The primarily acoustic "Write at Home" involves more cooks - keys from Robert Glasper, spoken word from Datcha, vocal sweetening from Bilal - but closes out the album in purposeful, elegant form. "The One I Love" features BJ the Chicago Kid's confident hook, sampled Sampha on the brink of tears in the background, and even a Stevie Wonder-like harmonica outro from Frédéric Yonnet. The comparatively lighter tracks are necessary for balance but are cluttered on occasion. "They screamin' 'black-on-black' as an excuse for you to not care 'til the cops roll up in their SWAT gear," amid dozens of other lines, are delivered with that laser focus only Kweli possesses. "She's My Hero," told over sorrowful soul-jazz from Oh No, regards the 14-year-old who shot and killed her abusive, life-threatening father after "They told the cops, but all that did was make him treat them rougher." A career highlight, it's also only one of many tracks on which Kweli asserts his stance against the school-to-prison pipeline and other forms of systemic oppression, as well as the mentality they sustain. Kweli persists as one of the most inspired storytellers, wasting no syllables as he condenses and elucidates complex non-fiction. "I got a doctorate in rockin' it," he proclaims on prime Kaytranada chop "Traveling Light." But if there's one line that encapsulates this compact set, it's "Documentin' the struggle, I'm huddlin' with historians," placed over the Alchemist's swirling soul, ideally suited for the dissemination of realism and wisdom. Thank You Talib.Seven months after he and Styles P released The Seven, Talib Kweli offered his eighth proper solo album, his first since 2015's Fuck the Money. With such intricate pose, Radio Silence carries an electric vibe that has the dual ability to not only be heard but also felt. He reminds us he will never read from the banal cultural scripts, “average” rappers constantly do. An artful perception of the world and the purpose of life presented, lyrically. Radio Silence is a direct unapologetic narration seen through the eyes of Talib Kweli. Detesting the act of walking head down and eyes closed, which is the equivalence to ignorance, this track reassures wokeness and faith equals manifestation. Inspiring us to believe in what we cannot see, and the importance of faith. “Heads up Eyes Open” featuring Rick Ross uses Hip Hop to spread inspiration through sound. Radio Silence sporadically gives a “jazz fix” creating a mental stimulation from the rich sounds of the horn. Mid album, “Radio Silence,” a track with an introspective narrative, engaging the listener to ponder on man’s most asked question, what is the meaning of Life? Featuring songstress Amber Coffman, her voice provides a sultry indie sound. Beaming light on the fact, hip hop culture will only flourish in the proper care, what a profound statement! In lamest terms new age rappers “get your shit in order” or hip hop will die. “Failing is not an option”, a lyric to stay committed in adversity. A message, nothing short of inspiring the listener to “get hungry “. A track full of expressions of self-evolution. In fact, it's probably his best record since his last project with Hi-Tek as Reflection Eternal in 2010. Introductory track “Magic Hour” is reacclimation of Talib’s down to earth sound. Radio Silence is still a more-than-worthy addition to the Talib Kweli canon. Staying true to the “woke rapper act”, Talib’s lyrics breathe life into the listener allowing a sense of decompression of societal stress. Known for his underground true to hip hop sound, lyrics throughout Radio Silence, entice the listener to contemplate, assess, and acknowledge the bullshit and beauty life is constantly feeding us. Through structured sound, in a sophisticate manner he delivers a conscious message about politickin, women, self-awareness, and the power of energy. Clearly Talib is no novice to the rap culture Radio Silence blesses the listener with sounds of jazz, indie electronica, and touches of symphonic harmony over heavy beats. In the midst of a 15 year celebration of his debut album Quality, Brooklyn native Talib Kweli, releases his 8th album Radio Silence.
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