Talib Kweli - Eardrum

Solid effort from Kweli even though he doesn't get the credit he deserves.

This was a great album. A lot of people slept on this album but this is by far his strongest effort since "Reflection Eternal". Kweli has been plagued with mediocre production on his previous albums although his is definitely one of the greatest lyricists of today. This album has it all. Very well rounded. Dope beats, dope lyrics. What more can you ask for?
La, La, Laaaa, La, La, La, La, La, La, Laaaaaaa. August 6, 2008

Best hip-hop album of '07

In my opinion, thi is the only album of 2007 that is better than The Cool. And that says a lot. "Eardrum" feels very slow, chill, and soulful in the beginning, picks up in the middle, and finishes very up-tempo and furious. Honestly, the soulful beginning is the best part, but that's not knocking the rest of the album by any means.

Kweli shows why he needs more recognition from the mainstream with epics like "Hostile Gospel Pt. 1 (Deliver Us)" and "Listen" and touches hearts of hip-hop heads with old-school influenced tracks like "Everything Man" and "NY Weather Report." Kweli touches on Poverty in "Eat To Live" and religious confusion in "Give Em Hell." Kweli speaks from his sensual side with "In The Mood" and "Hot Thing" and speaks to his children in "Oh My Stars." The only track that felt like it was not on par with the rest of the album was "Say Something."

Top Tracks:
1. Hostile Gospel Pt.1
2. Eat To Live
3. NY Weather Report
4. Everything Man
5. The Nature (ft. Justin Timberlake)
6. Give Em Hell

Honorable Mentions:
In The Mood
Hot Thing
Hostile Gospel Pt. 2
Listen
July 5, 2008

Another Hit

I don't even have to say anything. I mean if you're a Talib Fan you gotta have this CD!!! Ridiculous like the rest! I LOVE UNDERGROUND... Keepin it Gully! July 3, 2008

The Tank is Empty

The reason Kweli's albums keep getting compared to Reflection Eternal and Black Star is because that material is by far his best. Those were amazing records. More recently, it's been like he's putting out entire CDs full of nothing but filler. A lot of third-rate material that would not have made the cut before.

But still, I keep buying his records on the strength of material he put out a long time ago. But no more. Once again, he puts out a disappointing CD. You could go into all the details, but when you get down to it, it's just not very good. Most of it is OK, none of it is great. It's music that if your heard on the radio, you might let it play, you might change the station. But you'd never say "I want to hear that again."

Ironically, on one track he even lists all the criticisms he gets from fans, about all the things he tends to do wrong (like, "Please Kweli, don't try to get your mack on") - so it's clear he's heard the criticism. I think he's just doesn't have it anymore. He had a few albums-worth of incredible material (plus "Get By"), and that was it. The tank is empty. So put on some Re-Definition or Four Women and don't bother with the new stuff. April 18, 2008

Talib Kweli's on the rebound.

After 2004's The Beautiful Struggle, Talib rebounds to his former stature on Eardrum, continuing the trend that he began with Liberation. Mixing gospel with carefully crafted R&B, combined with some jazz mixes, he has hit a homerun. He even has Norah Jones singing a hook on Soon the New Day. Great album and I would also recommend Devin the Dude's, Smoke Sessions Vol 1 album, his first release since leaving Rapalot and his first album to hit Billboard. April 10, 2008

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