It’s a bigger push musically and collaboratively with less emphasis on the politics that have dominated his past.
On Prisoner of Conscious Kweli once again is working against that way of thinking by adopting unlikely styles, expanding his musical palette and collaborating with folks that people might not expect him to.
The album is well above worthwhile, as scattershot and frustrating as it is.
Kweli’s absolutely owned his lane when he’s been committed to it but now he's jumping around from style to style with no destination in sight.
Instead of updating his sound and style for a contemporary audience, Prisoner of Conscious comes off as a series of half measures.
Talib Kweli's music is really hit or miss for me and this is no exception. I can't really boil down my issues with this album other than it gets boring at times.
1 | Intro 1:07 | |
2 | Human Mic 2:18 | |
3 | Turnt Up 3:45 | |
4 | Come Here 4:27 feat. Miguel | |
5 | High Life 4:12 | |
6 | Ready Set Go 4:26 feat. Melanie Fiona | |
7 | Hold It Now 2:10 | |
8 | Push Thru 4:58 | |
9 | Hamster Wheel 3:26 | |
10 | Delicate Flowers 3:18 | |
11 | Rocket Ships 3:27 feat. Busta Rhymes | |
12 | Before He Walked 3:51 feat. Nelly, Abby Dobson | |
13 | Upper Echelon 3:38 | |
14 | Favela Love 6:19 feat. Seu Jorge | |
15 | It Only Gets Better 5:30 feat. Marsha Ambrosius |