Following the release of Common & Pete Rock’s joint album (The Auditorium, Vol. 1) last month (July 12), 9th Wonder explained why he thought rap should get its own “Adult Contemporary” subgenre. Now, Q-Tip has issued a response, and it looks like he’s not quite on board with 9th Wonder’s idea.

Posting to his Twitter account late last week, the A Tribe Called Quest legend explained why he would be hesitant about 9th Wonder’s suggested classification for boom bap.

“Adding "ADULT CONTEMPORARY" category [to] hip hop programming is divisive. It would be nice to have everything in one pot BUT.. if there is a need to do so.. call it TRADITIONAL hip hop as “ADULT”will make AGEIST prejudge,” Q-Tip wrote in a tweet.

This Common and Pete Rock album begs the conversation I’ve been having with folks for at least 20 years now.

Adult Contemporary Hip-Hop needs its own category.

Word to DO IT ALL from Lords of The Underground….we’ve been said this homie!!!

— 9th Wonder (@9thwonder) July 12, 2024

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