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Liberator 5.1
Since the release of Black Star, Kweli has been trying to reclaim the glory that makes him one of hip-hop’s most insightfully narrative commentators. On Right About Now, Kweli reflects on where he’s been, and where he is in his life and music career. Hardcore fans will appreciate the back to basics b-boy stance. Kweli is less concerned with making another “Get By” as he is with maintaining the difficult highwire act of pleasing the ever changing underground and gunnin’ for that elusive radio hit. Starting off with “Right About Now” over 88 Keys’ choppy drums and electric guitars Kweli reminisce over how he came in the game and his struggles with former labels Rawkus/MCA /Geffen. Kweli salutes a troubled Lauryn Hill with a blazing personal tribute “Ms. Hill”, “I know you hate Babylon and want to see it fall/ but they won’t let you read your poem at the BET Awards/ you give us hope, you give us faith, you the one/ they don’t like what you’ve got to say, but still they beg you to come.” The hood banger “Drugs, Basketball & Rap” featuring Planet Asia has Kweli dropping jewels all over the place about the lack of opportunities and negative stereotypes facing young black men. On “Roll Off Me” he spits of personal insecurities and dealing with fame. The mighty MF Doom appears on “Fly That Knot”. There are also guest spots from comrades Mos Def, who joins Kweli on the throwback “Supreme”, and Jean Grae, who snaps on the soulful “Where Ya Gonna Run.” Without all the pretension that goes with making an “official” record, Kweli simply gets down to basic business of making records, educating listeners and showing off the dexterity of his vocabulary. words: jon jon |
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