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Talib Kweli Beautiful Struggle Release Date: 2004 09 28 Label: Rawkus Records Something's not right when a high compliment -- one laid down on wax, no less! -- from a giant like Jay-Z doesn't set off a major sales spike. Such is the case with Talib Kweli, a phenomenal MC who has only flirted with mainstream acceptance, despite being admired by a host of harder-edged platinum artists. Rather than try to ride out that slow if steady momentum and see where it takes him, Kweli takes the power into his own hands and grabs for the brass ring. The Beautiful Struggle is far from a 180 for him, but it's just out of character enough to be awkward. Whether he's attempting to bridge the underground to the mainstream or simply pull away from the former, the results aren't wholly convincing. Not only is Kweli attempting to alter the way in which he's perceived through his own verses; he's also been keeping some unlikely company -- a (superior) prealbum mixtape featured guest spots from Fabolous, Styles P, and G-Unit addition Shawn Penn. More than once on this album, Kweli's as anxious to lose his backpacking image as a fourth grader at 3 p.m. On the title track, he declares, "They call me the political rapper even after I tell 'em I don't fck with politics, I don't even follow it." He stands no chance of losing that tag when a line like "the motherfcking Democrats is acting like Republicans" is contained within the same verse. Plus, he always has and always will excel at depicting facets of interpersonal politics. As much as The Beautiful Struggle is likely to catch longtime fans off-guard and leave mainstream followers indifferent, Kweli's unexpected moves appear to have more to do with trying new things -- and possibly thwarting preconceived notions -- than desperation. Still, there's no denying that it misses a little more than it hits. Andy Kellman, All Music Guide Tracks: Title Composer Time 1 Going Hard Smyth, Greene, Charlemagne 3:50 2 Back Up Offa Me Cottrell, Smith, Greene 3:37 3 Broken Glass Hugo, Williams, Greene 3:10 4 We Know Greene, Ross, West 3:44 5 Game Thompson, Greene 3:35 6 I Try Greene, Blige, West, Stephens 4:25 7 Around My Way Charlemagne, Greene 4:47 8 We Got the Beat Nugent, Risto, Greene 3:19 9 Work It Out Rotem, Cottrell, Greene 4:19 10 Ghetto Show Greene, West, Lynn 4:47 11 Black Girl Pain Greene, McIntyre, Risto, Nugent, Ibrahim 5:03 12 Never Been in Love Smith, Greene 5:00 13 Beautiful Struggle Cottrell, Greene 4:04 Releases: Year Type Label 2004 CD Rawkus Records 2004 LP Rawkus Records

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