Quality (Talib Kweli album) explained

Quality
Type:studio
Artist:Talib Kweli
Cover:Talib Kweli Quality.jpg
Border:yes
Released:November 19, 2002
Recorded:2001–2002
Genre:Alternative hip hop
Length:65:13
Label:Rawkus
Producer:Kanye West, Megahertz, DJ Quik, DJ Scratch, J Dilla, Soulquarians, Supa Dave West, Ayatollah, Eric Krasno, Dahoud Darien
Prev Title:Train of Thought
Prev Year:2000
Next Title:The Beautiful Struggle
Next Year:2004

Quality is the first studio album by American rapper Talib Kweli. The album was released on November 19, 2002, by Rawkus Records. It received wide critical acclaim and had some commercial appeal from the song "Get By", produced by Kanye West. Kludge magazine included it on their list of best albums of 2002.[1]

Background

In 1998 Talib Kweli and Mos Def as duo Black Star released critically acclaimed album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star.[2] The duo planned to release their second album, but Mos Def was busy working on film The Italian Job.[3] Meanwhile, Kweli decided to work on other projects. As part of Reflection Eternal duo with Hi-Tek he released Train of Thought in 2000.[4] Then, following the success of his previous albums, Kweli decided to release his debut solo album.

The album was called Quality. In 2002 interview with Rolling Stone rapper explained the album's name:[5]

According to Billboard, the album's title is also a pun on Kweli's similarly pronounced surname.[6]

Release and promotion

Quality was released on November 19, 2002[7] (November 25 in the UK),[8] by Rawkus Records. Despite Kweli still being considered an underground artist,[9] the album was commercially successful.[10] It peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200 and number 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Three singles were released from the album; "Good to You"/"Put It in the Air", "Waitin' For The DJ"/"Guerilla Monsoon Rap" and "Get By". Despite positive reception, the first two singles failed to make any impact on mainstream charts, so the label decided to not release the third single, considering the song and its content not commercially viable. In response to this, Kweli and his manager made several copies of the single and sent it to a number of popular radio DJs across New York. With help from DJ Enuff, the team at Power 106, and many other local DJs, the single gained popularity through local airplay,[11] and was eventually released by Rawkus. "Get By" received radio airplay in early 2003 and charted on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 77, becoming Kweli's biggest solo hit.[12] A music video for the song was later released and an official remix was recorded. The remix, featuring Kanye West, Mos Def, Jay Z, and Busta Rhymes, was aired for a short time on New York hip-hop radio, but did not receive an official release.

After the release of Quality, Kweli embarked on a tour in support of the album, where he was accompanied by friend and producer Kanye West as an opening act.[13] [14] At the time, West was considered a talented producer, but executives at West's label, Roc-A-Fella, did not feel he had potential as a solo rapper.[15] Kweli allowed West to perform on stage with him during his concerts, giving West his first stage exposure to large crowds. West later expressed his gratitude to Kweli, saying that he owed a part of his early success to these performances.

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[16]

Notes

Sample credits[16]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[16]

Chart positions

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)Position
Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)[18] 199
Canadian Rap Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)[19] 99

Singles

SongChart (2002)Peak
position
"Good to You"US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[21] 95
"Waitin' For The DJ"
SongChart (2003)Peak
position
"Get By"

Certifications

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Best of 2002. Kludge. November 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20040722004721/http://www.kludgemagazine.com/articles.php?id=186. July 22, 2004.
  2. Web site: O'Connor. Christopher. Black Star, Common, Rah Digga Rap In Protest Of NY Police Shooting. https://web.archive.org/web/20160514045256/http://www.mtv.com/news/819995/black-star-common-rah-digga-rap-in-protest-of-ny-police-shooting/. dead. May 14, 2016. MTV. 3 May 2016.
  3. Web site: Vineyard. Jennifer. Talib Kweli Promises New Black Star LP, Rejoices At Demise Of Bling Bling. https://web.archive.org/web/20160514045249/http://www.mtv.com/news/1459277/talib-kweli-promises-new-black-star-lp-rejoices-at-demise-of-bling-bling/. dead. May 14, 2016. MTV. 3 May 2016.
  4. Web site: Reflection Eternal - Train Of Thought. HipHopDX. 3 May 2016. en-US. 2000-11-07.
  5. Dansby. Andrew. Talib Kweli Ups the "Quality". Rolling Stone. 3 May 2016. 15 November 2002.
  6. Black Star Alum Kweli Offers 'Quality'. Billboard. 3 May 2016.
  7. Web site: Quality by Talib Kweli. https://web.archive.org/web/20160330191618/http://www.mtv.com/artists/talib-kweli/discography/328811/. dead. March 30, 2016. MTV. 3 May 2016.
  8. Web site: Talib Kweli: Quality . PopMatters . 2015-10-05.
  9. Web site: Mistry. Anupa. On record: Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star. CBC Radio 3. 3 May 2016.
  10. Web site: Neal. Mark Anthony. Talib Kweli's Beautiful Struggle. PopMatters. 3 May 2016.
  11. Web site: Ahmed. Insanul. Talib Kweli Breaks Down His 25 Most Essential Songs. Complex. 4 May 2016.
  12. Web site: Cantor. Paul. 25 Hip-Hop Artists People Think Are One-Hit Wonders (But Totally Aren't). Complex. 4 May 2016.
  13. Web site: Markman. Rob. Kanye West Owes Rap Success To 'Technique,' Not Talib Kweli. https://web.archive.org/web/20141117073509/http://www.mtv.com/news/1709017/kanye-west-talib-kweli-new-york-times-interview/. dead. November 17, 2014. MTV. 4 May 2016.
  14. Cantor. Paul. Kanye West's 'The College Dropout' at 10: Classic Track-by-Track Review. Billboard. 4 May 2016.
  15. Web site: Cooper. Roman. Talib Kweli Recalls That "No One Wanted To Hear Kanye [West] Rap"]. HipHopDX. 4 May 2016. en-US.
  16. Quality . 2002 . booklet . Rawkus.
  17. Web site: R&B : Top 50. Jam!. December 19, 2002. January 29, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20021226085222/http://www.canoe.com:80/JamMusicCharts/RANDB.html. December 26, 2002.
  18. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20031106073523/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_r&b2.html. November 6, 2003. Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2002. Jam!. March 28, 2022.
  19. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20031012032336/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_rap.html. October 12, 2003. Top 100 rap albums of 2002 in Canada. Jam!. March 28, 2022.
  20. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2003. Billboard. September 7, 2020.
  21. Web site: Talib Kweli awards. AllMusic. May 4, 2016. en.

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