Why can't more albums be like this?

Hey people, this is my second epinions review and a review that I have wanted to write for a long time. I have always considered Reflection Eternal the best hip-hop album of all time and I feel that way because of the way the music captured me and took me into a comfort zone no other album can. The musical influences (I am a sucker for Jazz Instrumentals), Kwelis mastery of the English Language, and his sheer emotion. Well, lets get this started.....

1.Experience Dedication (intro)
2.Move Somethin ****1/2
3.Some Kind of Wonderful ****1/2
4.The Blast *****
5.This Means You *****
6.Too Late *****
7.Memories Live *****
8.Africa Dream *****
9.Down for the Count ****1/2
10.Name of the Game *****
11.Ghetto Afterlife *****
12.On My Way (interlude)
13.Love Language
14.Love Speakeasy *****
15.Soul Rebels *****
16.Eternalists *****
17.Big Del From Da Natti (?)
18.Touch You *****
19.Good Mourning *****
20.Expansion Outro-For Women *****

Lets start with the first two tracks first with Move Somtethin where Kweli spits some battle raps over a thumping Hi-Tek beat. Kweli because of his expanded knowledge and vocabulary comes up with some pretty clever ones. Some Kind of Wonderful is like Move Somethin but with more of a purpose talking about MC's who try to shine in sunshine that's not even theirs. Hi-Teks production is once again top notch as well as Kweli's lyrics.

IMO, the album really starts at The Blast and the Intro was extended through the first two songs. This is Kweli and Hi-Tek telling the world that Reflection Eternal has arrived and they should'nt be taken for granted. The song is so important because it is the only song that Hi-Tek actually spits a verse on. Kweli's verse is heart felt and conscious while Hi-Tek actually surprised me with a sloid verse. The beat on this song is one of my all time favorites.

Next, we move onto the Blackstar combo of the album called This Means You featuring Mos Def. These two great MC's each talk about the situations in New York getting the message across clearly while Hi-Tek provides a funky sounding beat.

Next is one of my personal favorites, Too Late because of the production, and the message. First, I am a fan of the exotic African thing Hi-Tek had going in that song and it meshed well with Kweli's flow. Kweli talks about hip-hop and how it's in a state of emergency and how it may be too late to help it.

The next track is called Memories Live and this track brings out the realness in Talib Kweli. I think we can all relate to Kweli here on reflecting on past times that brought good in your life. Kweli proves nothing more than that he is human.

I don't see the reason people hate Africa Dream. Is it because of the shortness or the mediocre lyrics? I think the lyrics were quite fine but the production was superb. The trumpet solo with Weldon Irvine was raw on all levels and hearing that on a hip-hop album made my day from day 1. Kweli spits some fire in the short amount of time that he gets but the song served it's purpose and any fan of Jazz music will like the trumpet solo.

We now venture onto Down for the Count a track that had more of a griddy, ungerground feel to it. Not just because of Rah Digga and Xhibit spittin some underground style lyrics on this posse cut, it was the common "lets get together and say how much better we are than mainstream rappers" type of thing. The verses I believe, all tie together and each serves it's purpose. This song got a little mainstream attention as it was featured on the Madden 2002 soundtrack I believe (correct me if i'm wrong).

The next track is very short but it might be the best pure lyrical track of the album. Name of the Game is a track where Kweli spits some quick, complex rhyming over a quicker Hi-Tek beat. The concept is similar to Too Late but it is more serious of an attack as Kweli not only attacks television, but defines hip-hop in the process.

The next track really shows the depth of this album. By putting a track like Ghetto Afterlife on this album featuring the great Kool G Rap, Kweli adds another element to Reflection Eternal with a street smart, gangster rap song. This is hardly the common drug selling and murder glorifying song but they take it to a whole new level talking about street politics, NOT glorifying murder and drugs but talking about the negative effects both have. Not only does Kweli show flexibility, Hi-Tek does too with a griddier, dark street style beat.

After th interlude performed by three talented vocalists in Vinia Mojica, Kendra Ross, and Tiye Phoenix, we break into my favorite track of the whole album. Love Language is my favorite track not only because we hear the beautiful vocals of the Les Nubians (speaking in French), but a rapper finally made a love song that isn't masogynistic in any way, shape, or form. You can tell that Kweli is mad in love with someone and that he is speaking from personal experience. Hi-Tek actually stepped it up to another level with a very enchanting, romantic beat that actually accents Kweli's best bars with a horn.

I like Love Speakeasy because we hear a sax solo along with Hi-Tek's snare. This is easy listening and got a 5 star rating because on an all Jazz album, it would be what I was looking for.

Next we get into Soul Rebels featuring one of the greatest rap groups of all time, De La Soul. I like Hi-Tek getting funky on us once again and his production here meshes well with both Kweli and De La Soul. These guys bridged the gap between hip-hop and soul and this is what the song is all about.

Next, Kweli is serious again with Eternalist. This song is about Kweli and Kweli alone as he attepts to define himself. Not too much bragadoccio, but you can hear it a little. His lyricism is raw too as he spits some complex, conscious rhymes with great production from Hi-Tek

Big Del From da Natti. Tell you the truth, I don't know what to make of it, what purpose it served and if something is wrong with this album, this is it. The beat is mad nice though.

I like the song Touch You because it is a laid back, chill song before you get into the deepest stuff on the album. Dave Chapelle does his best Rick James to start of the song. Piakhan actually spits a pretty nice verse on this song which hopefully "touches" you.

Now we are on to Good Mourning. This song pretty much sums up what Talib has been trying to say to us throughout the whole album, but on a deeper level. Talib covers life issues, his people and their situations. This song is from his soul and we get the pleasure of hearing it so go listen to this.

He ends the song on an almost positive note with For Women where in four different verses he tells stories about four different women in four different situations. This is one of the top storytelling hip-hop tracks of all time because the the description and the creativity, and the length.

Let me just run down why Reflection Eternal is great...
1.Kweli's knowledge, vocabulary, and raw talent
2.Hi-Tek's old school style and musical influences in his production.
3.Subject matter switching in every song. There is literally a song for all tastes on here.
4.Utilizing his guests better than any other album.
5.It's still in stores, go get it if you don't have it.