Throwback: Happy 55th Birthday, Q-Tip!

2025 is rushing by. It’s now April. How did that happen, y’all? April is a busy month in music history. 

• Gil Scott-Heron was born 76 years ago on April 1 
• The legendary Marvin Gaye was born 85 years ago on April 2
• Bella Union Records founder and label head, singer/songwriter, musician and Cocteau Twins‘ Simon Raymonde celebrated his 63rd birthday on April 3
• David Roback, one-half of acclaimed and beloved dream pop duo Mazzy Star was born on this day 67 years on April 4
• The great Jill Scott, “Jilly from Philly” celebrated her 53rd on April 4
• The legendary bluesman Muddy Waters was born 112 years ago on April 4
• Smash-hit producer, songwriter and artist Pharrell Williams celebrated his 52nd birthday on April 6
• Merle Haggard, one of the most beloved figures of the Outlaw Country movement was born on this day 85 years ago on April 6
• Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV, a.k.a. Black Francis, a.k.a Frank Black celebrates his 60th — yes, y’all 60th! — birthday on April 7
• John Oates, best known for his work with the blue-eyed soul duo Hall & Oates one of the most commercially successful duos ever, celebrates his 76th birthday on April 7
• The legendary and incomparable Billie Holiday as born 110 years ago on April 7
• Kraftwerk co-founder Florian Schneider was born 78 years ago on April 7
• The legendary Biz Markie was born 61 years ago on April 8

As a kid, I absolutely adored A Tribe Called Quest. Honestly, I still do. Today, Q-Tipone of hip-hop’s greatest emcees and producers celebrates his 55th — yes, y’all 55th! — birthday today.

So let’s celebrate the brother, his legendary music and his towering influence on hip-hop. 

Happy birthday, brother! May there be many, many more!