Ear Drum [PA] by Talib Kweli

Steadily putting in work since the late 1990s, Talib Kweli first came to prominence as one half of both Black Star and Reflection Eternal, and earned a reputation as one of the most articulate lyricists in hip-hop. Four years after his acclaimed second solo LP, THE BEAUTIFUL, Brooklyn's finest returns with the highly anticipated, EARDRUM, on his own label, Blacksmith Records. Calling on a formidable line-up of producers (including Pete Rock, Madlib, Just Blaze, will.i.am, A Kid Called Roots, Nick Speed, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, and long-time collaborator DJ Hi-Tek) to provide the beatscapes, Kweli delivers a lyrical windstorm that goes from cultural criticism and pointed social protest to love letters to his kids, wistful memories of mid-'90s New York, and examinations of religious divisiveness. Featuring an impressive guest-list of heavy-weights such as Roy Ayers, UGK, Jean Grae, Strong Arm Steady, Norah Jones, Lyfe Jennings, Dion, Musiq Soulchild, Justin Timberlake, and KRS-One, EARDRUM is proof ...