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.

“Smile on my face, tears of a sad clown
Feelin’ out of place as I whistle a cab down
If I tip extra, can I huff a cig?
Blow my smoke out the window, droppin’ ashes on the bridge
I’m in New York now, like Akeem and Semi was
Tryna get the lobby door open from a semi buzz
I just wanna go to the slum
And throw my money on the floor like The Notorious B.U.M.
Build a home, teach a class, start a revolution
Free the mind, heal the body, talkin’ evolution
This that black Elohim Anunnaki rap
That Farrakhan-Akeem-Olajuwon-Qaddafi rap
I dedicate this to my niggas in New Orleans
Rockin’ black and gold stocking caps and fleur-de-lis Shockey hats
I’m in the coatroom, screaming ‘Who Dat’ on the double
Servin’ gumbo wit’ a shovel, dog, I’m on another level
Me and Kweli come together like two, pieces of metal
We magnetizin’ the ghetto…”

“…Now here’s the memo
I’ma rebel without a cause, a bezzle without no flaws
And shawty you straight but you look way better without no drawers
And sweat out this alcohol Bet I’ma about to ball,
And never let up look how I just crept up without applause
Fed up with all the frauds and left y’all without a job
The center of attention, this is clever, I’m Pau Gasol
Really though I’m LeBron, really don’t got my mind
On this new school of rappers, I will really go Columbine
And throw up the diamond sign
Boy you know I’ma shine
Flow is in Ramadan
Cuz couple years ago, the game had they pajamas on
But now they on my dick–man, I should throw a condom on
Ay, cuz a nigga cummin’ raw like I ain’t got one on
And I ain’t stoppin’ or coppin’ no pleas, I just lock and load squeeze
Dog, I’m on a higher level, I’m on top of nosebleeds
Niggas say they sick, but when they write, they don’t sneeze
Like the nigga on the block wavin’ his glock but won’t squeeze
…please”

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Jay Electronica & J. Cole on “Just Begun” from the album Revolutions Per Minute

Yeah, the Black Star keeps shining right on home but there’s a couple of new bright spots in orbit looking to dominate the galaxy. Jay-Z already told you a star was born with J. Cole and he ensures Jiggaman isn’t a liar with yet another verse to put the rewind button out of order. Not before Jay “Drops Material Like Halley’s Comet” Electronica set up a pretty lofty volley of his own. Betcha didn’t know the New Orleans Saints’ logo was formally named a fleur-de-lis. Good googly moogly, that’s some intelligent lyricism.

Which one can only hope returns to the center stage. Reflection Eternal is back for 2K10 and Kweli especially, knows a thing or two about assembling proper posse cuts.

Related: Talib Kweli is holder of our first ever Notable Quotable.

Download — Reflection Eternal Feat. Jay Electronica, J. Cole & Mos Def – “Just Begun”

I’m digging this song & video. Kinda reminds me of the Naledge video we posted a few weeks ago, but on a higher budget. To each his own, you guys can vibe out The Ecstatic, but I’ll patiently wait for the new Reflection Eternal album. The first one has gotten a lot of spins over the years and I’m anticipating this one. Based on this Read the rest of this entry »

Hi-Tek & Talib take a break from recording Revolutions Per Minute to crack a few jokes. Ignore the laughing cameraman & you can actually hear a funny tale about a crack-smoking cabbie.

Shouts to Tunji!

Previously Posted — Reflection Eternal – “Back Again”