Beats, Rhymes & Life: A Journey Into Hip Hop

dollarsandcents · 11-06-2009, 08:56 AM

Reflection Eternal - Train of Thought
Released in 2000 by Rawkus/UMVD

Fast forwarding roughly a decade to 2000, we come to one of my favourite hip hop albums. Reflection Eternal is a group comprising emcee Talib Kweli and producer Hi-Tek, whom you may have heard of before. It's quite a topical review actually as I believe their second album under this moniker. It was recorded at a time when both artists where relatively new to the scene, which makes this album all the more incredible considering they were both relatively inexperienced. The album was well received by critics, but it was an underground album which was far from mainstream and was likely very low-key at it's time of release with the airwaves dominated by big production rap/R&B fusion. The album continues with the theme of afrocentric and political/intelligent hip hop, with Talib Kweli being quoted as being influenced by members of the Native Tongues Posse (discussed int he previous reviews) such as A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. It's likely that the pioneering album by Q-Tip and company inspired this duo to head in the direction of their niche. Despite Talib Kweli being from New York and Hi-Tek being a native of Cincinatti, the two came together and clicked to produce this project.

The album starts off with none other than an endorsement from one of the most influential black characters in history, Nelson Mandela. Okay, it's not actually him but Dave Chappelle doing a bloody good impression of him, but it immediately puts the album into context and gives the impression that although it's going to be fun, the issues tackled in many of the tracks will ranging from the problems in American culture such as violence and commercialism ("these cats drink champagne/to toast death and pain/like slaves on the ship talkin' 'bout who got the flyest chains" to love and hope.

"This, is Nelson Mandela. I represent Johannesburg, South Africa. When I'm in Africa chilling out, I listen to Talib Kweli, and DJ Hi-Tek. Reflection. Eternal.."

So it begins. The album is a rollercoaster of energy, with some great upbeat tracks, amazing production throughout and the usual passionate and meaningful delivery from Talib Kweli. The flow of the album is perfect and it's an absolute joy to listen to in one go, with in my opinion some of the best saved until last with Good Mourning and Expansion Outro. In these reviews I'll hopefully be touching on a few of my favourite tracks with which to demonstrate the mood and style of the album which will hopefully make you go away and listen to it for yourself and decide on your own favourite tracks. You could probably select any two tracks from this album and it'd be a great advert. I can't emphasise the combination of soulful beats and thoughtfully deep and poetic lyrics on this album, an amazing combination.

Where better to start than Love Language (excuse the annoyingly brief intro to the YouTube link, couldn't find a better one), it's a track based strongly in the theme and love, the different types and nature of love and the beauty of it. The song is beautifully paced like the whole album, very relaxing despite the often frantic and rapid delivery of Kweli. I believe the message is that love is.. "more than pillow talk, it can't be translated, learn how to speak it, and become emancipated, it's a language." In addition to the great verses by Talib and the hook is delivered in French (I guess to demonstrate the universality of the theme), and can be translated as follows:

"L'amour n'a pas de, frontiere (Love has no boundaries)
Restes car je t'aime comme tu es (Stay because I love you as you are)
J'ai traverse l'ocean du verbe (I crossed an ocean of words)
Et je t'ai trouve (And I found you)"

Another amazing track is Good Mourning, which comes near the end of the album. The beat is beautiful, absolutely stunning, and the verses by Kweli again demonstrate his unique talent, it often seems like he's rambling on as complex rhyme structures build up on top of each other.The lyrics are meaningful and deep, no more so than the hook which is just a taster of what is addressed throughout not only this track but the album:

"Good mourning, good afternoon, good night
What have you done with your life?
Everybodys time comes to be embraced by the light
You only scared to die when you ain't livin right, man.
I'm puttin up a hellafied fight
Stay awake to the ways of the world"

Very few hip hop albums, in my opinion, have achieved this level of poetic political awareness portrayed in such a beautiful way. Often when culture and political issues are addressed in the genre, it's an excuse to be uber aggresive and the point often gets lost in this. This album is laced with thought provoking rhymes, revolutionary attitudes and beautiful production working in tandem. A great track on the album, Memories Live, is a great example of the influences and reasons for addressing these issue, explaining how memories and personal history all build up and influence attitudes, and how reflection is quite literally eternal.

Quite truly an incredible piece of hip hop. Despite addressing a range of issues, the message and feel of the album is positive.. a stark contrast to many other releases in the genre at the time. There's also something for everyone here, there's smooth hip hop and some great upbeat tracks. The beats are always impressive and interesting, as well as being experimental, much like ATCQ complimenting each other. If you want to listen to some real hip hop, check it out. Honest, thought provoking and dynamic. A true masterpiece in the genre, and much underrated.

Apologies if it's been a little rushed (I'll probably have to edit a few parts after re-reading). Just wanted to put it out there before the weekend, hopefully in future I'll have more time and work on one or two reviews over the weekdays and post something a little more polished! Thanks, and enjoy.

dollarsandcents · 11-19-2009, 12:58 PM

Hopefully post another review tomorrow afternoon, and one at the weekend.

One new release, one classic!

Sorry for the delay. Did anyone check out RE-TOT?

zeppy111 · 12-22-2009, 11:53 AM

Hey man, when we going to see a new update to this journal? Been looking for some more hip-hop to get into, and what you mentioned so far has been great... Also checked out that Digable Planets debut album, the one with Cool Like That on, so mad.

abdullah424 · 12-22-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dollarsandcents

Hopefully post another review tomorrow afternoon, and one at the weekend.

One new release, one classic!

Sorry for the delay. Did anyone check out RE-TOT?

Great review of a great album. Is it just me or have Talib's last few albums been subpar when compared to his earlier work?

Maybe my expectations are too high but I've been disappointed with (though I still enjoyed them) most of his albums since Quality.

Engine · 12-22-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abdullah424

Is it just me or have Talib's last few albums been subpar when compared to his earlier work?

No, I feel the same way. He's still very good at his craft but Black Star and Train of Thought are such instant classics that he's kind of stuck competing with himself. It seems Vast Aire and Shamar have found themselves in a similar situation. How can they ever top The Cold Vein?

dollarsandcents · 01-12-2010, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abdullah424

Great review of a great album. Is it just me or have Talib's last few albums been subpar when compared to his earlier work?

Maybe my expectations are too high but I've been disappointed with (though I still enjoyed them) most of his albums since Quality.

I agree, nothing has ever surpassed this release for him. There's the great album team up with Madlib which is quite good, but Reflecton Eternal is on another level in my opinion.

Also I apologise for my prolonged absence, I've been internetless whilst at home with the parents over the festive season but I'm back now so I'll hopefully be cracking on with some reviews int he near future as it's very thin o the ground at the minute! Also if anyone has any feedback that'd be great, i'm sort of just freestyling with the structure of the reviews so I've no idea if they're relevant or interesting.

Should they be shorter with more reviews? Are they right as they are? More detailed reviews? Let me know!

d&c.

11-06-2009, 08:56 AM	#11 (permalink)
dollarsandcents more tea vicar? Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England Posts: 193	Reflection Eternal - Train of Thought Released in 2000 by Rawkus/UMVD Fast forwarding roughly a decade to 2000, we come to one of my favourite hip hop albums. Reflection Eternal is a group comprising emcee Talib Kweli and producer Hi-Tek, whom you may have heard of before. It's quite a topical review actually as I believe their second album under this moniker. It was recorded at a time when both artists where relatively new to the scene, which makes this album all the more incredible considering they were both relatively inexperienced. The album was well received by critics, but it was an underground album which was far from mainstream and was likely very low-key at it's time of release with the airwaves dominated by big production rap/R&B fusion. The album continues with the theme of afrocentric and political/intelligent hip hop, with Talib Kweli being quoted as being influenced by members of the Native Tongues Posse (discussed int he previous reviews) such as A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. It's likely that the pioneering album by Q-Tip and company inspired this duo to head in the direction of their niche. Despite Talib Kweli being from New York and Hi-Tek being a native of Cincinatti, the two came together and clicked to produce this project. The album starts off with none other than an endorsement from one of the most influential black characters in history, Nelson Mandela. Okay, it's not actually him but Dave Chappelle doing a bloody good impression of him, but it immediately puts the album into context and gives the impression that although it's going to be fun, the issues tackled in many of the tracks will ranging from the problems in American culture such as violence and commercialism ("these cats drink champagne/to toast death and pain/like slaves on the ship talkin' 'bout who got the flyest chains" to love and hope. "This, is Nelson Mandela. I represent Johannesburg, South Africa. When I'm in Africa chilling out, I listen to Talib Kweli, and DJ Hi-Tek. Reflection. Eternal.." So it begins. The album is a rollercoaster of energy, with some great upbeat tracks, amazing production throughout and the usual passionate and meaningful delivery from Talib Kweli. The flow of the album is perfect and it's an absolute joy to listen to in one go, with in my opinion some of the best saved until last with Good Mourning and Expansion Outro. In these reviews I'll hopefully be touching on a few of my favourite tracks with which to demonstrate the mood and style of the album which will hopefully make you go away and listen to it for yourself and decide on your own favourite tracks. You could probably select any two tracks from this album and it'd be a great advert. I can't emphasise the combination of soulful beats and thoughtfully deep and poetic lyrics on this album, an amazing combination. Where better to start than Love Language (excuse the annoyingly brief intro to the YouTube link, couldn't find a better one), it's a track based strongly in the theme and love, the different types and nature of love and the beauty of it. The song is beautifully paced like the whole album, very relaxing despite the often frantic and rapid delivery of Kweli. I believe the message is that love is.. "more than pillow talk, it can't be translated, learn how to speak it, and become emancipated, it's a language." In addition to the great verses by Talib and the hook is delivered in French (I guess to demonstrate the universality of the theme), and can be translated as follows: "L'amour n'a pas de, frontiere (Love has no boundaries) Restes car je t'aime comme tu es (Stay because I love you as you are) J'ai traverse l'ocean du verbe (I crossed an ocean of words) Et je t'ai trouve (And I found you)" Another amazing track is Good Mourning, which comes near the end of the album. The beat is beautiful, absolutely stunning, and the verses by Kweli again demonstrate his unique talent, it often seems like he's rambling on as complex rhyme structures build up on top of each other.The lyrics are meaningful and deep, no more so than the hook which is just a taster of what is addressed throughout not only this track but the album: "Good mourning, good afternoon, good night What have you done with your life? Everybodys time comes to be embraced by the light You only scared to die when you ain't livin right, man. I'm puttin up a hellafied fight Stay awake to the ways of the world" Very few hip hop albums, in my opinion, have achieved this level of poetic political awareness portrayed in such a beautiful way. Often when culture and political issues are addressed in the genre, it's an excuse to be uber aggresive and the point often gets lost in this. This album is laced with thought provoking rhymes, revolutionary attitudes and beautiful production working in tandem. A great track on the album, Memories Live, is a great example of the influences and reasons for addressing these issue, explaining how memories and personal history all build up and influence attitudes, and how reflection is quite literally eternal. Quite truly an incredible piece of hip hop. Despite addressing a range of issues, the message and feel of the album is positive.. a stark contrast to many other releases in the genre at the time. There's also something for everyone here, there's smooth hip hop and some great upbeat tracks. The beats are always impressive and interesting, as well as being experimental, much like ATCQ complimenting each other. If you want to listen to some real hip hop, check it out. Honest, thought provoking and dynamic. A true masterpiece in the genre, and much underrated. Apologies if it's been a little rushed (I'll probably have to edit a few parts after re-reading). Just wanted to put it out there before the weekend, hopefully in future I'll have more time and work on one or two reviews over the weekdays and post something a little more polished! Thanks, and enjoy. __________________ My Blog: You And Whose Army? Last edited by dollarsandcents; 11-06-2009 at 01:08 PM.

11-19-2009, 12:58 PM	#12 (permalink)
dollarsandcents more tea vicar? Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England Posts: 193	Hopefully post another review tomorrow afternoon, and one at the weekend. One new release, one classic! Sorry for the delay. Did anyone check out RE-TOT? __________________ My Blog: You And Whose Army?

12-22-2009, 11:53 AM	#13 (permalink)
zeppy111 16, so? Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Africa Posts: 630	Hey man, when we going to see a new update to this journal? Been looking for some more hip-hop to get into, and what you mentioned so far has been great... Also checked out that Digable Planets debut album, the one with Cool Like That on, so mad. __________________ My Blog (album of the day): http://musicfromthesouth.blogspot.com