Raw Drive- The Vice President of Soul

Amazon.com
In the “conscious” rap game, even mid-list mainstreamers tend to get all but shut out of the highest-profile vehicles for hip-hop (BET, MTV, urban radio). Among these, Talib Kweli remains that exemplary liminal artist, one foot in the artistic purity of his underground roots and the other planted firmly in business of popular culture. Recent albums–The Beautiful Struggle and Right About Now–disappointed fans and critics alike, but Ear Drum marks a milestone in the Kweli catalogue. Wisely chosen collaborators (Kanye West, Roy Ayers, Jean Grae, Pete Rock, KRS-One, even Justin Timberlake and Norah Jones), accessible beats, and Kweli’s staple of insightful, rhythmically drilling lyrics conspire to create his best outing since 2002′s Quality. Blatantly front-loaded, Ear Drum’s early tracks clearly outshine its back half. “NY Weather Report,” “Say Something,” “Holy Moly,” and especially “Hostile Gospel Pt. 1″ plainly sear, the latter two establishing the repeating theme of Kweli’s tenuous relationship to religion. As Kweli himself makes clear in his first line on Ear Drum, “They say you can’t please everybody,” and plenty of sleepers lurk among Ear Drum’s 20 cuts, but the standout tracks suggest that Kweli has bounced back from declining relevance with all cylinders firing. –Jason Kirk

Track Listings
1. Everything Man – Talib Kweli
2. My Weather Report – Talib Kweli
3. Hostile Gospel, Pt. 1 (Deliver Us) – Talib Kweli
4. Say Something – Jean Grae, Talib Kweli
5. Country Cousins – Raheem DeVaughn, Talib Kweli, UGK
6. Holy Moly – Talib Kweli
7. Eat to Live – Talib Kweli
8. In the Mood – Roy Ayers, Talib Kweli, Kanye West
9. Soon the New Day – Norah Jones, Talib Kweli
10. Give ‘Em Hell – Lyfe Jennings, Talib Kweli, Coi Mattison
11. More or Less – Dion, Talib Kweli
12. Stay Around – Talib Kweli
13. Hot Thing – Talib Kweli, will.i.am,
14. Space Fruit (Interlude) – Sa-Ra,
15. Perfect Beat – KRS-One, , Talib Kweli
16. Oh My Stars – Talib Kweli, Musiq (Soulchild)
17. Listen!!! – Talib Kweli
18. Go with Us [*] – Talib Kweli, Strong Arm Steady
19. Hostile Gospel, Pt. 2 (Deliver Me) [*] – Talib Kweli, Sizzla
20. Nature [*] – Talib Kweli, Justin Timberlake

ATMOSPHERE
SAD CLOWN BAD SUMMER # 9

Just in time for some Summer fun Slug and Ant drop an Atmosphere appetizer while they put the finishing touches on their 6th studio album, When Life Gives You Lemons… due early next year. Until then enjoy 5 new sun filled summer inspired songs from Atmosphere, so get ‘em while it’s hot and this gem is still available...
Tracklistings:
1. Sunshine
2. The Number One
3. RFTC
4. Mattress
5. Don’t forget

Brand Nubian formed after Grand Puba’s original group, Masters Of Ceremony, split up. Their first single “Brand Nubian” dropped in 1989 and their debut album, “One For All”, was released in 1990. Critically acclaimed, the album drew fire for militant rhetoric on tracks like “Drop the Bomb” and “Wake Up.” The video for the single “Wake Up” was also banned from MTV. The singles “Slow Down”, “All For One” and “Wake Up” all became hits on Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks chart in 1991. After pursuing individual careers, Grand Puba, Lord Jamar, Sadat X and DJ Alamo reunited in 1997 after contributing a song to the “Soul in the Hole” soundtrack, titled “A Child Is Born” as well as releasing the underground single “Rockin It.” The success of both songs propelled the group to record their second album with all four original members. Most people believed that the album entitled “The Foundation” from 1998 was their reunion album, but it is in fact the “Time’s Running Out” album, unheard and shelved until now that would lead the quartet back into the recording studio to recapture and reclaim the iconic sound of the “One For All” album. Featuring production handled by Puba, Jamar, Alamo with help from DITC legend Lord Finesse and Slick Rick producer/DJ Vance Wright, this is must have for Brand Nubian and the vintage Hip Hop collectors in general. – Amazon.com
Track Listings
1. Intro
2. Seen Enough
3. Girls, Girls, Girls
4. One Time (original version)
5. Scientists of Sound
6. Time’s Runnin’ Out
7. Brand Nu Hustle
8. Once Again
9. Rockin’ It
10. I Wanna Hear It
11. A Child is Born (original version)
12. Right Here
13. Enjoy Yourself
14. Go Hard
15. Somebody Told a Lie