Customer Reviews

Liberation

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I know, it came out in '07, but the date on the album - I got the free version when it came out the day after New Year's - is '06.

Anyway, it's a match made in heaven. Madlib lays the soul samples on heavy and thick on the early-morning-invoking "The Show," lays some metallic funk down on "Over the Counter," then gets mellow for "Happy Home" and "Soul Music."

Kweli's flow is dense and intellectual but catchy, as always, name-dropping Hutus, Tutsis, Babatunde Olatunji and Paul Mooney. I discovered that it's a good album to be listening to around 3 a.m. or so, driving. I know that sounds kind of weird, but whatchagonnado?

All-around solid collaboration, and if you missed it for free, it's worth paying for.

If you haven't gotten this album or if you're unsure if you'll like it, don't be! Kweli is a quintessential part of hip hop and if you're a hip hop head and you don't get this now you'll be paying double for it later. Madlib's beats and kweli's impeccable delivery and punchlines are a force to be recognized. Madlib is a producer I think people have been overlooking for a while, but he made a serious statement on this cd. He's the best kind of producer, the one that has a unique style and can tailor that style to his artist. So if you buy this you should definately purchase his other cds. Add to that the fact that Kweli is one of those great rappers that only gets better with time and buying this cd becomes an investment. As Kweli said, "the era of the bullsh^t is over."

This album was released on New Years Eve of 2007, available only as an internet-only download to visitors of the Stone's Throw record label website. It contains 9 tracks:

1. The Show
2. Funny Money
3. Time Is Right
4. Engine Runnin' (featuring Consequence)
5. Over the Counter
6. The Function (featuring Strong Arm Steady)
7. Happy Home (featuring Candice Anderson)
8. Soul Music (featuring Res)
9. What Can I Do

I would say about half of these tracks hit their mark, while the other half feels a bit rushed or, and I hate to say this, under-produced.

What you will get: a few nice new rhymes from Kweli, beats from Madlib

What you don't get: a true "collaboration" that feels like both artists are on the same page. I love both artists individually, but there's a little something off here.

The standouts are "The Show" "Time is Right" "Engine Running" and "What Can I Do?"

Are four tracks worth $20? Its up to you.

This colab with madlib was a great to listen too. I was lucky enough to get it at the cheaper price. I feel that Ta and Lib are an interesting match and I think they should do future projects. The production on this album is unique and innovative, the lyrics powerful. My only problem with this is that it is meant to be a treat to their fans and was made very short in length. To me the songs are not "rushed"... (it is an "EP" release, with only 9 tracks.)
Also I wish Lib would have done alittle MC'ing with Ta. I know some say this is not his strong area, but I disagree, Lib mc'ing would have added alittle flair to this colab, Ta could have been maybe Quas's little cousin???!!!. This will be a rare one so get it.

Mablib's beats mostly never sound finish but at least his heart is in the right place. He can pick loops & samples with the best of them. Talib Kweli is an enigma, the first time I heard was in high school on the "Respiration" video, his spit the best verse of his career. No bars since then has that even comes close to that verse, but Talib knows he is at his best when he sounds pure. At best this album serves as an underground sampler to Ear Drum, the concepts are all ove the place but the chemistry works in places. This album is either = or > The Beautiful Struggle & The Right About Now Mixtape.

Seperately, Madlib and Talib Kweli are very good at what they do. Together, they are a great collaboration, especially to do an album with. So for the life of me, I don't understand why I'm not feeling this album. The only solace I find in this project is that the CD was free when I got the tracks.

Dont get me wrong, this CD doesn't suck, its just that it could have definitely been better. At first listen, I wasnt entirely impressed with the production, so Madlib caught the blame on that, but I also found Kweli wasnt bringing that heat he usually does, so that increased my disappointment. Now granted, there are a good few tracks on here that are pretty good, like "Funny Money" and "Over The Counter" but I find myself listening to this album as a whole less and less. None of the songs get less than 4/5 stars, but out of 9 tracks, only 3 of them get a 5/5 rating from me.

I wouldnt pay $9 bucks for this, but if you are either a faithful Kweli fan or just a fan of underground music in general, go ahead and cop it, you may like it better then I. Liberation gets a solid 3/5 stars.

At his best, Kweli is great, but Kweli is at his worst on this one. The lyrics are very tame, uninteresting. The beats are OK. The only song really worth owning is Soul Music.

...because paying anything over 10 bucks for this would not be a good idea. If you were fortunate to remember to download this New Years Eve 2007, you would understand why it would be a free download. I didn't do so, and ended up paying for the CD (yeah I know...). The album itself sounds like a demo for Kweli and Madlib. To be honest, it doesn't sound like they show very little cohesiveness on the 9 tracks here. Neither of the two are not at their best. Only a couple of standouts here, which are "Funny Money", "The Function" featuring Strong Arm Steady, "Happy Home" featuring Candice Anderson. "Soul Music" is a good vibe that features some uncredited singers. The overall product could have been much better sounding (even the quality sounds cheap). Madlib fans should search for other sources for his production. Kweli fans who are on the fence should just head straight to Eardrum. Peace

...because paying anything over 10 bucks for this would not be a good idea. If you were fortunate to remember to download this New Years Eve 2007, you would understand why it would be a free download. I didn't do so, and ended up paying for the CD (yeah I know...). The album itself sounds like a demo for Kweli and Madlib. To be honest, it doesn't sound like they show very little cohesiveness on the 9 tracks here. Neither of the two are not at their best. Only a couple of standouts here, which are "Funny Money", "The Function" featuring Strong Arm Steady, "Happy Home" featuring Candice Anderson. "Soul Music" is a good vibe that features some uncredited singers. The overall product could have been much better sounding (even the quality sounds cheap). Madlib fans should search for other sources for his production. Kweli fans who are on the fence should just head straight to Eardrum. Peace