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While his erstwhile Black Star mate Mos Def concentrated on his acting career, Talib Kweli set about crafting a truly solo follow-up to his acclaimed debut, Reflection Eternal, this time with a variety of producers in place of partner DJ Hi-Tek. The excellent Quality only ups the ante, building on its predecessor's clear-minded focus with greater scope and a more colorful musical palette. Right off the bat, it's apparent that Kweli has traded his old-school minimalism for a warmer, richer sound -- complete with some live instrumentation -- that's immediately inviting and accessible. The opening trio of songs -- "Rush," "Get By," and "Shock Body" -- ranks among the most exciting music he's recorded, and the album only branches out from there. Kweli can pull off genial, good-time hip-hop like lead single "Waitin' for the DJ" and the DJ Quik-produced "Put It in the Air," and follow it with the blistering (and incisive) political fury of "The Proud." He reflects on his image as a so-called conscious rapper on "Good to You," and pushes its boundaries on the Cocoa Brovaz collaboration "Gun Music," where he twists the lyrical conventions of dancehall reggae to his own ends. Pharoahe Monch and the Roots' Black Thought put in exciting guest spots on "Guerrilla Monsoon Rap," and Mos Def appears on "Joy," where Kweli manages to describe the births of his two children without getting self-indulgent. A couple of the mellow R&B jams do get a little too mellow for their own good, drifting along and slowing the album's otherwise consistent momentum. Nonetheless, nearly everything Kweli tries works, and the array of producers keeps things unpredictable. Quality is proof that intelligent hip-hop need not lack excitement, soul, or genuine emotion; it's one of the best rap albums of a year with no shortage of winners.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
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Eric Krasno, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Eric Coomes, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Talib Kweli Greene, ComposerLyricist - Talib Kweli, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dave "Supastar" Dar, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Chappelle, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Doug Wimbish, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Megahertz, Producer - Xzibit, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dorsey Wesley, ComposerLyricist - AXEL NIEHAUS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Talib Kweli, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Dylan Margerum, Programmer - G Man, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Megahertz Music Group, Producer - Dave "Supastar" Dar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joe Nardone, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Morgan Micheal Craft, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
William Taylor, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kanye West, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chinua Hawk, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nina Simone, ComposerLyricist - Talib Kweli, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Kendra Ross, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Abby Dobson, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Duane Eubanks, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Nardone, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Allen, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vernetta Bobien, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
George Spivey, ComposerLyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chuck Mangione, ComposerLyricist - Talib Kweli, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Stephanie McKay, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - DJ Scratch, Producer - Roger Karshner, ComposerLyricist - Dave "Supastar" Dar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joe Nardone, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tiffany Phinazee, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Doug Wimbish, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Megahertz, Producer - Dorsey Wesley, ComposerLyricist - AXEL NIEHAUS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Talib Kweli, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Junior Cat, Rap Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Darrell A. Yates Jr., ComposerLyricist - Cocoa Brovaz, FeaturedArtist - Tekomin Williams, ComposerLyricist - G Man, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Marco Bruno, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave "Supastar" Dar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joe Nardone, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Dahoud Darien, Producer - Bilal, FeaturedArtist - Talib Kweli, MainArtist - T. Greene, ComposerLyricist - D. Darien, ComposerLyricist - B. Oliver, ComposerLyricist - G Man, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Axel Neihaus, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Joseph Nardone, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Mos Def, FeaturedArtist - Curtis Mayfield, ComposerLyricist - Neal Pogue, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Talib Kweli, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Ayatollah, Producer - Dave "Supastar" Dar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joe Nardone, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lamont Dorrell, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Bilal Oliver, ComposerLyricist - Bilal, FeaturedArtist - AXEL NIEHAUS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Pino Palladino, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Kendricks, ComposerLyricist - James Poyser, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Randy Bowland, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Talib Kweli Greene, ComposerLyricist - Talib Kweli, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ahmir Thompson, ComposerLyricist - Hal Davis, ComposerLyricist - Herman Griffith, ComposerLyricist - G Man, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Marco Bruno, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Duane Eubanks, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Aisha Mike, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dave "Supastar" Dar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Soulquarians, Producer - Joe Nardone, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Emmanuel Pratt, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Pharoahe Monch, FeaturedArtist - Black Thought, FeaturedArtist - Kanye West, Producer, FeaturedArtist - Eugene Booker Record, ComposerLyricist - AXEL NIEHAUS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Talib Kweli, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tariq Trotter, ComposerLyricist - Troy Donald Jamerson, ComposerLyricist - S. McKenney, ComposerLyricist - G Man, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Joe Nardone, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
DJ Quik, Producer, Mixer, FeaturedArtist, StudioPersonnel - Eric Coomes, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Talib Kweli, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - David Marvin Blake, ComposerLyricist - Dave "Supastar" Dar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
AXEL NIEHAUS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Talib Kweli, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Jeymes Samuel, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ayatollah, Producer - G Man, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Marco Bruno, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave "Supastar" Dar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joe Nardone, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lamont Dorrell, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
AXEL NIEHAUS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Talib Kweli, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - James Yancey, ComposerLyricist - Res, FeaturedArtist - James Clark, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - G Man, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dilla, Producer - Shareese Ballard, ComposerLyricist - Dave "Supastar" Dar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joe Nardone, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Maryham Blacksher, Viola, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Alonzo Stevenson, ComposerLyricist - Savion Glover, Unknown, Other - AXEL NIEHAUS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - James Poyser, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Neal Pogue, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Talib Kweli, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Vinia Mojica, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Novel, FeaturedArtist - James Yancey, ComposerLyricist - G Man, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dilla, Producer - Dave "Supastar" Dar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joe Nardone, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Kanye West, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Al Green, ComposerLyricist - Talib Kweli, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Mike Koch, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave "Supastar" Dar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Andres Titus, ComposerLyricist - William McLean, ComposerLyricist - Dave West, Producer - AXEL NIEHAUS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Talib Kweli, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Kendra Ross, Background Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Wuang Hankerson, ComposerLyricist - Teodross Avery, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - G Man, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - William G. Young, ComposerLyricist - Harold Clayton, ComposerLyricist - Sigidi Abdullah, ComposerLyricist - Dave "Supastar" Dar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joe Nardone, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilbur Bascombe, ComposerLyricist - Maxwell Romer, ComposerLyricist - Clem Young, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Album review
While his erstwhile Black Star mate Mos Def concentrated on his acting career, Talib Kweli set about crafting a truly solo follow-up to his acclaimed debut, Reflection Eternal, this time with a variety of producers in place of partner DJ Hi-Tek. The excellent Quality only ups the ante, building on its predecessor's clear-minded focus with greater scope and a more colorful musical palette. Right off the bat, it's apparent that Kweli has traded his old-school minimalism for a warmer, richer sound -- complete with some live instrumentation -- that's immediately inviting and accessible. The opening trio of songs -- "Rush," "Get By," and "Shock Body" -- ranks among the most exciting music he's recorded, and the album only branches out from there. Kweli can pull off genial, good-time hip-hop like lead single "Waitin' for the DJ" and the DJ Quik-produced "Put It in the Air," and follow it with the blistering (and incisive) political fury of "The Proud." He reflects on his image as a so-called conscious rapper on "Good to You," and pushes its boundaries on the Cocoa Brovaz collaboration "Gun Music," where he twists the lyrical conventions of dancehall reggae to his own ends. Pharoahe Monch and the Roots' Black Thought put in exciting guest spots on "Guerrilla Monsoon Rap," and Mos Def appears on "Joy," where Kweli manages to describe the births of his two children without getting self-indulgent. A couple of the mellow R&B jams do get a little too mellow for their own good, drifting along and slowing the album's otherwise consistent momentum. Nonetheless, nearly everything Kweli tries works, and the array of producers keeps things unpredictable. Quality is proof that intelligent hip-hop need not lack excitement, soul, or genuine emotion; it's one of the best rap albums of a year with no shortage of winners.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 01:05:04
- Main artists: Talib Kweli
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Rawkus Entertainment
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC ℗ 2002 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
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