If you don't already own this disc, man, wake up! You're sleeping on one of the best hip-hop CDs of all time. I've personally owned this album for at least a year and it still doesn't get old. So much so that I had to check out what some of ya'll wrote as reviews, just to support my feelings that "Train of Thought" is one of the top 5 hip-hop joints ever released. Evidently most listeners feel the same.
Thing is, "Train of Thought" isn't simply rap, or even hip-hop for that matter. This solid debut from Reflection Eternal is just plain music ... to merely label it as rap or underground or whatever tag you wanna slap on it would downplay its significance. Kweli and Hi-Tek are a match made in musical heaven. Kweli is an aggressive battle rapper, an insightful lyricist and a soulful wordsmith. Fused with Hi-Tek's dexterious production; whether over a bluesy bounce, a funky bassline or an african drum, Talib's spiritual introspection and social commentary over Hi-Tek's utterly immactulate beats are truly timeless contributions to hip-hop culture, and music in general.
Some of the aforementioned reviewers on this site were arguing about Talib Kweli being the greatest lyricist ever. I tend to agree. There's no need to choose a side anymore; 2Pac and BIG's music and contributions to society are evident ... not to mention ... ummm, they're dead. Support artists who are alive and who speak for us. I'd probably get stoned for saying this in public but Talib Kweli makes more relevant remarks about the state of hip-hop culture, love, women, memories and life than B.I.G. did in the span of his career. Nuthin' against my man Biggie Smalls, but he didn't have Hi-Tek weaving musical tapestries under his rhymes either. He had Puffy. The bottom line here is if you want to listen to an album that would compliment your musical collection, regardless of your individual tastes, cop "Train of Thought." Talib's extraordinary yet seemingly effortless flow backed by Hi-Tek's atmospheric production make this album a worthwhile addition to any listener's musical library.
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