Referencing Eternity: Talib Kweli and Hi Tek

As the production half of Reflection Eternal, Hi-Tek doesn’t necessarily get his due attention. And even beyond the fact that the dudes tapped to create beats, work ‘em at shows and stand behind some mountain of electronic equipment are physically removed from the crowd, Talib Kweli is a pretty daunting personality to match. Even if Talib’s former association with Mos Def in Black Star wasn’t enough to create such an immense public persona, his subsequent career – replete with its critical pratfalls – has raised his visibility past much of those that were at one time his peers.

Of course, Hi-Tek’s post behind the boards comes because Talib respects the producer’s work. And even in looking backwards at their initial collaboration on Mood’s album Doom, it was clear that this duo would continue for a good many years. But regardless of the dynamics between the two, Reflection Eternal II is due out at some point this year.

Over the last few months, though, Talib Kweli has been working to adapt to the mix tape milieu that basically supports your favorite rap related website. He’s guested on a number of tracks and more recently put out some work with his new combo Idle Warship. And even if he’s begun cropping up in situations and musical settings that aren’t to your liking, it serves to keep his name afloat.

But Reflection Eternal works for different purposes. After the initial success that Black Star found as well as the acclaim that Black on Both Sides received, Talib and Hi-Tek were equally impressive on their first full length. And while it’s been almost a decade since that initial work, the duo shouldn’t have too many issues in delivering what their fans want.

What ever the new disc ends up being, it can count at least a few socio-political polemics from Talib. Again, with his shifting public persona, subject matter might be in question, but over the last few years – including that spot on Chappelle’s show – Talib has managed to placate his base while still obtaining new fans. He works in much the same way a politician might – accept for the fact that people believe he’s genuine, at least on occasion.

With the impending arrival of Reflection Eternal II a few tracks from this future work have begun trickling in around the interwebs. And perhaps because of Talib’s newly adopted digital strategy, “Internet Connection” has been one of the first to hit the ear lobes of fans.

The track features George Clinton – which for some reason doesn’t even seem odd any more – over top of a slinky new millennium beat. Immediately, Talib explains that the new digital approach can and will still be dominated by the most talented rappers of which he’s certainly one. His voice, while always a register higher than whoever else he’s go with over a track, seems even higher than before. But it really doesn’t matter when the Funkadelic keyboard is able to bolster his flows.

“Internet Connection” announces the return of a group that never really went away, but perhaps just needed some time off. In that time away from the studio, the duo of Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek, worked to ever so subtly adapt to fans wants and wishes.