With his dazzlingly impressive flow and his razor-sharp, politically conscious rhymes,
Talib Kweli is one of the most consistent and imposing figures on the post-millennial hip-hop scene.
Right About Now has all the hallmarks of
Kweli's style, and though he has received a fair amount of critical attention, he rejects self-aggrandizing themes to continue rapping about the streets ("Drugs, Basketball, & Rap") and artists he admires ("Ms. Hill," a song feting
Lauryn Hill, with a unique, sped-up
Ben Kweller sample).
Kweli is also flanked by some excellent guests here, including
MF Doom ("Fly That Knot"), newcomer
Papoose (who lays down some serious mike skills on "The Beast"), and his old collaborator
Mos Def ("Supreme, Supreme"). With its bevy of provocative beats and surplus of smart, top-drawer rhyming,
Right About Now is a must for all hip-hop heads.