Talib Kweli is back! Prisoner Of Conscious is the Brooklyn rapper's 5th solo effort, and is a slight departure from his previous works in terms of style. Taking the title as a hint, it seems Kweli is breaking out of the "conscious rap" umbrella he's been under since the days of working with Mos Def, Hi-Tek, and even Madlib. Not to say his impeccable flow isn't intact (in fact, it sounds better than ever), but here he's branching out and collaborating with a broader ranger of artists, and even including some radio-friendly joints in the mix! Check some of the more surprising collabs like "Push Thru" with Kendrick Lamar & Curren$y, "Come Here" with Miguel, and "Before He Walked" with Nelly, while tracks like "High Life" with Rubix & Bajah and "Favela Love" with Seu Jorge incorporate eclectic world influence via Nigerian and Brazilian vibes. The rest of the tracks stay solid with production from hip-hop heavyweights like Oh No, RZA, Sean C & LV, and more. 15 tracks over 2 LPs housed in gatefold sleeve with artwork from Staple and Haze.

• music label: Javotti Media 2013

reviewed by Von Bee 05/2013