Can we go ahead and give DZA his own strand of O.G. Kush already? The man reps for marijuana like a D.A.R.E. commercial (just on the opposite spectrum). Amazingly though, Big Smoke Dog has avoided the four walls and convenient roofing of being boxed in as “weed rapper” as he consistently paints his life’s memoirs in between the papers lines, amongst the blunt ashes. Read the rest of this entry »

One thing this guy DZA has going for him – aside from enjoyable music – are his titles. His forthcoming project T.H.C. (The Hustler’s Catalog) may not be as entertaining as George Kush Da Button. Yet, give him credit because it is still original and witty as it pays homage to one of his favorite activities. Read the rest of this entry »

Revolutions Per Minute has become a video album in itself with the way Kweli and Hi-Tit-Ek have kept it streaming on the world wide web. Viral edutainment in the pictorial and lyrical department is how you properly present an album, kids. Take those lumps of coal and toss them in the furnace of your train of thought. Let it bump; they love it in the red. Read the rest of this entry »

As the seasons begin to change, Reflection Eternal drops another video off RPM, this one for “Long Hot Summer,” the track dedicated to a love affair that basks and blossoms in the sun. I’m glad they put a visual to this because Talib’s visceral approach makes for imagery beyond compare, doing so in a succinct three minute span. If only all emcees were so wise, not wasteful with their words. Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s face it: the average American’s attention span for any hard news story pales in comparison to the steady stream of rapid fire stories about celebrity breakups, political he said-she saids or tweeted updates on where LeBron James last farted. So in some respects it’s impressive that the Gulf oil spill has captured the hearts and minds of Americans everywhere. Read the rest of this entry »

The saying goes that time heals all things. However, time away has been the death knell to numerous artists and groups who’ve returned only to find their one-time fans have moved on. Or even worse, they find that they aren’t able to meet the lofty expectations set by their past performances. Closing in on almost 10 years since the release of their heralded debut album Train Of Thought, Reflection Eternal faces that challenge as they seek to satiate the fans who’ve eagerly awaited their comeback. Read the rest of this entry »

The latest entry Nah Right & Court Dunn’s One Shot series is Reflection Eternal and their track “So Good.” I’ve come to love these things so much, I was almost ready to suggest that maybe they mailed this one in. Then, Kweli jumped off the poster and started rapping. I am amused and easily entertained. Read the rest of this entry »

A decade is a long time when considering basically anything imaginable but for most Hip-Hop heads, it was time well spent absorbing the lone album that was bestowed on them by the classic MC/producer tandem of Reflection Eternal. Sporting a rapid-fire, metaphorically inclined wordsmith from Brooklyn by the name of Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek, an extremely diverse soundman out of Cincinnati, the pair garnered critical acclaim from a multitude of fan niches with their seminal classic Train Of Thought, in late 2000. Read the rest of this entry »

Finally, a video starring Lady Teef, Hi-Tek in a preppy sweater, and what appears to be Talib Kweli after he walked through a dressing room shared by Mayer Hawthorne and David Ruffin.

Clean and catchy. Slick and simple. I can dig it. Read the rest of this entry »

Keeping the sonic rpms spinning right on axis, another track from Revolutions Per Minute has broken free from Reflection External’s hold.  Over Hi-Tek’s low-fi heater, Kweli reminds everyone why a song like “In This World,” was possible in the first place.  Just like the title suggests, he’s holding court on blacktop all day long on this one. Read the rest of this entry »

Reflection Eternal back again with another video, this time featuring Bun B and for the track “Strangers.” The album Revolutions Per Minute hits stores April 20th.

I still think the most noteworthy point about this track is that Talib finally utilized the cherrypicking layup Jay threw him years ago. The album Revolutions Per Minute available April 20th. Read the rest of this entry »

Rae made us wait nearly a decade but we, the fans were the beneficiaries. Seems like Reflection Eternal have the same idealogy going into their overdue follow-up to Train Of Thought. As the lastest leak for Revolutions Per Minute opens up, Talib Kweli can be heard mumuring “Tone, they don’t get shit like this no more.” Read the rest of this entry »

Let OKP tell it.

After a short break, we’re back with the latest edition of Okayplayer TV. Who better to bring back OKPTV than one of our most favorite groups, Reflection Eternal. Live from the set of RE’s upcoming video, “In This World,” OKP chops it up with Kweli and Hi-Tek about The RE:Union, why they took so long to come out with a new album, gettin’ props from Jay-Z (and turning it into a hook), and more. Look for the video “In This World” to drop next week. Reflection Eternal’s new album, Revolutions Per Minute will be out April 6th.

Since we haven’t been able to get these one of these two guys to do an interview, this is about the best you’ll be getting for now. For five years, I’ve been giving Talib that same look that Hi-Tek’s got in the screencap. Yes, shots. Lightweight though because a.) I could really give a rat’s ass and b.) his music is still impressive.

Anyways, cool interview and status update.

20X will be the Year of the Blacksmith. There’s been plenty of telltale signs along the way to indicate so. Prepping you for the next 365 of sweet memories, Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek, a.k.a. Reflection Eternal are dropping the ball in style with The Re:Union. Engineered, mixed, spearheaded by Statik Selektah, they got something old and something new for the Hip-Hop heads bouncing into next decade. Read the rest of this entry »