Did you want to contribute a song or was that never an issue?
Q-TIP: Well of course if he wanted me to he would ask but I guess it didnt pan out for whatever reason. Not a big deal. He approached initially about acting, which I was honored to do.
DRE: Was it rough playing someone with a low sperm count?
Q-TIP: No, I studied for acting for 11 years so its just another part of myself that is hidden that I got to dig through to find it. I had to do it.
DRE: As a hip-hop star, did playing this role affect your machismo?
Q-TIP: [laughs] No, its just a movie. You have to approach things as they come and you cant take yourself too seriously. I certainly dont.
DRE: How much improvisation does Spike allow on set?
Q-TIP: Its great working with him because its all about the rehearsal. You are kind of free to improv and bring up questions. I love his approach and to him shooting the movie is the easiest part. He has the storyboards and its all set up. He knows exactly what he wants. He gave us freedom in rehearsal to discover new things though, then we get it tight and shot.
DRE: Have you taken acting classes?
Q-TIP: Ive studied maybe three and a half years at HB Studio, the Uta Hagen thing and ever since then Ive studied with Susan Batson who has worked with Nicole Kidman.
DRE: You were in the tabloids last year because supposedly you were dating Nicole Kidman. Was it tough to get that kind of attention?
Q-TIP: No I think were in the business for getting attention. I definitely wasnt looking for attention about a friendship I had. It must be tough for her to have everyone in her business like that. I dont even think twice about stuff like that.
DRE: So it was only a friendship?
Q-TIP: Yeah.
DRE: Have you thought how you might be lumped in with all the other rappers who act?
Q-TIP: I know Im a part of that just because of circumstance but I really dont think about that. I feel like my responsibility is to the work and to do my craft whether its acting or writing music, and just being honest and truthful in that.
DRE: Have you thought about acting in the theater?
Q-TIP: Definitely. I have a lot of ideas that I write down because I feel that its really difficult for African-Americans to find really good roles and material, unfortunately. If we want to be seen and heard we have to be proactive. So Ive been working on several things including theater. But Im not going to jump into it without any regard for the craft because its a whole other animal that needs to be respected. You have to work at it so you can pull it off night after night. As an actor, film is great because you can play around a bit and figure out what works and what doesnt. Onstage everyone is watching so it has to be flawless.
DRE: Would you feel more comfortable onstage because youve performed your music live so many times?
Q-TIP: Its different because when you're doing music its your show and you have the ability to improv but when you're doing a four and half hour long ONeil piece which calls for this certain line to said with this emotion on this part of the stage, you have to be meticulous. The only thing that is similar is that they are both on a stage.
DRE: Did you find any commonalities between acting and music?
Q-TIP: Its all art. The thing thats cool about art is that there are a lot of liberties you can have with it. Today you can see that there is a lot of structure in the art world thats been co-opted by business. They want to wrap their minds about it, package it, figure it out and put it into a box. But that can stagnant the growth of artists. I encourage anybody who has the voice and vision to see themselves as having a multi-pronged type of thing.
DRE: What did you gain from working on She Hate Me?
Q-TIP: The thing that I got from Spike is something I have to work on, is being on time [laughs]. Spike knows how to manage time, which is strange to me because you can get really lost especially when you have to manage such a huge vessel. Spike sits there looking at his watch going Cut! Next shot! Action! Cut! One more time! Check the gate! Next shot! Action! Cut! Then hes done. He doesnt play and it is something to be admired.
DRE: Do you have an opinion on selling your sperm?
Q-TIP: It must be tough. Life gives you a whole bunch of situations and some people really want to start families and others just want to have children regardless of their sexual orientation. I think everyone has that right, so why not? Im for it. Why not bring a life into the world if you can.
DRE: Do you ever want to direct a film?
Q-TIP: I guess everyone thinks about directing but thats like 20 years down the line. Right now I am just trying to get my feet wet with more acting and writing.
DRE: What ideas do you have for movies?
Q-TIP: I cant tell you that [laughs].
DRE: What movie directors do you like?
Q-TIP: I like a little bit of everybody but probably [Akira] Kurosawa is my favorite. Of course Scorsese, Capra, Orson Welles, Paul Thomas Anderson, Darren Aronofsky, Todd Haynes.
DRE: So you're a real a film buff.
Q-TIP: Yeah Im a cinefile.
DRE: Whats the next project for you?
Q-TIP: I have a solo album coming out around October on Interscope/Geffen and Im looking forward to that.
DRE: What guests are on it?
Q-TIP: Common, DAngelo, Andre 3000 and more.
DRE: Why did A Tribe Called Quest have to break up?
Q-TIP: We grow and we move.
DRE: You dont see it coming back together?
Q-TIP: No. Ill issue a challenge if Lauren, Wyclef and those guys get back together then well get back together and well all do a tour.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 16 of 16 COMMENTS
fudoh:
how long ago was that interview? cause last i heard tribe is back together and relasing an album.
rockezi:
i never knew a love.. a love.. love like this......