Brooklyn M.C. Talib Kweli Green often speaks on the feeling of vexation he’s consumed with when labeled a “political” rapper. This is easy to understand because titles such as this are confining to artists because it places boundaries on what the public expects from you. So in acknowledgement of his dilemma, it must be said, first and foremost that Kweli’s current status as one of Hip-Hop’s most talented and underrated poets can be accredited to his lyrical prowess, not his subject matter alone.It would be an outright fallacy to deny the role Kweli’s social consciousness and spirituality has played in him receiving the immense levels of critical acclaim that he does. While the majority of Talib’s career has been spent on the underground music scene, a great deal has changed in the last couple of years.
The success of his first solo album “Quality” which featured the hit song “Get By,” along with overt endorsements from mainstream Hip-Hop stars like Jay-Z (check second verse of “Moment of Clarity” on the Black Album), have laid the foundation for Kweli to display his skills on a grander stage. Kweli’s latest album “The Beautiful Struggle” serves as another stepping stone to the ascension of his career.
The first song on Beautiful Struggle, “Going Hard,” is an energetic guitar laced track anchored by a looping military drum-roll. Talib displays dense and meaningful lyrics, speaking on subjects that range from parents who live above their means for the sake of keeping up with the Joneses, to wannabe “gangsters” who don’t respect the value of human life.
On “Broken Glass,” Kweli collaborates with the Neptunes to create one of the albums most compelling tracks. Talib delivers a dark and vivid narrative about a young lady named Lucy who abandons small town life to pursue her dreams of stardom in New York. Ultimately she ends up experiencing the horrors of prostitution and drug addiction. The genius of this song is that the grave imagery within the lyrics is cloaked by a beat that could easily garner club rotation.
Placing all compliments aside for a moment…The Beautiful Struggle, like most albums, is not without its flaws. While musical collaborations between Kanye West and Talib Kweli have been fruitful more often than not, the two failed miserably in their attempt to capitalize on their creative chemistry with the lead single “I Try” which features Mary J. Blige.
Kweli’s lyrics are potent but in all honesty the record is ruined by Kanye’s weak production. The stale beat is all too familiar sounding and a little too much like a slight variation of West’s hit song with Dilated Peoples “I Can’t Live My Life.” You would expect more from these two in the studio when they combine their skills.
The rock inspired song “We Got The Beat” featuring Res is a calamitous attempt at genre bending. Production on this song is comprised of alternative rock and elements from Afrika Bambatta’s classic “Planet Rock.” A strong concept for this track was evident but the execution doesn’t deliver the desired effect.
However, Kweli finishes this project with much vigor on the last three songs, “Black Girl Pain”, “Never Been In Love”, and the album’s title track “Beautiful Struggle”. Producers Midi Mafia provide the stellar soundtrack for “Black Girl Pain” which is a deeply inspiring ode to African-American women. Talib pens emotional lines hailing black women in general but focus more on the love he has for his children and the women in his life.
Just Blaze lends a helping hand for the soulful “Never Been In Love,” a song about a man’s first experiences in a true relationship. Blaze returns to the sped-up vocal sample formula to provide the backdrop for a euphoric love song conducive to Chi-Town stepping, family reunion picnics, or just spending Q.T. with your partner.
“Beautiful Struggle” is an intensely introspective song that contains excerpts of speeches from black activists, African drums and brilliant guitar riffs. Throughout the two verses on the song, Talib spews emotional lines touching on everything from the aforementioned label he gets as a “political rapper,” to the hypocrisy that exist amongst black leaders, politicians, and church officials.
Talib Kweli provides a valuable tool within this CD. The lyrics to each song are printed within the booklet, and it should be utilized to fully appreciate the music. Kweli is one of those few artists who puts thought into his craft every time he places pen to paper. He doesn’t just rhyme words for the sake of rhyming, there’s relevance and meaning within each of his verses. Kweli’s albums may not attain the commercial success of most of his peers but if substance, awareness, and lyrical ability had a direct correlation to sales his music would achieve platinum status with ease. “The Beautiful Struggle” is an album that will further solidify Talib’s position as one of Hip-Hop’s most popular Griots.