The tempo picks up a bit on “In the Mood”. While not a incredibly deep track, the beats’ simplicity is actually its strong point, with occasional flutes popping in and out, with an equally noddable drum pattern. The drop just gives Talib’s words more emphasis with lines like “I got ya nose wide open like FloNase”. Where most albums tend to dip off halfway through, Eardrum actually gets progressively better, as tracks like “Soon The New Day” and “Electrify” are extremely dope, almost transporting you to another dimension while listening. Electrify COULD have been such a failure, but Talib’s first verse is too vicious to even begin thinking that thought.
The one thing that some people have been clamoring for on every Talib album is the almost requisite Mos Def feature. It is absent here, which may throw a few off, but I feel it was done intentionally to show that he doesn’t have to run back to his “Safety Net” to crank out classic material. He stands on his own two throughout the vast majority of the LP, which is a welcome change to the feature ridden collaboration-Hop of recent times.
In conclusion, Eardrum is easily one of the year’s best releases, and deserves every single accolade, or bit of praise it gets (or should be getting) To those, like I, who thought Talib Kweli was an MC of the past, or a shell of his former self, this album is the epitome of anything we could have ever wanted from him (besides a new Blackstar LP).
Though the album is certainly a solid record, it still lacks the mainstream appeal it needs to succeed so it’ll be given a 9/10. Pick up this new classic, and bump it until your Eardrums hurt.
COMMENTS
how do u see him as cocky? no homo
dont this dude look like a clown nerd ass Dame Dash! Fresh ta def! lmao
that chanat does look like a dame dash
Good review. Talib is hot. All his albums are Nice.
what ever do you mean by saying ,Talib is HOT
ITS SAD TALIB IS A GREAT RAPPER YEP GREAT RAPPER BUT HE RAPS IN DA WRONG TIME BACK IN DA DAY TALIB WOULD BE A PLATNIUM SELLING ARTIST (MOS DEF 2) BUT NOWADAWYS ALL DESE MUTHA FUCKAS WANNA HEAR IS DA NEW TI ALBUM WTF IS WRONG WIT YALL
I MEAN I DEFINE I GREAT ARTIST BY THAT NIGGA U CAN CLOSE UR EYES WITH DA HEADPHONES ON AND SEE EVERY LYRIC THAT THE ARTIST IS SAYING THAT IS TRUE HIP HOP
This album is fire, i cant stop listenin 2 it
Talib is official, he's just not gonna make corny dance music ringtones, http://www.datpiff.com/Str8-Business-Life-or-Death-Entertainment-The-Eay-mid3190.html
we need more rappers like him
^^^ lol to that avator
there is only 1 Talib Kweli
Ear Drum is on fire
I haven't heard this album yet, but it sounds good.
This is true real and unforgettable influential hip hop, fuck that lil wayne shit,
this album was great , talib is a master wiith words
I downloaded the album and heard half of it, it's so sick....I can't get enough. Then this review just shows me that i'm right....I love it. I just might buy two copies
DO IT BABY SUPPORT THE REAL. WE C U TALIB AND WE DEFINTLEY HERE U HOMIE. I DONT GOT ALBUM GOING TO HAVE SOON THOUGH TRUST AND BELIEVE. ANYWAY MAN I LIKE ALBUM WITHOUT ALL THE FUTURES TO MANY TO OPINIONS CANT REALLY CONNECT WITH THE PERSON U FELL ME. LIKE IT MAINLY u TALIB GOOD LOOK THAT WHy I LIKE COMMON BE SO MUCH U KINDA CONNECT TO HIM. SPEAKING OF COMMON COP THAT DUDES ALBUM THE PEOPLE CRAZY. LOVE HIP-HOP AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SPPORT DIE WIThOUT AND MuSIC AND GENERAL KEEP IT MUSIC BABY IM Out NICE WORK TALIB GOT MY PENNYIES SAVE FOR tHAT ALBUM hA IM Out
Talib is da best album next to Joell cd i heard all year! REAL TALK!
FUCK HOOPSTER!!!!!
GO SHOOT URSELF U DUMB SHIT!!!!!!!!!!1
UR THE REASON HIP HOP DIED!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF THE ALBUM IS SO HOT PAY THE MAN FOR ENTERTAINING U!!!!!!!!!
as far as the album ima cop this shit tomorrow!!!!!
i was waiting for a review!!!
nah nigga fuck u! i aint got money for this i got bills u dumb shit! imma download it
also hoopster said he was buying 2 copies u dumb fuck! so stop tryin to sound hard u fuckin website warrior and shut the fuck up
^^^ You know I'm glad you pointed out to SnappS that he has a reading comprehension problem but by looking at your picture, should you be sayin "nigga" and funny as it seems, you are trying to sound hard too... irony?
shut up u dumb nigger yea i said nigger and get a life... irony? i think not hahahaha im laughing straight to the bank rite now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nine3Birdman, you're seriously a dumb ass.
Karmaloop u are seriously a fuck nigga ur mom should of swallowed u!
you said there needs to be better rappers when your quoting 50
hes obviously making fun of black rappers and how gay they are dumb shit
your obviously the same person
It's time to support real hip-hop and go buy albums such as Talib's, Common's, The roots, Mos DEf's, and etc. We have to show the-powers-that-be who give record deals to any mothafucka with hot beats and a good hook that we aren't buying any of that shit anymore.
I'm not hating on the THUG element of Hip-hop ( It wouldnt be there if it werent for certain situations where it would call for someone to be molded that way into a thug mothafucka, but not by just listening to the music) but we need to have a balance in hip-hop with the social conciousness element.
Rappers like Talib could have the greastest CD ever made but it won't get big money pushed behind it for advertising and marketing because it gets downloaded for free or its not "gangsta" enough, so the album sales are lacking.
That's what the record executives look at album sales, and if people fall for the hype behind artist who make songs like "This is why I'm Hot", "I'm so Crispy", "It's going down", "My Lip gloss", and "Chicken Noodle soup with a soda on the side!!!!!!??" ; They will keep on putting money behind them and for other bullshit artist just like them.
dis album is a klassik!...
im gonna check it out
Talib it the truth It's about time he gets the credit he's due!!!
His lyrical content is unmatched in the game today....
talib would be the most popular mc now if skill sold
CO-SIGN
its funny how a white boy gets soo much balls to say "nigger" on an internet site. But when he goes outside and C's some niggas , he prolly keeps his eyes to the ground. You clown ass Stan. Yo Eminem's coming out with another Album, shouldn't you be on "wewannabeEminem.com" to talk about how much u wanna swallow Em?
Eardrum - Album of the Year.
nine3birdman if you hate black people so much why do you have birdman in your name and why are you on a hiphop website. your a fagett ass bitch
black people copied birdman from the cartoon cause they are too stupid to come up wit shit
this album is ill go cop it!!!
Eardrum is classic material, go out and grab a copy yall!
yo where can i get this thing man??
if Nine3Birdman thinks we are niggers and so inferior, why is he on a site dedicated to us anyway. i think he needs to get off our johnson and find a site for aerosmith or some other dumb rock group that makes music for his people.
uh why do white people have to listen to aerosmith? and this site is about music not about racial stereotypes. not that i agree with anything that dude said.
i agree wit everything dat birdman dude said and rongata is a stupid nigger and should go back to africa wit his aids
and if i ever see him in public, i am going up top on him too. easy man
hip hop is for everyone and you cant single out a whole race just cause of one dickhead, people are people and what you stated in your first comment is racist too not as bad or dumb as birdmans but still racist
i understand why your mad though he's a dick im hispanic and white, i think racial comments need to stop
shut up ur both dumb niggers just die
I like Talib Kweli. He is very good to listen to. However I also like lil wayne and of course TI, Tupac JayZ I like um all. Depends on the mood for me. Some for talent others just because its familiar. I like a variety so its all good. I think Talib Kweli deserves us all to buy 2 or 3 copies each. Oh and ......Nine3Birdman is an idiot. HE is the bottom of the barrel. Scum of the human race. More like a rat than flesh, hell Some folks look like they walk on two legs but this foo crawl on his belly like the snake that he is. Thats ok tho...dont let some moron like this get to any one. The moment you get mad at these types they already won.
Kweli spits real talk but cats never get his ablum. I aint go'in to front since he but out that ablum with son Hi-Tech i've been listsn to that man.
no one cares dip shit
Wow. I like Kweili and i knew his album was gong to be sick. Blackstar need to comeback though. And that girl Jean Grae she is fire. She is the best female rapper i've heard today. She speak that real shit.
i always wanted to get this album and since i read the review i think i will
yo where is everyone gettin this shit?
who tha fuck iz this Birdman dude, i swear i wanna stab him just off of readin his post wtf
i wanna stab u for being a stupid nigger monkey wtf
i think emiem101 and birdman are the same people
This birdman character thinks he's pretty tough talking smack online where no one can find him. Too bad he is to much of a bitch to actually say these things to someones face. You actually get excited every time you get home to your computer and think to yourself, YES, now that im protected from the world by the internet, i can make fun of other people without having to confront them. Eat a dick bitch
No doubt, No doubt. . . . . . He is at the top of raps elite when the definition of hiphop is enforced, but now in this day people want you to make a son about dancing and if you don't then It could hurt your sells. So yes he's being true and making quality hiphop music but the album is not fire to the quote on quote Media that only care's about the money!
I like the quy and personally puts him in my top ten! I'm getting the album.
this shit is hot i got it allready and it is tight Commons finding forever Talibs Eardrum and 50's Curtis are going to be the best this year
talib kweli is one of the best mcs but not as many people are gonna hear his message because all the raio plays is that mainstream bullshit
I downloaded this album and I must say, fire. Common, Mos Def, and Talib are the best MC's in the game right now. I'm gonna buy this shit when it drops!
now this is real hip-hop, along with common. fuck 50 cent and lil wayne..
is it true that mos def is bringin out a new album?
This shit is Classic...
Always been feeling Talib...He's never let me down...
Even with him still not being mainstream... he still has a devout fan base...I included!
~Be Eazy!
This album has to be one of the years best! i dl'd it yesterday, am gonn have to cop me a copy at the store!
just bought the album today...amazing
talib not big in china cause he diss on our chicken fried rice in song so he can take golden chopsticks and shove up his ass
The first couple of times I analyzed the album it was in the office on some chill type -ish. But yesterday evening while rocking Tekken 5 with Matic, we put this shit on and compared it to Keith Murray's new shit...
Honestly it didnt compare... and I'm a Talib Fan...
I mean his flow is timeless...we all know that. But with the beats... it just didnt MOVE me. I literally was getting frustrated listening to it because it wasnt MOVING me...
All in all...there are at best 2 songs on Talibs cd that ANYONE could just put on and feel instantly... but that's that.
If you're not into conscious hip hop...shit that's based on the words and nothing else... than this definitely wont be your cup of tea.
If however you ARE someone that could be completely satisfied with words, and you hate hott beats... then this is definitely the cd for you...
In my OPINION... this cd is nothing compared to THE BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE!
~Be Eazy!
Oh yeah one more thing... this rating should be EXPLAINED!
7/10 Lyrically - There's not anything "new" from him... just his basic flow...for the most part. Nothing that pushes the envelope.
4/10 Production wise : There were only like 3 beats that caught my attention...the rest of them were so non-existent that he should've just done it accapella. At least it would've made me LISTEN!
Overall: 5.5...6 at best! It's hard to not be tempted to just skip and skip and skip.
The reason why being... it's boring for the most part, and the beats dont capture your attention long enough to give u a chance to hear what he's saying.... there's simply too many songs like this to give this album a higher ranking.... and again... I'm a TALIB FAN!
~Be Eazy!
^^^^^dumb ass
Dumb Ass?
Fuck are you talking about?
~Be Eazy!
7/10 in lyrics regardless of his flow diversity change up the lyrics were still solid an overall compared to his other albums i dont think the religious aproach was as high on his others than this, also the beats 4/10??? The album started off with not badd, but def not good beats no where near 4 overall wat about songs like Say Something, Country Cousins, Eat To Live, In The Mood,Soon The Day, Stay Around, Hot Thing Hostile Gospel 2 an that song wit Justin Timberlake the beat wasnt that badd on that too... Maybe there arent many songs on it that u can just instantly get into...But fans who dont want to hear a little lyrical content than sad to say thats there own thing every body aint gonna "feel" this album,I see wat ur sayin cause i felt the same way about Finding Forever: same things, no growth but 5.5 6/10 at best??? thats crazy
P.s. i meant ot put a question at that 7/10 lyricaly
damn fucked up again question marKKK
can somebody tell me wat da song is at the end of the hot thing video
I really think that 7/10 was a damn good score! Keep in mind that I am a fan!
In all honesty... I compared this album to Beautiful Struggle. I dont know if u really listened to that album or not... but if u did...seriously...
There's no fuckin' way that LISTEN is better than BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE in ANY CATEGORY PERIOD!
Lyrically BS was better, production wise... BETTER! All in all... just a waaay better album. He didn't push the envelope with LISTEN!
Not in the least bit!
So 7/10 lyrically because if anything... He didnt improve.
4/10 for the beats because they were ass compared to a couple of Just Blazes tracks on BS.
I gave it a 6 at best because I have high standards for Talib, Common, Mos Def, Nas, Lupe, etc etc and he didnt shine like he normally does. So maybe I was wrong for anticipating or expecting too much!
Try this: Listen to the whole Beautiful Struggle...
THEN
Listen to LISTEN and tell me how u feel...
Besides that I'm glad that u actually Listen to real shit!
~Be Eazy!
i agree Wiz i did like BS a lot more but man am i glad the dude is finally selling some albums, hopefully all these new listeners will start to listen to other good MC's.
It's great that a REAL rapper, like Talib is getting the recognition he deserves. Unlike the fake boys like 50 cent. I personally preffered Beautiful Struggle.Eardrum still kicks most albums nowadays asses. Along with Common, Nas,The Mos Definite and Kanyeezy, and for those who follow the underground Immortal Technique, he is starting the revolution, with more Political and lyrically based rap. Anyway Birdman can got to hell, I'm an Arab, I believe that all are equal ,apart from racist son's of bitches like Birdman.All races know good music, and this is LEGEN-----------DARY music.
yo AND IMA SAY IT AGAIN!
ALBUM OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
its a cd i can ride out all the way from 1-20!
Ain't been on the site in a while but had to come on to give much props to Talib. This is by far the best CD of the year. And from what I have heard of Kanye and Curtis this album will be the best of the year even after Sept. 11. For me this was his best cd so far.
Over than Graduation, this is the definite album of the year.. even beats Finding Forever. I've always been a fan of Kweli, his lyrics are so hard hitting and original. But for some reason, I feel he comes a lot harder (not in a homo way) when Mos Def is backing him up... Overall: 95/100
Talib is Sick wit It! His Lyrics,flow pattern & delivery are second to none. But he aint/wont get the right push in terms of getting his music herd played? The album is crazy, good song concepts and great beats.I would give this album a 9/10!
"Give Em Hell"
Who was King James?
And why did he think it was so vital to remove chapters and make his own version of the Bible.
All ima say is if you dont got it, go get it!
poor mans Nas? wow. then you give it a better rating that Kanye?????????
jUST BOUGHT THE ALBUM A FEW DAYS AGO, I 1st HEARD IT FROM A FRIEND, and thats what made me buy it. dOPE,Dope,DODODOOOPEEEEEEEEE (10/10). Goodshit. My favorite album by him was The Black Star album with Mos Def and Reflection Eternal. This album to me is the best I've heard from Talib since then. The production on this album is sick as fuck because he got Hi-Tek (again), Will I.Am, Kanye West, and other dope producers. My favorite tracks on the album(even though every track on the album is off the hook)is the track with Kanye West and the song with KRS-ONE. Word up 2 Chris and Non-Stop, Can't wait til the modesto MJC KRS-1 show coming up in a few months. I will be out there with B.Boy Ivan and Hocus who are throwing the event. Get@Me for details.