Talib Kweli, the Afro-centric lyrical mastermind who rose to prominence alongside Mos Def with 1998’s Black Star, isn’t a prolific rapper by any means. He releases a new album every few years, usually to critical acclaim, bolstering his status as one of the most intelligent rappers in hip hop.
But while working on his upcoming album, Prisoner of Consciousness, Kweli found himself with an excess of material. Rather than release the songs as a series of demos, he compiled them into a digital-only album, Gutter Rainbows.
Rainbows is Talib’s first self-released record after leaving Warner Brothers, but instead of running wild with his newfound freedom, he remains grounded in his talents. Kweli capitalizes on his rapid-fire delivery and witty topicality with gems like, “Yeah I’m a product of Reaganomics/From the blocks where they rockin’ a fez like Jay Electronica.” The diffuse production credits give the album a slightly disjointed feel but allow Kweli to explore different aspects of his persona on each track. He plays with archetypes from the principled, loyal man on “Friends & Family” to the uncertain, conscious Native Tongues rapper in “So Low.” Other standouts include the gritty “Tater Tot” and the intensely brazen “Palookas,” where he boasts, “You ain’t got a verse that’s better than my worst one.”
Kweli has never been one for excessive self-promotion, allowing his reputation to precede him and relying on a devoted fan base to keep him relevant. But releasing Gutter Rainbows as a prelude to his forthcoming album might be the B.K. M.C.’s most successful promotional tactic yet.
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