NEW YORK, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Warner Bros. Records) - Talib Kweli, the Brooklyn wordsmith, returns with his eagerly awaited sixth album EARDRUM, in stores on August 21st, 2007, on Kweli's own label, Blacksmith
Music and Warner Bros. Records. With this career-defining new album, Kweli mixes hard-hitting beats with inventive rhymes that serve to not only entertain, but also to educate.
Hailed by USA Today as "Hip-Hop's most inventive lyricist," the MC's penchant for being a lyrical mastermind is reflected in his album title, aptly called EARDRUM. Talib explains, "The image of the ear and of the drum are powerful enough by themselves, but when you put them together, it's an instrument that's in your body that helps you hear. They're also two very simple, yet powerful words."
From start to finish, EARDRUM delivers career-defining work from Kweli that showcases his advanced lyricism and knack for picking beats that resonate long after the song ends. EARDRUM shows Kweli's versatility ranging from his new single, "Hot Thing" produced by will.i.am to the alluring strings of "Soon the New Day" featuring the sultry vocals of Grammy Award winning jazz artist Norah Jones to the brassy horns of "Country Cousins," which feature the underground kings of the south, UGK. Other guests on the album include: Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, KRS-ONE, Blacksmith artist Jean Grae and Musiq Soulchild.
EARDRUM boasts innovative production work by such vanguard artists as Kanye West, who worked on Kweli's 2002's gold-certified "Quality," and 2004's "The Beautiful Struggle;" Black-Eyed Peas founder will.i.am; and Black Star producer Hi-Tek, who also collaborated with Kweli on the gold-certified 2000 album "Reflection Eternal." Additional production highlights include New York rapper Kwame and multi-instrumentalist/producer Madlib, whose previous collaboration delivered the free digital-only EP, "Liberation" (2007).
Critics are already beating to the sound of Talib Kweli's EARDRUM:
"Kweli is one of hip-hop's finest lyricists and most socially conscious rappers." USA Today
"Talib Kweli is one of only a few rappers pushing an ambitious formula [with contemplative rhymes set to radio-friendly music]." Wall Street Journal
"EARDRUM is Talib's most socially cohesive endeavor to date featuring notable tracks including the bluesy 'Country Cousins' featuring UGK and the Just Blaze track 'Hostile Gospel.'" XXL
"Kweli delivers his most accessible CD yet - his raspy cadence playing off vintage-soul samples and explosive horns, and trembling bass lines." Entertainment Weekly
"Kweli's high-caliber lyricism and most vibrant production makes EARDRUM a shining star." The Source
Television and new media are no exception; Kweli's new video for single "Hot Thing" is causing a stir among television outlets for its creative and innovative video concept. "Hot Thing" made its video world premiere on BET's Rap City on August 16th and premiered on MTV2 and FUSE on August 20th. MUSIC CHOICE has chosen the Brooklyn rapper for their September artist of the month for the UNDERGRIND. Respectively, Kweli was just named the first official artist on SOHH.COM. Check out SOHH.COM to go behind the scenes with Talib on the Rock the Bells Tour, in the studio, and on his daily grind. You can view the "Hot Thing" video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUPCBmcpNzk
Talib Kweli is also revealing his interactive listening station, "The Words Of Eardrum," that allows fans to explore EARDRUM and get more insight by reading the words of Kweli's tracks. You can visit the listening station at: www.talibkweli.com/wordwidget
In addition, the Brooklyn MC will give his fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at his everyday life with Blacksmith TV. Featuring 10 episodes, the Blacksmith TV show is an eclectic hybrid of television, documentary, film, and music housed in short episodes. "Blacksmith TV" features a combination of behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Talib Kweli, Jean Grae, Strong Arm Steady, and many other special guests. Check out the Blacksmith trailer at: https://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1126085273
TALIB KWELI SUMMER TOUR DATES
8/21 SALT LAKE CITY, UT USANA AMPHITHEATER
8/22 DENVER, CO RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATER
8/23 LAWRENCE, KS GRANADA
8/25 MINNEAPOLIS, MN METRODOME
8/26 CHICAGO, IL CHARTER ONE PAVILION
8/27 MADISON, WI BARRYMORE
8/28 CLEVELAND, OH HOUSE OF BLUES
8/29 DETROIT, MI DTE ENERGY MUSIC THEATER
