Q-Tip for Dublin + Tribe reunion possible

Old school b-kids will be delighted to learn that Q-Tip plays a solo visit to Dublin's Ambassador Theatre on July 7.

But the big, nay elephantine, news is that a full-blown Tribe Called Quest reunion is on the cards.

The legendary hip hop trio, which consisted of Q-Tip, Phife and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, released the last of their original material in 1998 with The Love Movement. It was shortly thereafter – and within a mere month of their Dublin tour date – that the group suddenly disbanded.

According to Q-Tip, the split was due to major issues with Jive Records: "It wasn't really internal. They were jerking us and they were putting strains on our relationships," he said.

Last year saw the emergence of their Hits, Rarities and Remixes collection, revisiting such classic ground as 'Can I Kick It?', 'Bonita Applebum', 'Oh My God' and 'I Left My Wallet In El Segundo'.

And now it would seem that A Tribe Called Quest Mark II is not out of the question...

Convening last summer for an experimental jam session of sorts, the trio was reportedly "happy enough with the results" to consider working on new material. Nothing has been recorded as yet, but it's safe to say that we can expect something more than just a D.A.I.S.Y. Age revival. "People will be surprised when it comes out," is all that Q-Tip has revealed.

Meanwhile, Tip (aka Kamaal Fareed) releases his second solo effort this year with an album called Open. Speaking about the title, Tip has said, "I thought the word 'open' sounded cool. It spoke to a state of mind I was in, to a consciousness … All of those positive qualities of that word, I just like how it felt. You could be open off a beat, a girl, certain things in your life, you know what I mean?"

The release date for Open is yet to be confirmed.

Tickets for Q-Tip's Ambassador show are priced from €36.50 and go on sale this Friday, May 21, from the usual outlets nationwide.