Reflection Eternal/Train of Thought [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED]

Hi Tek, Talib Kweli

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 4, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Rawkus / Umgd
• ASIN: B000067CLQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (251 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,575 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 2000
Talib Kweli is probably the only MC who could do justice to "For Women," Nina Simone's righteous, ragged battle cry, and he does so with his cover on Reflection Eternal. That cut illustrates this album's timeless quality, its personal poeticism, and its strength. Kweli's lyrical skills have only improved over time, approaching the stuff of legend. And producer Hi-Tek's supple grooves balance the wordcraft perfectly. --Lizz Mendez Berry

Amazon.com
Silencing any suggestions that he's any less capable than his more high-profile Black Star partner Mos Def, Talib Kweli, along with DJ Hi-Tek, crafts a masterful debut with Reflection Eternal. Like Mos, Kweli displays an impressive range of styles and sensibilities--whether popping party lyrics on "Move Something," reflecting on the mysteries of the heart for "Love," or musing on hip-hop's death and rebirth for "Good Mourning." In comparison to Mos Def's status as a new funk soul brother, Kweli's more of a b-boy bookworm--erudite and articulate, but he can also let fly with fire and spark on the mic anytime. DJ Hi-Tek finally gets to show off his full range of production ability with a blend of hot, aggressive tracks ("Blast") and relaxed groovers ("Memories"). As good a debut as you could ask for. --Oliver Wang

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prophetic Poetry and Resonating Rhythms!, October 23, 2000

By	Shazzar Kallie "SHAZZAR.COM" (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Reflection Eternal (Audio CD)

I really enjoyed Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek's "Reflection Eternal". This completes the trilogy of Black Star's "Mos Def And Talib Kweli Are Black Star", Mos Def's "Black on Both Sides", and "Reflection Eternal". I can only imagine what Black Star's second album will be like when Mos Def and Talib Kweli join again with the production skills of Hi-Tek. This is one of the few Hip Hop albums you can listen from track one to track twenty without fast forwarding, well, let's make the twenty-one because of the enlightening hidden track "For Women". After "Move Somethin" the album only get more poetic and visual. Talib drops lyrical science you have to almost swear he had to earn a Ph.d. to verbally express the knowledge he delievers. Talib cares more about his underground following rather than selling out and trying to be commerical.

This is not an album about the bling, bling, violence, disrespecting women, etc., this is an album enlightening and uplifting the mind while grooving to some hypnotic beats that helps keep the head noddin'. I love how the album relates at some many levels from Black pride and unity, love for women, and keeping the faith while believing in God, and keeping Him foremost at the front of one's life! Always keep God first in everything you do, and everything you need will soon follow!

There's hit after hit on this album, and when Talib's Black Star partner Mos Def joins him on "This Means You" it brings the power of Black Star, and let's not forget "Down For The Count" when Rah Digga and Xzibit help rock the mic. Cool G Rap, Vinia Mojica, Les Nubians and De La Soul also lend their voices to some powerful tracks that enlighten and entertain. If you're a lover of Hip Hop that enlightens, educates and motivates while leaving the head noddin' to those beats, rhymes and rhythms, then check out "Reflection Eternal". It'll cause you to reflect on life, love and yourself!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great album, October 19, 2005

A Kid's Review

Here's a funny story
I was in school today, and i was listening to this album. I was listening to the great last song, when my friend spots me and asks if he can see what i was listening to. I show him that it was Talib Kweli. His first words "who's that?"
I say, he's a really good rapper, u might like him. He asks to listen, and i let him. After 5-10 seconds he shrugs it off and chuckles. "thats not really good". Actually, you have no taste I tell him. "yeah i do" he assures me. "who's your favorite rapper?" "50 Cent and G-unit."
Point made.
That just shows you that people nowadays dont care about substance, or skill. Talib Kweli's music has a ton of substance to it. He also has amazing lyrics, and great metaphors that come so quickly and work so well with every beat. And Hi-Tek's beats are all amazing But i guess that kind of skill doesn't matter. He doesn't talk violently, and he doesnt have repetitive beats to go with his songs, or weak lyrics but catchy hooks made to sell albums. But then again, it seems that great hip hop is no longer appreciated. not many people are listening to old school rap, 90s rap like 2pac and biggie, or todays stuff, like nas and talib kweli. They only like 50, and he is the definition of good hip hop. Please, if you are fed up with 50's voice on the radio, buy this album, and support a really great modern rapper.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Collection of Soulful Tracks, November 3, 2000

By	Scott Esposito "Readsalot" (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Reflection Eternal (Audio CD)

True hip hop heads have always known that Talib Kweli is a nice emcee. Still, for most of his career Kweli has been overshadowed by his long-time partner, Mos Def. On thier joint project, "Black Star", Mos Def came off nicer than Kweli, and Mos Def released his solo album a full year before Kweli did the same. However, after listening to "Train of Thought", any doubts about Kweli's ability will be eliminated.

The 21 tracks on this album (including skits) are diverse, ranging from up-tempo bangers to quiet and introspective. The album starts off with a bang with "Move Somethin'", a straight-up bumping horn-influenced track which Kweli absolutely kills. The momentum is kept up with the nice "Some Kind of Wonderful". Subsequently the album mellows out a bit, as Mos Def makes an appearance on the jumpy "This Means You," a feel good track with absolutely unforgettable violin chords. The album abruptly ends the mellow vibe with the funky "Down For The Count" in which Xzibit and Rah Diggah drop some of thier nicest verses to date. Highlights from the second half of the album include "Ghetto Afterlife," (featuring Kool G Rap), "Love Language," and the hidden track "For Women."

DJ Hi-Tek produces the entire album (a rarity in hip hop these days) and doesn't make one wack track. He chooses from a variety of instruments, and gives each track its own unique feel. For example, a tranquil saxaphone plays during the thoughtful "Love Language" whereas bold horns scream on the battle-track "Move Somethin.'" The fact that Hi-Tek is in on every track gives the album a continuity, as no track sounds out of place. From start to finish the album is on a nice organic vibe, and while some tracks are fast and some tracks are slow they all have the same soulful feel to them.

Just as Hi Tek brings the beats, Kweli brings the lyrics. There are jaw dropping punchlines like:

"Your wack set is faker than a bomb threat By a nervous terrorist who's so scared that his palms sweat"

from "Down For The Count." There are also poetic, thoughtful lines such as:

"She lived from n***** to colored to negro to black To afro then african-american and right back to n***** You figure she'd be bitter in the twilight But she alright, cuz she done seen the circle of life yo"

from "For Women" that will continue to resound in your mind long after you've stopped listening.

Overall this album shows us what hip hop can be. Although there are up-tempo battle tracks, there's no mindlessly materialistic braggadocio to be found here. Rather, this is music which analyzes life and gives us Kweli's unique take on things. It's almost like a one-sided conversation in which Kweli talks to us and tells us about himself and about what he thinks. He often proves insightful and provokative. For instance, on "Too Late" he ponders:

Nowadays rap artists coming halfhearted Commercial like pop, or underground like black markets Where were you when hiphop died? Is it too early to mourn? Is it too late to ride?

A thoughtful collection tracks such as "Train of Thought" is rarely found in hip hop these days and Kweli rightfully assumes his place among this era's top emcees with this release. This album is easily one of the best of the year and should be purchased by anyone who likes to think hip hop, or simply anyone who likes to think.