Well this came out of left field. Probably two of the most underrated MCโs to possibly ever grace a mic teaming up for a joint tape has all the writings for something fire. Talib Kweli & Styles P together on a project is a dream collaboration that I didnโt even dare to imagine. Styles P has low key been one of my favorite MCโs for quite some time now and we all know what Talib is capable of with a dope collab (Blackstar anyone?).
The last thing I wanted to hear from a Talib Kweli & Styles P album is trap/modern hip-hop beats. Thankfully thereโs none of that onย The Seven, only that hard NY boom-bap youโd expect to hear from the duo. Itโs grimy, raw, NY street production from start to finish and the producers gave them plenty of room to lay lyrical waste to the soundscapes. Itโs a short offering so you can take your picks when it comes to the songs, thereโs not a bad one on here. Thereโs really not a whole lot that needs to be said about the production; itโs appropriately NY and it doesnโt get in the way of the real star of the show.
โYea I got my third eye, wish I had my third ear
Seventh sense, I got my sixth sense in third gear
On a highway to hell, learn how to swerve fear
Itโs deep talk or street talk
Itโs war talk or itโs peace talk
Get the hemp paper, tear the leaf off
Spoke like you woke but you actinโ all sleep dog
The wolves give a fuck about sheep talk
The rich give a fuck about cheap talk
How figuring angles, ways to knock the beast offโ
I just knew I was going to be in for some extremely high-quality bars and they delivered that in spades. Thereโs not a bad verse here and their respective styles complement each other surprisingly well. The opening trackโs title, โPoets and Gangstasโ is a perfect summation of their dynamic as Kweli is more conscientious in his rhymes while Styles delivers that raw street wisdom Iโve come to love from him. What was surprising about the tape however, is just how socially conscious it actually is. Thatโs more Talibโs style but he definitely rubbed off on Styles in some way because I donโt think Iโve ever heard him rap about these topics as in depth as he does here. But he sounds just as good rapping about this as he does the more street stuff. They always grab some great features , and every guest delivers on the lyrical front. I wouldnโt be mad at more Talib Kweli & Styles P projects in the future.
Have you heardย The Seven? Whatโd you think about it? Did you expect this from Talib Kweli & Styles P? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to leave your own reaction and rating for the album.
