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It has been almost 10 years since Reflection Eternal – the hip hop duo of Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek – dropped their first album Train of Thought on the public, and 13 years since the two first collaborated (on the track ‘Doom’ by Mood). In the brief interim decade, the two have developed and refined their roles in the music industry, Kweli as a widely-respected and prominently-referenced MC, Hi-Tek as a high demand producer, and this long-awaited sequel has peaked the interest of many, namely those Rawkus fans of semi-old.
So what will people think? The ‘conscious’ hip hop crowd – and music aficionados in general – can be a conservative lot, prone to protecting the rep of their pioneers, a title that both Kweli and Hi-Tek can both claim. Yet they also tend to idealize the old, which could invite a protective attack on a too-late follow up to a classic whose original fanbase has, quite simply, gotten 10 years older.
Simplified, throughout all the jargon, ranting, and raving, there are three distinct opinions that shine through:
1) Those who focus intently on Train of Thought, and the 10 year space between albums, are missing the fact that these two have collaborated many times before and after that first release.
2) Train of Thought was one of the – arguably – best albums from the Rawkus era. People shouldnt hold their breath for a repeat.
3) These are two dope musicians, Talib a brilliant lyricist, Hi-Tek a multi-talented producer – take it on its own as a rock solid effort by two hip hop mainstays.
“While their sound has developed into something new, Kweli and Hi-Tek’s chemistry remains intact.” (prefixmag.com)
“Combined, the duo still have in them the strength to make songs that can be either conscious or geared for the MC fan. They even made songs that are dance club potential. Still, in the mad grab for this “a little bit for everyone” feel that this album clearly went with, it does lose a bit of the potency that Train of Thought had. That shouldn’t stop anyone from enjoying this new ride.” (blogcritics.org)
“Hi-Tek remains a generous collaborator whose jazz-inflected riffs and soulful vibes bring out the best in the mercurial MC.” (spin.com)
“So Revolutions Per Minute isn’t as momentous a revival as it might seem– it’s just, well, another good Talib Kweli album with more solid Hi-Tek beats, an example of good chemistry between two artists who happen to have good chemistry with lots of other collaborators.” (lazybuzz.com)
“Waiting a decade for Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek to collaborate on an album might have resulted in a nostalgic reunion. But while you were waiting, two rewarding careers built themselves up into the only kind of legacy that could produce it.” (lazybuzz.com)
“A lot has changed since Reflection Eternal and its former label, Rawkus, were the epicenter of progressive hip-hop, but the duo’s commitment to making good music hasn’t altered.” (avclub.com)
So there you go. Even simpler… When these two get together, you know its going to be solid. If hip hop is your bag, its definitely worth a listen.
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