2002 studio album by Talib Kweli
Quality
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
"Good to You" / "Put It in the Air" Released: July 2, 2002
"Waitin' for the DJ" / "Guerilla Monsoon Rap" Released: September 17, 2002
"
Get By " Released: March 11, 2003
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]
[3] The duo planned to release their second album, but Mos Def was busy working on film
The Italian Job .
[4] Meanwhile, Kweli decided to work on other projects. As part of
Reflection Eternal duo with
Hi-Tek he released
Train of Thought in 2000.
[5] 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:
[6]
It was just the best way of trying to describe what I wanted to do. The word just fit. I'm trying to focus on quality over quantity.
— Talib Kweli
According to
Billboard , the album's title is also a pun on Kweli's similarly pronounced surname.
[7]
Release and promotion
Quality was released on November 19, 2002
[19] (November 25 in the UK),
[20] by
Rawkus Records . Despite Kweli still being considered an
underground artist,
[3] the album was commercially successful.
[21] It peaked at number 21 on the
Billboard 200
[22] and number 6 on the
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
[23] 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,
[24] and was eventually released by Rawkus. "Get By" received radio airplay in early 2003
[21] and charted on the
Billboard Hot 100 , where it peaked at number 77, becoming Kweli's biggest solo hit.
[25]
[26] A music video for the song was later released
[4] 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.
[24]
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.
[27]
[28] 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.
[29] 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.
[27]
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
[30]
Notes
^[a] signifies a co-producer
Sample credits
[30]
"Get By" contains elements from "
Sinnerman ", written and performed by
Nina Simone .
"Shock Body" contains elements from "Diana in the Autumn Wind", written by Roger Karshner and
Chuck Mangione , performed by Chuck Mangione.
"Joy" contains elements from "I Get High", written by
Curtis Mayfield , performed by
Aretha Franklin .
"Talk to You (Lil' Darlin')" contains replayed elements from "Can I", written by
Hal Davis and Herman Griffith, performed by
Eddie Kendricks .
"Guerrilla Monsoon Rap" contains elements from "I Never Had It So Good", written by
Eugene Record and Stan McKenny, performed by
The Chi-Lites .
"Good to You" contains elements from "
Simply Beautiful ", written and performed by
Al Green .
"Won't You Stay" contains replayed elements from "Devil's Triangle", written by
Wilbur Bascomb and Max Romer, performed by Wilbur Bascomb. It also contains re-sung elements from "
Strobelite Honey ", written by
William McLean ,
Andres Titus , Harold Clayton, Sigidi Abdullah, Waung Hankerson, William Young, Michael Young; performed by
Black Sheep .
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
[30]
Geoff Allen – engineer (track 3)
Teodross Avery – saxophone (track 15)
Ayatollah – producer (tracks 7, 11)
Bilal – featured performer (tracks 6, 8)
Black Thought – featured performer (track 9)
Maryham Blacksher – viola (track 12)
Vernetta Bobien – background vocals (track 3)
Randy Bowland – guitar (track 8)
Tom Brick – mastering
Marco Bruno – assistant engineer (tracks 5, 11)
Dave Chappelle – performer (track 1)
James Clark – keyboards (track 12)
Cocoa Brovaz – featured performers (track 5)
Erick Coomes – bass (tracks 1, 10)
Morgan Michael Craft – guitar (track 2)
Dave Dar – engineer (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10-15) , mixing (track 1)
Dahoud Darien – producer (track 6)
Abby Dobson – background vocals (track 3)
Duane Eubanks – trumpet (tracks 3, 8)
G-Man – mixing assistant (tracks 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11-13, 15)
Serban Ghenea – mixing (tracks 3, 4, 14)
Savion Glover – tap dance (track 13)
Chinua Hawk – background vocals (track 3)
J Dilla – producer (track 13)
Junior Cat – intro vocals (track 5)
Eric Krasno – producer (track 1)
Talib Kweli – main performer, co-producer (track 8) , arranger (track 1) , executive producer
Stephanie McKay – chorus vocals (track 4)
Megahertz – producer (tracks 2, 5)
Aisha Mike – additional vocals (track 8)
Vinia Mojica – featured performer (track 13)
Mos Def – featured performer (track 7)
Joe Nardone – engineer (tracks 1, 3, 5-9, 11-13, 15) , assistant engineer (tracks 4, 8)
Axel Niehaus – mixing (tracks 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11-13, 15)
Novel – featured performer (track 13)
Tiffany Phinazee – chorus vocals (track 4)
Pino Palladino – bass (track 8)
Pharoahe Monch – featured performer (track 9)
Neil Pogue – engineer (track 13) , mixing (track 7)
James Poyser – keyboards (tracks 8, 13)
Emmanuel Pratt – violin (track 8)
DJ Quik – featured performer, producer, and mixing (track 10)
Michael Rapaport – skit performer (tracks 5, 13)
Res – featured performer (track 12)
Kendra Ross – background vocals (track 3)
Jeymes Samuel – background vocals (track 11)
DJ Scratch – producer (track 4)
Corey Smyth – executive producer
The Soulquarians – producers (track 8)
William Taylor – background vocals (track 3)
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson – drums (track 8)
Dave West – producer (track 15)
Kanye West – producer (tracks 3, 9, 14) , additional vocals (track 9)
Doug Wimbish – bass (tracks 2, 5)
Xzibit – additional vocals (track 2)
Chart positions
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
^
"The Best of 2002" .
Kludge . Archived from
the original on July 22, 2004. Retrieved November 25, 2015 .
^ O'Connor, Christopher.
"Black Star, Common, Rah Digga Rap In Protest Of NY Police Shooting" .
MTV . Retrieved 3 May 2016 .
^
a
b Mistry, Anupa.
"On record: Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star" .
CBC Radio 3 . Retrieved 3 May 2016 .
^
a
b Vineyard, Jennifer.
"Talib Kweli Promises New Black Star LP, Rejoices At Demise Of Bling Bling" .
MTV . Retrieved 3 May 2016 .
^
"Reflection Eternal - Train Of Thought" .
HipHopDX . 2000-11-07. Retrieved 3 May 2016 .
^ Dansby, Andrew (15 November 2002).
"Talib Kweli Ups the "Quality" " .
Rolling Stone . Retrieved 3 May 2016 .
^
"Black Star Alum Kweli Offers 'Quality' " .
Billboard . Retrieved 3 May 2016 .
^
"Reviews for Quality by Talib Kweli" .
Metacritic . Retrieved October 5, 2015 .
^ Huey, Steve.
"Quality – Talib Kweli" .
AllMusic . Retrieved October 5, 2015 .
^ Lewis, Miles Marshall (December 2002).
"Talib Kweli: Quality" .
Blender (12): 145. Archived from
the original on August 20, 2004. Retrieved January 28, 2018 .
^ Lynskey, Dorian (December 6, 2002).
"Talib Kweli: Quality" .
The Guardian . Retrieved January 28, 2018 .
^ Chonin, Neva (December 29, 2002).
"Kweli's Gift of Gab" .
Houston Chronicle . Retrieved January 28, 2018 .
^ Sterling, Scott T. (December 1, 2002).
"Talib Kweli 'Quality' (Rawkus)" .
Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 28, 2018 .
^ Chennault, Sam (December 10, 2002).
"Talib Kweli: Quality" .
Pitchfork . Retrieved October 5, 2015 .
^
Caramanica, Jon (January 3, 2003).
"Talib Kweli: Quality" .
Rolling Stone . Archived from
the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved October 5, 2015 .
^
"The Breakdown" .
Spin . 19 (2): 99. February 2003. Retrieved January 28, 2018 .
^ Jones, Steve (November 26, 2002). "Talib Kweli, Quality".
USA Today .
^ Berry, Elizabeth Mendez (December 2002).
"Talib Kweli: Quality" .
Vibe . 10 (12): 204. Retrieved October 5, 2015 .
^
"Quality by Talib Kweli" .
MTV . Retrieved 3 May 2016 .
^
"Talib Kweli: Quality" . PopMatters. Retrieved 2015-10-05 .
^
a
b Neal, Mark Anthony.
"Talib Kweli's Beautiful Struggle" .
PopMatters . Retrieved 3 May 2016 .
^
a
b
"Talib Kweli Chart History (Billboard 200)" .
Billboard . Retrieved October 23, 2014.
^
a
b
"Talib Kweli Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)" .
Billboard . Retrieved October 23, 2014.
^
a
b Ahmed, Insanul.
"Talib Kweli Breaks Down His 25 Most Essential Songs" .
Complex . Retrieved 4 May 2016 .
^
a
b
"Talib Kweli Chart History (Hot 100)" .
Billboard . Retrieved May 4, 2016.
^ Cantor, Paul.
"25 Hip-Hop Artists People Think Are One-Hit Wonders (But Totally Aren't)" .
Complex . Retrieved 4 May 2016 .
^
a
b Markman, Rob.
"Kanye West Owes Rap Success To 'Technique,' Not Talib Kweli" .
MTV . Retrieved 4 May 2016 .
^ Cantor, Paul.
"Kanye West's 'The College Dropout' at 10: Classic Track-by-Track Review" .
Billboard . Retrieved 4 May 2016 .
^ Cooper, Roman.
"Talib Kweli Recalls That "No One Wanted To Hear Kanye [West] Rap" " .
HipHopDX . Retrieved 4 May 2016 .
^
a
b
c Quality (booklet).
Rawkus . 2002.
^
"R&B : Top 50" .
Jam! . December 19, 2002. Archived from
the original on December 26, 2002. Retrieved January 29, 2023 .
^
"Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2002" .
Jam! . Archived from
the original on November 6, 2003. Retrieved March 28, 2022 .
^
"Top 100 rap albums of 2002 in Canada" .
Jam! . Archived from
the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 28, 2022 .
^
"Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2003" . Billboard . Retrieved September 7, 2020 .
^
"Talib Kweli awards" .
AllMusic . Retrieved May 4, 2016 .
^
a
b
"Talib Kweli Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)" .
Billboard . Retrieved May 4, 2016.
^
"Talib Kweli Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)" .
Billboard . Retrieved May 4, 2016.
^
"American album certifications – Talib Kweli – Quality" .
Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 26 June 2018 .
External links
Studio albums Mixtapes Collaboration albums Singles Featured singles Other songs Related articles