When Talib Kweli and producer Hi-Tek introduced themselves to hip-hop as Reflection Eternal, only positive results were expected. Their first album "Train of Thought" was released ten years ago being noted for  classic records such as "The Blast", "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "Love Language". The project came out during an era when the underground independent label, Rawkus Records, was dropping nothing but hip-hop classics. Having a roster that included respected emcees such as Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Company Flow, The High and Mighty so, for Talbi & Hi-Tek to drop a memorable album was a Rawkus standard. Finally reuniting after a long decade to give fans what they always wanted Kweli & Tek bring the next album "Revolutions Per Minute".

Talib Kweli has always been an artist credited for not being afraid to expose the fakes and frauds in the rap game. Constantly, you hear about stars in the media that once had it all and then later on hit a wall and now they have nothing to show for it. Listening to the record "In The Red" brought this matter to the light and Kweli lyricism speaks for itself as he rhymes "Shame how our heroes is broke, we call them stars, that's because when they fall in the earth, they falling hard". With Hi-tek on board with the production, the beat selection on the album was dark. Not saying this is a bad thing and Tek with all the work he put in throughout the years with Kweli, he only knew what was best. Listening to a record like like "Long Hot Summer" exemplifies this with no question. Hi-Tek indeed threw the right track in Kweli's direction with the song "Back Again" Ft. Res. As an artist your cadence, rhyme patterns and skill level are important aspects that determine if you can rip a track. Reflecting on "Back Again" in Kweli's emceeing skills were very impressive, especially when you say something like "The artificial die like yellow number 5". Following up again about being on point as an artist with the attributes required to make a quality record, Kweli refreshes his talent again on "City Playground". What's given on this record by Talib Kweli is a general breakdown and over-saturation of the horrible emcees that flood the industry. 

As the album continues to flow, it picks up quick speed on the track "Get Loose" Ft. Chester French. When you first hear it you would think Hi-Tek made a mistake giving Kweli an up-tempo track forcing him out of his comfort zone. Once you listen to the record a few times more closely, this is not the case showing why the producer's talent and artist's talent goes hand in hand. Now this is nothing you can get hyped up to in the club but it is a wake up in the morning, feel good anthem. Hip-hop is known for the glorification of smoking the good old Mary Jane, even Reflection Eternal would surprise many speaking on the subject. "Lifting Out" adds some soul on the album providing an ill sound over a detailed narrative. The track is a smoke-a-thon that takes Kweli and maybe Tek to a whole new world. There was one point on the project where "Revolutions Per Minute" gives up a throw away track on "So Good". The chemistry on this song between Hi-Tek and Talib seemed to be distant because the beat unequally matched the rhymes by both artist. Not to take anything away from Hi-Tek's skills as an emcee but producing is where he needs to stay. "Got Work" was an okay cut that didn't live up to its potential, with lazy production and a weak hook.

Recruiting hip-hop legend Mos Def and new comers Jay Electronica and J. Cole for "Just Began" is a all out cipher amongst all four artists. In a lot of cases on records where more than one emcee is featured, there is always that one verse that stands out as the winner. In the verdict of "Just Began" that title rightfully goes to Mos Def. Going bar for bar wit his distinctive voice brought the true essence of hip-hop out in this track. "Ballad of the Black Gold" is one of the special tracks on the album that displays why Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek work well together. Records like this are why hip-hop needed a "Reflection Eternal 2". Talib Kweli's strength is that he is a conscious artist that speaks on world realities which made us fall in love with him as an artist. The beat produced by Hi-tek was right up his Talib's alley, it shined the light on his talent. While it took ten years for Reflection Eternal to put out a second album, great music was still put together by Hi-Tek and Talib Kweli as they pursued their solo endeavors. This fact alone shows the two haven't lost a beat when it comes to making a quality album to add to the duos resume, as both artists and producers.