Quality is about me growing as a man and as an artist and continuing what I've been known to always do, which is place quality over quantity," Kweli explains. "I will never do a record without some sense of responsibility. Even if you don't agree with what I have to say, even if I'm speaking something that's not relevant to your life, you'll still be able to appreciate it." Musically, Kweli enlisted many of today's leading hip-hop producers to lay Quality's sonic foundation, including Ayatollah, Dave West, Megahertz, Kanye West, Jay Dee, DJ Quik, the Soulquarians, Da' Houd and DJ Scratch. Kweli also collaborated with a host of notable guest stars, including his Rawkus label mates Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch and newly-signed hip-hop-soul singer Novel, along with Common, Black Thought, Res and Bilal, whose mighty voice enhances the album's first single, "Waitin' For The DJ," an upbeat dance groove that recalls Parliament-Funkadelic.
"One of the most thought-provoking hip-hop albums in recent years." Mixer
"Quality is proof that intelligent hip-hop need not lack excitement, soul, or genuine emotion; it's one of the best rap albums of a year with no shortage of winners." All Music Guide
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Notes & Personnel Info |  | This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. | | Personnel includes: Talib Kweli, Dave Chapelle, Cocoa Brovaz, Xzibit, Mos Def, Novel, Vinia Mojica, Res, Pharoahe Monch, Black Thought, Kanye West, Kendra Ross, Bilal. | | Producers include: Ayatollah, Megahertz, Kanye West, Jay Dee, DJ Quik. | | This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. | | Personnel includes: Talib Kweli, Dave Chapelle, Cocoa Brovaz, Xzibit, Mos Def, Novel, Vinia Mojica, Res, Pharoahe Monch, Black Thought, Kanye West, Kendra Ross, Bilal. | | Producers include: Ayatollah, Megahertz, Kanye West, Jay Dee, DJ Quik. | | This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. | | For one of New York's most notable "underground" rappers, Talib Kweli has been involved in some pretty high-profile endeavors, like the 1998 Black Star album that topped countless hip-hop polls, and his collaborations with Hi-Tek. However, it's on his own that Kweli can really focus on his vision and direction. Musically, TK is as eclectic as ever here; the manifesto "Rush" features hard-rock guitar riffing; "Where Do We Go" is a gentle, melodic track driven by sparkling piano and poignant strings. Along the way, QUALITY incorporates samples of everyone from Nina Simone to Chuck Mangione. | | Lyrically, Kweli is as positive and creative as ever, boldly continuing to provide an effective contrast to the downcast, violent themes so prevalent in hip-hop. As in all his other work, the message is ostensibly simple--wake up and look around you--but as any good lyricist (a category in which Kweli certainly belongs) must know, the devil is in the details. And it's those details that put some powerful flesh on this album's bones. | | For one of New York's most notable "underground" rappers, Talib Kweli has been involved in some pretty high-profile endeavors, like the 1998 Black Star album that topped countless hip-hop polls, and his collaborations with Hi-Tek. However, it's on his own that Kweli can really focus on his vision and direction. Musically, TK is as eclectic as ever here; the manifesto "Rush" features hard-rock guitar riffing; "Where Do We Go" is a gentle, melodic track driven by sparkling piano and poignant strings. Along the way, QUALITY incorporates samples of everyone from Nina Simone to Chuck Mangione. | | Lyrically, Kweli is as positive and creative as ever, boldly continuing to provide an effective contrast to the downcast, violent themes so prevalent in hip-hop. As in all his other work, the message is ostensibly simple--wake up and look around you--but as any good lyricist (a category in which Kweli certainly belongs) must know, the devil is in the details. And it's those details that put some powerful flesh on this album's bones. |
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