“I know there’s drinks and food and ya’ll are talking, but please listen to my album. I spent 1 1/2 working on it. This album is my heart,” Kweli yelled out, not once but twice over the mostly industry-type crowd (including Pharoahe Monch, Dres from Black Sheep, Ayatollah and Brian Brater and Jarret Myer, CEOs of Rawkus) mingling at Sossina’s in Lower Manhattan on October 10, 2002.

Kweli’s new joints have heads smiling, nodding, dancing and yes, talking. It’s pretty clear “Quality” is a hit. His single “Waitin’ For The DJ” is a dance jam, while “Shock Body” proves he’s one of the most poetic, lyrically-sophisticated MCs on the planet. “Joy,” a duet with Black Star partner Mos Def references his seeds, Amani Fela and Diani Eshe. “Quality” features producers Ayatollah, Megahertz, Roc-A-Fella’s newest acquisition Kanye West, Jay Dee, DJ Quik and old and new guests: Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Commom, Black Thought, Bilal, Res and newly-signed Rawkus soul singer Novel.

“‘Quality’ is about me growing as a man and as an artist,” Kweli says, “and continuing what I’ve been known to always do, which is place quality over quantity.”