Less than two minutes into this disc, Talib Kweli makes the battle lines between his philosophy and hip-hop's prevailing trends clear. "We don't represent the streets," raps the articulate Brooklynite, "we represent the people in 'em." And in case you didn't get it, De La Soul shows up later on the funky "Soul Rebels" to drive the point home: "We don't live for hip-hop/it lives for us." Those aren't idle boasts. How many MCs these days would use the metaphor of leading kids on a nature hike?
But you can't accuse Kweli and Cincinnati beatmaster Hi-Tek of coming soft. Just check out "Ghetto Afterlife," in which a hard, piano-based track and old-school tough guy Kool G Rap help the duo challenge the East Coast hardcore on their own turf. Or note how Rah Digga and Xzibit pump up the already tough "Down For The Count." Still, Kweli and Tek are best when the beats are soaked with soul and jazz, and the discussions are more philosophical. And there's plenty that fits that description here, from the hypnotically tribal double dip "Memories Live" and "Africa Dream" (which calls today's designer rappers "slaves on a ship/talkin' bout who got the flyer chain") to the stunning reunion with Kweli's Black Star partner Mos Def on "This Means You." Almost the equal of Mos Def's Black On Both Sides, this is a superb outing and one of the year's bestΓÇöhip-hop or otherwise.
All recordings courtesy of Rawkus Records. ΓÇ£Move SomethinΓÇÖΓÇ¥ and ΓÇ£Good MourningΓÇ¥ written by T. K. Greene, T. Cottrell; courtesy of Penskills Music/DJ Hi-Tek Music (BMI). ΓÇ£Down For The CountΓÇ¥ written by T.K. Greene, R. Fisher, A. Joiner, T. Cottrell; courtesy of Penskills Music/Henessey For Everyone/DJ Hi-Tek Music (BMI)/Rah Digga Music (ASCAP).
