Talib Kweli
The Beautiful Struggle
(Rawkus)
Talib Kweli was one half of hip-hop powerhouse Black Star, and due to the success of partner Mos Def, Kweli faces some lofty expectations. The Beautiful Success is his sophomore release and it exceeds any expectation. “I Try” (with Mary J. Blige), the title track and “Black Girl Pain” are standouts on which Kweli fuses hip-hop and R&B seamlessly. His brand of socially aware hip-hop, coupled with his white-hot cadence and killer guest list, give The Beautiful Struggle all the marks of a hip-hop classic.
—Trevor Savory