Quality

1	Keynote Speaker 2:14
2	Rush 3:42
3	Get By 3:47
4	Shock Body 3:49
5	Gun Music 3:45
6	Waitin' for the DJ / Bilal 4:03
7	Joy 4:14
8	Talk to You (Lil' Darlin') / Bilal 5:00
9	Guerrilla Monsoon Rap / Pharoahe Monch 4:13
10	Put It in the Air 4:56
11	The Proud 5:06
12	Where Do We Go / RES 3:58
13	Stand to the Side / Michael Rappaport 6:32
14	Good to You 4:21
15	Won't You Stay / Kendra Ross 5:25

Barnes & Noble

On his first full-length without longtime collaborator DJ Hi-Tek, Brooklyn's Talib Kweli expands the boundaries of his sound while staying true to his indie hip-hop roots. "This ain't commercial or underground/It's just true," he proclaims on the R&B-flavored joint "Good to You," and the rapper backs up this statement throughout the eclectic Quality. Tracks such as "Gun Music," featuring the Cocoa Brovaz, and "Guerrilla Monsoon" (a clever take on the name of wrestler Gorilla Monsoon), featuring Black Thought of the Roots and Rawkus labelmate Pharoahe Monch, recall the battle-ready Kweli who climbed from the trenches of New York City's underground hip-hop scene in the mid-'90s. Meanwhile, on the politically powered "The Proud" and the parenthood celebration "Joy," featuring his Black Star partner-in-rhyme Mos Def, Kweli sounds more like the socially conscious rapper fans know and love from Black Star and Reflection Eternal with Hi-Tek. Switching gears once again, the more radio-friendly "Waitin' for the DJ," featuring neo-soul man Bilal, and the slow jam "Won't You Stay," featuring talented newcomer Kendra Ross, could help Kweli achieve the commercial success he greatly deserves. And with production by sound wizards the Soulquarians (Common), DJ Quik (Truth Hurts), Kayne West (Jay-Z), and Jay Dee (Slum Village), this might be the vehicle to allow New York's real top dog/underdog to shine. Ron Hart

All Music Guide

While his erstwhile Black Star mate Mos Def concentrated on his acting career, Talib Kweli set about crafting a truly solo follow-up to his acclaimed debut, Reflection Eternal, this time with a variety of producers in place of partner DJ Hi-Tek. The excellent Quality only ups the ante, building on its predecessor's clear-minded focus with greater scope and a more colorful musical palette. Right off the bat, it's apparent that Kweli has traded his old-school minimalism for a warmer, richer sound -- complete with some live instrumentation -- that's immediately inviting and accessible. The opening trio of songs -- "Rush," "Get By," and "Shock Body" -- ranks among the most exciting music he's recorded, and the album only branches out from there. Kweli can pull off genial, good-time hip-hop like lead single "Waitin' for the DJ" and the DJ Quik-produced "Put It in the Air," and follow it with the blistering (and incisive) political fury of "The Proud." He reflects on his image as a so-called conscious rapper on "Good to You," and pushes its boundaries on the Cocoa Brovaz collaboration "Gun Music," where he twists the lyrical conventions of dancehall reggae to his own ends. Pharoahe Monch and the Roots' Black Thought put in exciting guest spots on "Guerrilla Monsoon Rap," and Mos Def appears on "Joy," where Kweli manages to describe the births of his two children without getting self-indulgent. A couple of the mellow R&B jams do get a little too mellow for their own good, drifting along and slowing the album's otherwise consistent momentum. Nonetheless, nearly everything Kweli tries works, and the array of producers keeps things unpredictable. Quality is proof that intelligent hip-hop need not lack excitement, soul, or genuine emotion; it's one of the best rap albums of a year with no shortage of winners. Steve Huey

Rolling Stone

On his first proper solo album, Kweli smoothly bridges the physical with the political. Jon Caramanica

Vibe

1/2 On his luminous solo debut, Kweli makes it clear that he cares about his music, his family, and his community. Elizabeth Mendez Berry