Better Than Kanye and Curtis

Heads always say that the real hip hop is in the underground. That hip hop ain't dead, it's just zipped up in some backpack or in the alleys, outside of some hood spot. Well, seekers of the hip hop truth don't even have to look that far. Because Talib Kweli has put out the best hip hop album (that I have heard) of the year. And you can cop that on iTunes and Best Buy.

Eardrum isn't for everybody. Just like everyone doesn't want to pick up Wuthering Heights in order to appreciate literature. In his third solo release, Kweli has put together his most accesible piece of work. He is finally achieved that balance of lyrical lushness and production gold. His delivery is exciting. His content is sophisticated and highly stylized. Kanye wishes he could sharpen his point of view the way Kweli has. 50 Cent wishes he could be as convincing.

Far from a conscious rapper, Talib Kweli is just smart. It is clear through his diversity of topics and indulgence of language that he is the thinking man's emcee. The pulse that begins Everything Man sets the tone for the life Kweli is about to breathe into the whole album. The song is a description of not only Kweli and his many facets, but the roles of that all black men are given or expected to fill, whether they choose to or not. Say Something is a sonically interesting ego bash, featuring Jean Grae who easily hangs with the prominent emcee. Kweli shows that New Yorkers can have respect for Southern hospitality on Country Cousins, featuring UGK. Eat To Live describes mental and physical poverty that effects blacks throughout the diaspora. In The Mood is a slinky, smooth number that features Roy Ayers and Kanye. I prefer the version with J. Sands, but oh well. Give Em Hell is a more thorough lesson in religion and culture than I've ever heard in any church. Both parts of Hostile Gospel are an inside and out lyrical cleansing of the soul. Hot Thing features will.i.am. in a perfect fit, where Kweli gets sexy and waxes poetically about his better half. Let's not forget the kids; Kweli gives them a stellar tribute on Oh My Stars, which features Musiq in a roll that a sobered D'Angelo would have killed.

Needless to say, Kweli has covered the bases of the middle class struggles and the responsible folks. Each song is full of life and provides an earful of material to digest. It's hard to get into conscious rap sometimes. The bran flakes apperance and mediocre song composition can be impalatable. However, Kweli has surely transcended the image of the rapper who has lots say and little means to express it. No need to rely purely on Kanye for insight or Curtis for bangers. With Talib Kweli, you can have the beats and the brains.