Talib Kweli - Revolutions Per Minute

Artist:

Hi-Tek

UPC:

093624983675

Description:

Recording information: 2 Ton Sound Inc., New York, NY; Central City Recording, Columbus, OH; Jamaica; Kew`s Crib; Legacy Studios, New York, NY; Pacifique Studios, North Hollywood, CA; TekLab Studios, Cincinnati, OH; The Dojo, New York, NY; The Fire Department, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY.
Photographer: Nabil Elderkin.
Reuniting a decade after their debut, Train of Thought, Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek return with another collaboration under their Reflection Eternal moniker. Despite the gap between albums, Kweli and Hi-Tek still have the same chemistry that`s followed them from project to project. Hi-Tek`s soul-infused beats create the perfect laid-back atmosphere for Kweli`s casual verbal acrobatics, crafting beats that bring the listener into the group`s chilled-out space with their minimal aesthetic. Rather than getting too lost in the crates, Hi-Tek keeps things relatively minimal, letting the beats do the heavy lifting while the samples create the proper headspace for Kweli and friends to explore. "In the Red" shows off this kind of exploratory production, where Hi-Tek`s less-is-more beat cruises along while Kweli raps about the fall of his musical heroes, saying "Shame how our heroes is broke/We call them stars/It`s because when they falling to Earth/They falling hard." Like their last album together, Revolutions Per Minute also has some hard-hitting guest spots. Most surprising of these is "Strangers (Paranoid)," which features former UGK member Bun B stopping by to drop some verses on the topic of government bailouts. The biggest treat for Black Star fans will be the star-packed "Just Begun," featuring Jay Electronica, J. Cole, and Kweli`s former Black Star partner, Mos Def. The track really captures that Native Tongues old school meets new school feeling, reminding us what made Black Star so good while making us all scratch our heads as we wonder why Jay Electronica isn`t more famous. Revolutions Per Minute is an album that`s been a long time coming, and Kweli and Hi-Tek prove once again that there`s more to rap than club bangers, delivering another dose of socially and politically conscious music that`s more about opening people`s eyes to what`s happening in the world than telling them how to feel about it. ~ Gregory Heaney

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. RPM`s
2. City Playgrounds
3. Back Again - (featuring R.E.S.)
4. Strangers (Paranoid) - (featuring Bun B)
5. In This World
6. Got Work
7. Midnight Hour - (featuring Estelle)
8. Lifting Off
9. In the Red
10. Black Gold Intro
11. Ballad of the Black Gold
12. Just Begun - (featuring Jay Electronica/Mos Def)
13. Long Hot Summer
14. Get Loose - (featuring Chester French)
15. So Good
16. Ends
17. My Life (Outro)

Album Information

Release Date:

05/18/2010

Type:

Performer

Genre:

R&B

Subgenre:

East Coast Rap

Label:

Blacksmith Records

Producer:

Hi-Tek

Catalog Number:

512766

Original Release Year:

2010

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Runtime:

60 : 35

Guest Artist:

R.E.S.; Bun B; Estelle; Jay Electronica; Mos Def; Chester French; Bilal

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