Did not meet expectations

After seeing that this album was highly recommended by most of the Amazon reviewers and because it was featured on numerous true hip-hop themed "listmania's," I chose to buy this CD. Sadly, I really feel let down, especially after hearing the single "just to get by" which is one of the redeeming qualities of this album. To be honest, Quality is chock full of lackluster beats and average lyrical content. So if you're planning on buying this album like I was, beware.

Quality Kweli

At first it was hard for me to get into this album. As a Black Star/Reflection Eternal fan, it felt like a change, and I didn't necessarily like it. After a thorough listening, though, I found that Talibs rhyming on the album is exactly what I love about him on other releases. The high points of his rapping on this album definitely rival those on his others, my favorites being on the tracks Talk To You, Guerrilla Monsson Rap, Put It In The Air, Good To You, The Proud and Where Do We Go. Beatwise, though some songs have a slightly pop/rockish feel that I don't necessarily love (Talib is still excellent on them lyrically), some of them are great. For beats: Get By's beat, coming from Kanye West, sounds a little more mainstream, but is still quite good. Shock Body has an ill, Hi-Tek sounding, horn-filled, track. Gun Music has a more rock sounding track, but I still like it a lot, complete with Doug Wimbish-provided bass. Talk To You provides a beautiful backdrop for Kweli's verses, and has a great guitar part. Guerrilla Monsoon Rap probably has my favorite beat on the whole track; its Chi-Lites violin sample is pretty, badass and catchy all at once (created by K West). Put It In The Air has a hugely funky, dance track created by DJ Quik, using what Talib calls "organic instruments", its got a really live sound. I feel those are the standouts.

So, though this album isnt quite as consistently-flooring as Black Star or Reflection Eternal, its got some great songs, great rhymes, and regardless of some peoples opinion, the same old Talib Kweli.

The Best Review of this album

To Get Right to the point the album "Quality" is a excellent album for its causes and what was happening in the world at that time. Talib Kweeli Greene did a great job on this album ,from the beats to the lyrics. Here's My Review



#1 Intro- A great intro- (Dave Chappele with the powerful knowledge of the man Kweli)



#2 Rush- HOTTTTTTTTT BEAT- HOT LYRICSSSSS My favorite song on the album.



#3 Get By- The Message , The WORDS,and OF Course the Beat



#4- Shock Body- A great Song, Good Hook , and nice singing



#5-Gun Music- HOTTTTTTT BEAT, GOOD FEATURE FOR KWELI, good appeareance by Pharoae Monch,Great Aspect



#6-Waitng For The DJ- Dont Know about the video (sucked), but the song is great , great club beat,a good moodfor someone who just wants to dance



#7-Joy- Perfect song for the album-my second favorite- Rap about your kids, you dont see that much,a great great song



#8-Talk To You- I feel this is the weakest song on the album but is still a good song,as far as the album-this beat is kinda off but still a good song cause of kwelis lyrics



#9-Guerilla Monsoon Rap-A good song, good Kanye West beat-Nice Hook-I LIKE IT



#10-Put it in the air-Good Club Beat, i can see this song with a music video-DJ Quik, did a good job on the beat to.



#11-The Proud- The Most serious song i ever heard with someone saying they will kill someone or shoot em-this song is the element of life -this is the deepest song i ever heard



#12-Where Do We Go-Nice song, i love it, Res with her excellent singing as always, a good message like Kweli always does



#13-Nice Song ,Nice Beat



#14-The 3rd best song on the album,good beat, goodlyrics



#15-a good beat ,a good ending to an album