Talib Kweli seems to get no sleep these days! Gravitas, his sixth studio album, comes hot on the heels of his career changing Prisoner of Conscious LP. Where that album found the Brooklyn based MC with the impeccable flow branching out and collaborating with a broader ranger of artists, Gravitas takes a slightly less commercial route. There are still some big collabs with both Raekwon dropping a verse on "Violations," and Rah Digga and Black Thought of the Roots coming through on "Art Imitates Life." But Kweli brings on some new jacks in The Underachievers who more than hold their own on "New Leaders," a bluesy halftime lament on the state of the world. The production stays tight and eclectic throughout the album. Contributions from up and comers like LordQuest and Thaddeus Dixon fit with efforts from more seasoned veterans like OhNo and J Dilla. 11 tracks over 2 LPs housed in gatefold sleeve with art work by Aaron Kizer.

• music label: Javotti Media 2014

reviewed by Kool Moby 03/2014