Talib Kweli

Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star

Music that means something.

Review Score:

(10/10)
I can honestly say, that this work of art is the best CD I've ever listened to. I bought the CD nearly one and a half years ago, and it has been in constant rotation since. Talib Kweli has been a favorite of mine since I can remember, but on this album, he brings his full mc-ing skills harder then ever before - and I'm not talking hardcore. I've admired both Talib and Mos for years because of their ability to make music that's worthy of listening to for both musical quality and lyrical content. Talib's wordplay on this album is... well, it's simply incredible. Mos is his perfect partner though, and is certainly not to be overlooked. His lyrics on this CD are equally as good.
The duo's vocals seem to seep through the speakers, your skin and straight into your bones, planting the soul of the music straight into your soul; no beating around the bush.
This CD may be my favorite because Mos and Talib are both MC's that are not afraid to spit lyrics woven with exostential meaning, something most modern rappers shy away from.
The messages and melodies on this CD seem to directly correlate, which shows both artists' muscial intuition.
My favorite tracks are...
"K.O.S. (Determination)", "Respiration", "Twice Inna Lifetime", "Hater Players", and most importantly "Thieves In The Night". Let me give you a quick summary of what these songs are about.
"Respiration" is a lyrically ingenious track featuring Mos and Talib with their renowned colleague, Common, who as usual, doesn't fail to deliver. The melody to this track feels soft, which provides a magnificent contrast with the passionately delivered lyrics, that by no means feel soft. This song focuses on the soul of the city, filled with it's ups and downs. Everybody delivers fully, but Common brings a special touch to the end of the song. Part of his verse goes like this... 'Yo, on the amen, corner I stood, lookin at my former hood, felt it's spirit in the wind, knew my friend was gone for good, threw dirt on the casket, the hurt I couldn't mask it, mixing down emotions, struggle I hadn't mastered.'
"Twice Inna Lifetime" is a song dedicated strictly to wordplay and lyrical warfare. The beat and lyrics on this song are completely off the chain, and to add some extra flare to the closing track on the CD, Mos and Talib call in the re-inforcements, Jane Doe, and Punchline N' Wordsworth, all of which spit such mind-blowing verses, you're mind is spinning by the end of the song. A line that comes to mind from the song is "So shook, I could walk a block and feel the aftershock." That's exactly how you feel by the end of the track.
I admire "Hater Players" for many reasons, but I have to say, there's one line on this song that I absolutely love. "Reverse psychology got 'em scared to say when **** is whack, at the fear of being called a hater... imagine that." Both Talib and Mos mercillesly rip on the music industry and all it's unworthy MC's in the business.
Both "K.O.S." and "Thieves in the Night" are my favorite tracks on the entire album, I suppose it's because they mean something to me. "K.O.S.", which stands for 'Knowledge of Self', is a powerful song, it's moving. Talib's lyrics on this track just feel true, there's really no other words for it. "At exactly which point do you start to realize, that life without knowledge is death in disguise, that's why knowledge of self is like life after death, apply it to your life let destiny manifest, different day, same confusion, we gonna take this hip hop **** and keep it moving."
"Thives in the Night" is the most important work of music in hip hop history, as far as I'm concerned. I won't relay any lyrics from this song, because they all stand out, it's impossible to just give you a piece of it, you need the whole thing to truly understand. Take my word for it, it's powerful.
I suppose the best music is the music that means something. Music with a point, and more importantly, music that means something to you. So check this album out. You might find, as I did, that this is the type of music that hits your soul with such impact, it leaves an impression you'll keep forever.

More Reviews: