Track List:
01 - Right About Now
02 - Drugs, Basketball & Rap (feat. Planet Asia & Phil The Agony)
03 - Who Got It
04 - Fly That Knot
05 - Ms. Hill
06 - Flash Gordon
07 - Supreme Supreme (feat. Mos Def)
08 - The Beast (feat. Papoose)
09 - Roll Of Me
10 - Rock On
11 - Where Ya Gonna Run (Jean Grae feat. Talib Kweli)
12 - Two & Two
When Talib Kweli released "The Beautiful Struggle" in 2004, the general consenus was that the concious MC had lost his mojo when the album didn't even come close to 2002's epic release "Quality." Just twelve months later Kweli set about letting the hip-hop world know that the hunger that fueled his pioneering raps is back and "Right About Now..." doesn't dissapoint.
Straight away you will notice the difference between this and "Beautiful Struggle," Kweli seems more motivated and like he has something to prove. Opening the album with the title track, Kweli lets loose on MCA/Geffen/Universal for forcing him to take the independant route with this release and even calls out Interscopes Jimmy Iovine.
On "Drugs, Basketball & Rap" Kweli teams up with Plant Asia and Phil the Agony and is back on form delivering some of his typical social aware lyrics and even manages to squeeze in a rhyme with Lemony Snicket, helping the BK MC attempt to live up to his fans' unrealistic expectations.
As you would expect, Kweli doesn't have any pop songs on the album and doesn't have any pop guest appearances, instead sticking with independant superstars like fellow Blackstar member Mos Def on "Supreme Supreme" giving fans who have been waiting for a reunion album something to get excited about proving the chemistry between the two is as strong as ever and is joined by Papoose on "Beast" for one of the albums better tracks. Kweli also gives an ode to Lauryn Hill on "Ms. Hill" which sees the conscious rapper reminiscing about how the pioneering Fugee member has changed with fame and forced been forced to the background in modern hip-hop.
Despite the lack of big name producers from "Quality" like Kanye West and Just Blaze, "Right About Now" still has a fresh sound with tunes that fully compliment Kwelis rhyming styles.
It's good to see Kweli back on form as he adds something to the genre that you don't find on most commercial releases. It looks like Kweli has learnt his lessons from "The Beutiful Struggle" and stopped trying to make radio-friendly music, instead just doing what he does best, quality rhymes combined with fresh production. Kweli fans won't be disappointed with his move back to independance and will no doubt we waiting more impatiencly than ever for that Blackstar reuion LP after listening to this album.
Hot Tracks: "Right About Now," "Ms. Hill," "Supreme Supreme," "Flash Gordon"
Artist: Talib Kweli