Let's talk Talib

[Kid Presentable]

I like Talib. Not a great album rapper, but loads of great performances. All perspectives are welcome, because I'd like to know what it is about him some people don't like. Me, I'm a fan.

Been listening to Liberation a lot recently, see.

[Deep_Sea_Rain]

Mr. Kweli was in town a few days ago, I was sorry I couldn't make the show. I saw him open for the Beasties a few years ago, and he put on a hell of a show. I put him on the same level as Common or Mos Def...in my opinion Talib is one of the best lyricists out there.

[Otis Driftwood]

I like the Jean Grae track and "Niggas lie a lot" from the last one, best Talib is still "Know that" from "Black on both sides".

[DIGI]

I like 'The beautiuful struggle' and 'Qwality'

I like the rrack (on the end of beautuful struggle) with "we gots the beats to make the planets riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight' thing


That track's alright, but A Game is the shit.

[BeticoCM]

Mr. Kweli was in town a few days ago, I was sorry I couldn't make the show. I saw him open for the Beasties a few years ago, and he put on a hell of a show. I put him on the same level as Common or Mos Def...in my opinion Talib is one of the best lyricists out there.

DITTO.

he puts a better live show than i expected. seen him perform at least 4 times live now. he's always on point live.

[DIGI]

LOL @ comparing Common and Talib

[g-mile7]

Hes cool. Saw him live this past week...he was on point and "The Blast" had folks goin nuts. The fact is though that Mos is more entertaining than Talib. His set and stage presence were greater than Talib. I always put Talib in the same category as the RZA...they have plenty good songs, but they would be incredible ghost writers.

[Kid Presentable]

Hes cool. Saw him live this past week...he was on point and "The Blast" had folks goin nuts. The fact is though that Mos is more entertaining than Talib. His set and stage presence were greater than Talib. I always put Talib in the same category as the RZA...they have plenty good songs, but they would be incredible ghost writers.

I'd never thought of it that way. Good call.

[Deep_Sea_Rain]

LOL @ comparing Common and Talib

Why not? They're both highly skilled concious MC's, they work with alot of the same people in the industry...to me they're cut from the same cloth.

[ggirlballa]

The fact is though that Mos is more entertaining than Talib. His set and stage presence were greater than Talib.

the complete opposite at the L.A rock the bells show.

[Jitters]

Anybody got the new album? I've always meant to get into his stuff.

How does it stand up as a whole album?

[wavin_goodbye]

http://music.msn.com/music/ListeningBooth

might be there for a few more days....


i like what i've heard so far.

[Lex Diamonds]

I like Kweli a lot. Don't listen to him so much any more but I went through a big Mos/Talib phase a couple years back. None of his albums are really "classic" to me, but you could put together an extremely strong compilation of his shit, with the 3 or 4 best songs of each of his albums.

The only problems he has is that his voice can lack range sometimes and the graveliness of it begins to grate with me on some songs. Also, I think even he said himself recently that he has a wack ear for beats. This is why most of the songs on his albums come out sounding like filler despite the fact that he is always top notch lyrically.

Besides that, he seems like a nice, down to earth guy. Except when he cancelled a show in London that I had bought non-refundable tickets for, the cunt.

PS
Before Kid Presentable starts squeezing my balls, these are just my opinions. You don't have to agree or even read them.

[Kid Presentable]

I like Kweli a lot. Don't listen to him so much any more but I went through a big Mos/Talib phase a couple years back. None of his albums are really "classic" to me, but you could put together an extremely strong compilation of his shit, with the 3 or 4 best songs of each of his albums.

The only problems he has is that his voice can lack range sometimes and the graveliness of it begins to grate with me on some songs. Also, I think even he said himself recently that he has a wack ear for beats. This is why most of the songs on his albums come out sounding like filler despite the fact that he is always top notch lyrically.

Besides that, he seems like a nice, down to earth guy. Except when he cancelled a show in London that I had bought non-refundable tickets for, the cunt.

PS
Before Kid Presentable starts squeezing my balls, these are just my opinions. You don't have to agree or even read them.

Haha, noted. Nah, I agree. My bad if I always jump on your opinions. We can probably reach a happy medium some day. But yeah, A Talib playlist>>>any one Talib album.

[roosta]

I like Kweli a lot. Don't listen to him so much any more but I went through a big Mos/Talib phase a couple years back. None of his albums are really "classic" to me, but you could put together an extremely strong compilation of his shit, with the 3 or 4 best songs of each of his albums.

The only problems he has is that his voice can lack range sometimes and the graveliness of it begins to grate with me on some songs. Also, I think even he said himself recently that he has a wack ear for beats. This is why most of the songs on his albums come out sounding like filler despite the fact that he is always top notch lyrically.

Besides that, he seems like a nice, down to earth guy. Except when he cancelled a show in London that I had bought non-refundable tickets for, the cunt.

PS
Before Kid Presentable starts squeezing my balls, these are just my opinions. You don't have to agree or even read them.

I agree with most of this. I like Talib, but he hasn't nailed a completely classic album. But then again, not many people do. But a good talib compilation always goes down well.

Ill get "Ear Drum" for sure though.

Oh, and he needs to stop saying "Brooklyn Stand up!"

[adam_f]

The one thing that really aggravates me about Talib is that sometimes he tries to fit too many syllables into a bar and it just comes out sounding ridiculous.

I remember on "Niggas Lie a Lot" he said 'Brooklyn, stand up! You're on your grizzly and I respect that' which I thought might be the most retarded thing I've ever heard.

Just saying.

[Jitters]

I got Eardrum the other day and so far I feel like I wasted my money :(

[The Notorious LOL]

everyone ready?


here goes......


























ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[BroomHead]

Hes cool. Saw him live this past week...he was on point and "The Blast" had folks goin nuts. The fact is though that Mos is more entertaining than Talib. His set and stage presence were greater than Talib. I always put Talib in the same category as the RZA...they have plenty good songs, but they would be incredible ghost writers.

That Ghostface Killah quote in your siggy is tyte son

[adam_f]

Yeah, g-money. Yo siggy is mad wicked, shit, I wanna slapbox with Jesus and lick shots at Joseph, son. Mad tight, son.

[Kid Presentable]

everyone ready?


here goes......


























ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

SMPENIS

[adam_f]

Yeah, the new album is pretty much awful and I'm actually starting to dislike Talib more and more.

Listening to a few guest appearances by him, specifically "Wack Niggas" with Common, Kanye and Consequence and "My Favorite Mutiny" with Black Thought and Boots Riley have really gotten me to thinking that he is overrated. Listening to Black and Boots in particular kill their verses with an air tight flow truly is amazing, but then Talib just shows up and phones in an almost spoken-word rap that has me reaching for the skip button. Yeah, his lyrics are usually top-notch, but I'm truly starting to hate his flow and his voice. I used to be a huge fan, but he really did lose me with the new record. Aside from a few choice cuts, it's a complete bore.

I don't know...he's just a bore anymore.

[Kid Presentable]

He seems to have reached that point. I liked Fly that Knot off the other album. And 'Know That' is pretty sick for an older one. I think the older shit is probably better, yeah.

[adam_f]

Yeah, "Fly That Knot" was a good song, in fact, that was a pretty good album because the beats fit his voice better than those off Eardrum. As the years have gone on, it seems his voice has gotten a bit more gravelly and the smooth beats don't fit his tone. They fit Common or Mos or Kanye a lot better than Talib because Talib's voice is more fierce and combative than theirs. He can kill a song like "Fly That Knot" because he has the energy the others sometimes lack, but the smooth shit he's on now doesn't suit him.

[Kid Presentable]

The kind of snappy popping beats I'd hate ordinarily.

[adam_f]

I'm not saying he needs to make all his fucking songs "We Got the Beat" or some shit like that, but he needs Hi-Tek. He hasn't been the same since him and Tek split up.

[g-mile7]

I thought the LP was good....hot thing is that jam.

[g-mile7]

That Ghostface Killah quote in your siggy is tyte son

Great album to go with that great quote

[adam_f]

Hot Thing is just another in the long line of will.i.am produced songs that I wish would contract AIDS and die. I fucking hate that song.

[Lex Diamonds]

I like Talib, but he hasn't nailed a completely classic album. But then again, not many people do.
A fair point, there's a lot of great rappers who never make a truly great album. But for me, Talib has the kind of skill (and respect) that usually comes with a classic. Not an Illmatic or a Raising Hell, but a Midnight Marauders at the very least.

[g-mile7]

A fair point, there's a lot of great rappers who never make a truly great album. But for me, Talib has the kind of skill (and respect) that usually comes with a classic. Not an Illmatic or a Raising Hell, but a Midnight Marauders at the very least.

Classic is such a relative term....I hate using that to describe any album.

Also Ear Drum delivers. In my opinion.

[g-mile7]

Hot Thing is just another in the long line of will.i.am produced songs that I wish would contract AIDS and die. I fucking hate that song.

That song is gold man. It's a rare "hit" for will.i.am.

[adam_f]

Originally posted by g-mile7
That song is gold man. It's a rare "hit" for will.i.am.

Okay, I'll give you it is has pretty decent production, but the lyrics are horrendous.

[g-mile7]

Okay, I'll give you it is has pretty decent production, but the lyrics are horrendous.

meh, its typical to say the least....but the video and the beat make up for it.

[Lex Diamonds]

Classic is such a relative term....I hate using that to describe any album.

Also Ear Drum delivers. In my opinion.
You're right, classic is a very relative term. For me "classic" has a different meaning in hip-hop to it's other uses. To me, I could say whether or not an album is a "classic" without hesitation... it's hard to describe why. I think of it as an album that will be recognised as great 10 or 20 years down the line, and isn't just popular because of the fashions or what's hot at the time. But you're right, I guess it has a different meaning to everyone.

Ear Drum is pretty nice, but again I feel there's a lot of filler there.

[Auton]

Hot Thing is pretty great.. say what you want about the black eyed peas... God knows I probably hate them more than any rational person should, but Will.i.am isn't a bad producer. Soon The New Day and Holy Moly are probably the only other tracks from the album I would bother listening to.. otherwise the album is pretty damn boring, which sums up how i feel about alot of his stuff.

but at least he's better than Common.

[Schmeltz]

I don't know a lot of Talib but I always thought he flowed nice beside MF DOOM on "Old School" from the Mouse and the Mask, and he paired well with Mos Def to produce some very listenable stuff.

And speaking of DANGERDOOM I'm going fuckin nuts trying to remember where Danger Mouse got that addictive horn loop. Anybody remember?

[g-mile7]

Hot Thing is pretty great.. say what you want about the black eyed peas... God knows I probably hate them more than any rational person should, but Will.i.am isn't a bad producer. Soon The New Day and Holy Moly are probably the only other tracks from the album I would bother listening to.. otherwise the album is pretty damn boring, which sums up how i feel about alot of his stuff.

but at least he's better than Common.

meh, I like Common's flow and lyrical content (as in structure) better.

[adam_f]

Originally posted by g-mile7
meh, I like Common's flow and lyrical content (as in structure) better.

Over the right beat, Common's flow can be fierce compared to what Kweli could do. I can't imagine Kweli rhyming over "Drivin' Me Wild" or "The Game" off Finding Forever, but I can imagine Common flowing over the beats from Eardrum. Common is built for the smooth beats both albums have, but it seems Kweli can't find the right selection to sustain an album.

Kweli just can't find the right beat for himself if it's not a Hi-Tek beat.

[faz]

I don't know a lot of Talib but I always thought he flowed nice beside MF DOOM on "Old School" from the Mouse and the Mask, and he paired well with Mos Def to produce some very listenable stuff.

And speaking of DANGERDOOM I'm going fuckin nuts trying to remember where Danger Mouse got that addictive horn loop. Anybody remember?

Keith Mansfield - Funky Fanfare

[Auton]

Over the right beat, Common's flow can be fierce compared to what Kweli could do. I can't imagine Kweli rhyming over "Drivin' Me Wild" or "The Game" off Finding Forever, but I can imagine Common flowing over the beats from Eardrum. Common is built for the smooth beats both albums have, but it seems Kweli can't find the right selection to sustain an album.

Kweli just can't find the right beat for himself if it's not a Hi-Tek beat.

wow! you guys are right! what a team!

[adam_f]

I still hate you.

[Auton]

then why do you have something i said as your signature?

[adam_f]

Because I don't hate U-God as much as I do you.

[Lex Diamonds]

BEEF TINGZ

[Auton]

you'd never catch talib in a gap commercial, dancing on a giant peace symbol like a complete homo

[g-mile7]

you'd never catch talib in a gap commercial, dancing on a giant peace symbol like a complete homo

Oh shit.

[Jitters]

you'd never catch talib in a gap commercial, dancing on a giant peace symbol like a complete homo

I've learned that as soon as you think an artist won't do something they usually do.

Best not think that way.

[g-mile7]

I've learned that as soon as you think an artist won't do something they usually do.

Best not think that way.

Mos Def DID do a Denali commercial...but still GAP? How anti-hip-hop can you get?

[checkyourprez]

i respect what he raps about, and how he tries to make hip hop instead of hip pop. but he just annoys the fuck out of me. i cannot stand his voice at all. its too nasaly or whiney or bitchy, idk something i cant put my finger on it.

[BeticoCM]

after further listening to the new album...HOLY SHIT, its good! except for maybe a track or two that he should've just been left off the album, it just has this soul. excellent album.