Talib Kweli
Ear Drum
Release Date: Aug 21, 2007
Genre(s): Rap
Record label: Warner Bros/Wea
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Album Review: Ear Drum by Talib Kweli
Great, Based on 3 Critics
Based on rating 8/10
P.O.S. :: Chill, dummyDoomtree RecordsAuthor: Patrick TaylorI've been a fan of Stefon "P.O.S." Alexander since his debut nearly 10 years ago. On "Audition" and 2009's "Never Better," he proved himself to be one of the few artists who could successfully meld punk rock and hip-hop. Fellow Minnesotans ….
Based on rating 7/10
Although the most salient attribute of hip-hop is the words, the production behind it is equally important. It turns rhymes into song, into something you can feel, something that moves you. And while Talib Kweli certainly has the lyrical aspect down, often his albums -- and to be fair, those of other so-called "conscious MCs" -- tend to suffer from a dearth of good beats.
Opinion: Mediocre
There are alternatives to deadening cynicism and self-righteous fossilization. Among them is the embrace of contradiction, in as many capacities as imagination allows. All we have to fear is the fear of looking foolish. If that sounds pretentious, you might be in the wrong part of town. Talib Kweli ….