Quality (Explicit Version)

After various twelve inch releases with the hip hop label Rawkus, Talib Kweli releases his first full length solo album 'Quality'. Steering away from the usual New York rap sound championed by the likes of Jay-Z, Nas, and Sean Combs, Kweli uses spiritual and political lyrics mixed with tough hip hop to get across his positive messages. The album also features guest appearances from Mos Def, Xzibit, and Pharoahe Monch.

Rolling Stone (1/23/03, p.64)
- 4 stars out of 5 - "...Kweli smoothly bridges the physical and the political.... a rich palette of summer-morning horns, somber strings and crisp, chattering snares..."

Vibe (12/02, p.204)
- 4.5 discs out of 5 - "...QUALITY's rugged beats are more incensed than incense burning. Kweli's flow is ...potent, all winking wordplay, compelling imagery, limber cadences, and passion..."

Spin (2/03, p.99)
- 8 out of 10 - "...Kweli wins by spitting knotty verbiage over high-test beats..."

Uncut (2/03, p.76)
- 3 stars out of 5 - "...It's lyrically potent stuff, and musically he deploys most of the trademark devices of modern hip hop....Refreshingly cliche-free..."

CMJ (12/02, p.47)
- "...On his first solo CD, Kweli pens hip-hop quotables too numerous to name....Kweli is positioning himself as rap's savior."