Kweli may be best known as the guy who isn't Mos Def in the hip-hop duo Black Star. While this is true, he still had a lot of success on his own with singles like, Get By. He also was friends with famous people like Kanye and Chappelle so he had a way to get into the spotlight. He is the type of rapper that you truly have to listen to in order to appreciate what exactly is going on. He is very inteligent and obviously understands how to rap more than most people do.
Before this turns into too much of a love fest for Kweli I think I'll go ahead and start the track by track.
1. Intro
I am getting sick and tired of these damn intros. Has it ever dawned on an artist that these things are boring as shit and everyone skips them? Do you know how much better served rappers would be if they just opened with a track? Fuck you basic rap intro, rot in hell.
2. Human Mic
Oh No does a terrific job of producing this track to fit Kweli's style. Lyrically as always Kweli is on point, but nothing sets this song apart. I like it a lot, but for the average listener this will get lost in the shuffle of the album. It is very short, but kicks off the album with good energy.
3. Turnt Up
This sounds like a C-level mainstream beat, and theme. Fortunately this track is murdered with a couple of very good verses and a fun little hook. You can expect more from this album, but this is a nice teaser of what Kweli is going to give you.
4. Come Here (ft. Miguel)
Man that hook makes me happy. I mean listen to this and please let me know if Miguel's hook doesn't make you smile. As far as the song goes this is just a stupid love song. What sets this a side from other love songs is how much of a focus Kweli still puts on the lyrics which are still very good. This track is annoying as shit though because it doesn't have to happen.
5. High Life (f. Rubix & Baja)
Talk about fun. This is the type of song one would hula-hoop to. The chorus sounds as though it could be found on a FIFA Street sound track. However, Kweli and Rubix murder this joint. After you get done hula-hooping, you're going to rewind to listen to the lyrics and get dazzled. And OH NO does it again with the beat. Truly sick track.
6. Ready Set Go
This song really grows on you. At first listen I really just forgot about this track. As i re-listened, it wasn't until about the fourth listen that I realized how awesome this was. The reason for that is the generic beat and hook. Kweli you're rich as fuck, how bout you dip into those pockets and get some Pete Rock or something. The hook, on the other hand, is just stupid. Kweli still manages to make this a standout with how well he performs through all three verses.
7. Hold It Now
Did I miss the memo that said Oh No was an amazing producer. He hits you with another gem, and this is where this album really picks up. This song itself is the TITS. Kweli angrily destroys the songs spits in it's face, kicks it in the crotch and triumphantly stands over it while giving the Deandre Jordan stank face. I hope that gets across how ridiculously good this song is.
8. Push Through (ft. Kendrick Lamar & Curren$y)
This song was obviously intended to be a single, with the guest lineup. Curren$y might be the most boring rapper ever, and yet another lame hook. Kweli fails to bring the same fire he did to the last track, but regardless performs well. Kendrick is the standout on this track, which was the intention when giving him the closing verse. Decent.
9. Hamster Wheel
This song epitomizes the term "meh". Feel free to skip this. Scratch that, I advise you skip this.
10.Delicate Flowers
I really wish I hadn't said what I did about the last track, because a copy and paste of that description would fit this track nicely. Mid-album slump.
11. Rocket Ships (ft. Busta Rhymes)
And then RZA came down and said, "fuck you Oh No". This is the best RZA beat I have heard in a while. I mentioned that a previous track was the tits, but it was a simple b-cup compared to this double-d masterpiece. This song is truly the motherfucking tits. Any fan of music will enjoy this. The hook is catchy, the beat as I mentioned is incredible, and Kweli murders it. Can I get a hell yeah!
12. Before He Walks (ft. Nelly)
I really wish Nelly had retired a long time ago. This is a generic inspirational come-up song. The hook in my mind is atrocious, ad Nelly is not much better. Kweli manages to salvage this track with his two verses, but that is the only good to come out of this.
13. Upper Echelon
This is the only single I heard before this album's release. It got me unbelievably pumped for the release. The lyricism, simple catchy hook, and beat make for an absolute banger. Highlight song right here.
14. Favela Love (ft. Seu Jorge)
Everything inside of me wishes this song didn't have to happen. It is well documented that I hate love songs in hip-hop, and this might be the worst one I have ever heard. This is enough to make you quit respecting the entire genre, yeah, it's that bad.
15. It Only Gets Better (ft. Marsha Ambrosius)
Marsha has the voice of a beautiful angel. This song decent from a rap standpoint, but I really enjoy it purely as a song. It is a beautiful way to cap off this project, which is why I will pretend the bonus tracks do not exist.
Rating: 3.5/5
I hate that half the albums we rate receive a 3.5, but we have an eye for good music. This album is enjoyable, minus a few sore spots that keep it from getting a higher rating. I hope that is not just my inner Kweli fan, but I find this album to be exceptional, and one of the best of the year so far. If you were not a Kweli fan before, then this will not change your mind, but is worth a purchase if you are even a remote fan of this guy. I'm telling you, this is definitely worth the nine dollars is costs on ITunes.