Talib Kweli albums

2023

Liberation 2 - 90%

If anyone has a right to be on a list of the best albums of 2023, its these two. The most prolific rapper (Talib Kwali) and producers (madlib) I can think of, of course not every single thing they create is going to be as striking, but each person has so much to say in different ways. This collaboration, their first since the 2007 album of same name, is my vote for the best rap albums of the year.

“Nat Turner” is as incendiary as anything since the late 1980’s rap, so it shows Kwali really trying to protest against persecution. “One for Biz” really is an homage to the Native tongues days, featuring Q-Tip and quoting the deceased Phife dog. Kwali constantly states about his old school conventions- listening to albums on vinyl, talking about issues that matter like music over money, and he does it all with the grace he is known for. “After These Messages” addresses the people who spew racist rhetoric online under false aliases. “Marathon Thru Babylon” is one of his best songs ever.

  Madlib has made some real production master works, most notably the first Liberation and MadVilliany, but here he shows how much he was learned  by not just creating  short snippets of sound but crafting amazing templates of beauty in “Wild Sweet Love” (saved by Kwali’s rapid fire rapping) and some kind of special chaotic psychedelic “Something Special .” Much different than his collaboration with MF Doom about 20 years ago, but all the better for it- this new evolution has revitalized this duo.

Best Songs: Marathon thru Babylon, One for Biz, Nat Turner, Air Quotes

2024

The Confidence of Knowing - 83%

Talib Kwali seems to be on some kind of winning streak again this decade, much like his contemporary Nas was with his King's Disease and Magic albums several years ago. Talib stands out as he has for most of his career, super literate and topical when it comes to identity of self (the defining title track "Confidence of Knowing"), the group mentality of being around others who think like you - "Native Tongues" is the obvious throwback to his influences, where "Swat" is more of a posse cut that is the most powerful epic on the album combining rap, rock, and jazz in an ultimate statement. J. Rawls as producer/music maker definitely is a nice combination for Kwali, it seems to rejuvenate his words as they tend to be almost stream of consciousness.

The duo tries a lot here, the dark alley feel of "Turnstyle", the 80s laid back smoothness of "Shalamar" which recalls the funk of Stevie Wonder, the operatic alien sounds of Niko S in the part one two closer "Sing into the Sky" showing the old master MC has a true grasp of his sound more now than perhaps ever; "It's Workin" ends everything on an upbeat note, sounding effortless. It's a bit sprawling at times, and doesn't quite match the perfection of last year's Liberation 2 (2023) but it's a worthy sophomore effort and shows Kwali is setting a high standard for us all to look up to.

Best Songs: SWAT, Turnstyle, Singing to the Sky, Native Sons