It was 2000 when Reflection Eternal, the duo consisting of emcee Talib Kweli and rapper/producer Hi-Tek dropped their debut album, Train of Thought, which turned out to be a classic.  Kweli amazed listeners with his ridiculous rhymes, and Hi-Tek made some phenomenal beats.

Ten years later, their second album, Revolutions Per Minute has just been released, and it’s possibly better than their first effort.  The second single off the album, “In This World,” features a pounding, majestic beat crafted by Hi-Tek, and Kweli is experienced and confident enough to utilize that beat with his mastery of words. Other tracks including “City Playgrounds” and “Back Again” flawlessly integrate Kweli’s rhyme schemes with Tek’s beautiful producing.  The impeccable lyricist Mos Def is featured along with Jay Electronica and J. Cole, two dope rappers of the new generation, on the album.

In the decade that has passed between their first album and this one, Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek have only gained more skill and development as musicians.  Among all the awful so-called “musicians” like ringtone rapper Soulja Boy and teeny bopper Justin Bieber, Reflection Eternal has created an entertaining and intelligent album, and Revolutions Per Minute is truly a revolution in the hip-hop industry. Grade: A

–Pat Mahoney, WNHS-TV