Natural, in-depth, startling, focused, tangible and creative. These are just some of the words that describe the Talib Kweli Greene experience. Quality is a mixture of beats and rhymes that exemplify where Hip-Hop is today. Talib Kweli, one half of Back Star and one half of Reflection Eternal has finally embarked on, a much needed for the industry, solo career. The outcome is Quality over quantity.
The disc produces some of the most inticing tracks Hip-Hop has seen this year. The production of masterminds such as Ayatollah, Dave West, Megahertz, Jay Dee, DJ Quik, The Soulquarians, Da Houd, DJ Scratch and Kanye West, stabilize the foundation of music which Kweli has built. The lead single “Waitin’ On The DJ” featuring Bilal, is an smooth and infectious dance groove which pays homage to the club scene and the one who makes the scene pop. The DJ. But it doesn’t stop there. Quality is a disc full of maturity and manly growth.
Kweli shows the unconditional love that a father exudes on “Joy” which features Mos Def. “Good To You” is strictly about braggin’ rights and Kweli’s flow is masterfully displayed throughout the track. “Gun Music” is an ode to taking care of the family no matter what the cost but it isn’t all violence listen and you will still learn something. “Get By” is a catchy track that speaks of drugs and drinking. It also speaks of curbing habits like that but sometimes we just gotta get by. With all the problems in the hood, whatever you do to get by should be done with meaning behind it. Then there’s the supreme heat of the effort, Guerilla Monsoon Rap. The joint showcases the flow of the lyrically elite. Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch and Kweli flash spitting dexterity and smash the opposition as Kanye West blazes the hook.
As Kweli says, “I place quality over quantity.” On Quality Kweli does just that. Surely this is a four star rating. Cop That.
