Words By Malik V.

Two hour train rides aren’t my idea of a party, but that’s what I gotta do to go back home to visit the fam. These journeys do have a positive side, though. They give me time to explore the often neglected areas of my iPod, which haven’t been scrolled down for quite some time. This particular trip allowed me to discover a gem, which I will not forget for a while.

“The Blast,” off of Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek’s Train of Thought collab, is a track that can please the most disgruntled of listeners and calm down the most high-strung, stressed ones. The beat might be on of the most hypnotizing pieces of instrumentation ever recorded. The drums, bassline and melody combine for a somber and dreamy experience, which doesn’t lose its magic even after the 100th listen. It’s the type of instrumental that can be replayed over and over again without getting played out.

Talib comes through on the track, letting us know how to pronounce his name once and for all. “Say Taleeb or Talib Kweli, if it’s hard try spelling it phonetically/If not then just let it be”. As if he didn’t do enough with the beat, Hi-Tek lays a verse as well. “It’s Hi-Tek and Kweli on the track like Flo Jo/Bet you ain’t even know I had flow though…”

“The Blast” will come in handy for those gloomy autumn days that are gracing us now. As the skies become greyer and the heavens become moist with rain, Talib and Hi-Tek’s classic is the perfect backdrop for gazing out the window, or for me, looking at the scenery on a train home to my beloved Bay Area.

Stray Shots

LSG-Levert-Sweat-Gill-Retail-1997

T.I._ft._Kanye_West_Lil_Wayne___Jay_Z.-Swagga_Like_Us-Swagga_Like_Us_CDS

Prophet_Jones-Prophet_Jones-2001

After 7- After 7

VA – Classic Soul Ballads – Sweet Thing (2 Discs)

Rick_Ross-Push_It-Promo_CDS-2006

Saigon-Pain_In_My_Life-Promo_CDS-2006

Fat_Joe-That_White-VLS-Bootleg-2008

Kanye West – Unreleased Joints Volume 1

Kanye West – Unreleased Joints Volume 2

Aesop Rock – No Jump Cables

Ja Rules – Rules Of Amedment: The Lost Tapes

EPMD – Unfinished Business

Stray Shots