Released on 23/03/2000
Label: Rawkus

At last the wait is over and Talib Kweli is back with Hi-Tek for the first release from the forthcoming LP joint and the follow-up to the sublimely wonderful 'Fortified Live' EP. The bad news is that it ain't all that. The strongest track, 'The Express', is a bit dislocated. Kweli's rhymes sound pretty good – if slightly lacking in the intelligent conscious vibe of his best – but it's Hi-Tek's productions that let both of these tracks down. Both are a little lack lustre with a dull repetition and lack of funk that swamps Kweli. Hold tight and hope that this isn't the best from the forthcoming album....

    by James Poletti