Rolling Stone (10/26/00, p.112) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...This is the rare socially aware hip-hop record that can get fists pumping in a rowdy nightclub..."
Entertainment Weekly (10/20/00, p.78) - "...Squeezing the history of R&B-with-a-conscience into 70 minutes....the dedication is undeniable..." - Rating: B-
Q (1/01, p.111) - 3 out of 5 stars - "...He's forged an album that's up to its guest stars: cerebral but sparky..."
Muzik (11/00, p.87) - 3 out of 5 - "...He remains an intelligent MC with a great turn of phrase..."
CMJ (10/16/00, p.7) - "...An auspicious and ambitious hip-hop tour de force for the year 2000."
Vibe (12/00, p.206) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Wholesome, heartfelt rap....oscillating between the sublime neo-soul sounds popularized by Jay Dee and his Soulquarian brethren and faster, more dynamic neck snappers..."
The Source (12/00, pp.254-6) - 4 mics out of 5 - "...Talib defines himself as an artist in his own right....He has an invaluable gift: a rapid-fire flow that's extremely audible and easy to follow....Hi-tek provides the dramatic musical backdrop..."
Personnel includes: Talib Kweli, Hi-Tek, De La Soul, Kool G Rap, Xzibit,
Rah Digga, Mos Def (rap vocals); Les Nubians (vocals); Dave Chapelle (spoken vocals): Owen Brown (fiddle); Teodross Avery (saxophone); Derrick Gardner (trumpet); Weldon Irvine (keyboards); Bassi Kolo Percussion Group (percussion); Chris Crossfader (prgramming); Kendra Ross (background vocals).
Producers: Hi Tek, Talib Kweli, Weldon Irvine.
With a back-to-the-streets, grassroots approach, rapper Talib Kwali and producer Hi-Tek have constructed a simple, pure hip-hop album. Their formula is simple: hot banging beats with novel samples, combined with slick, stylish street corner rhymes.
Joined by a who's who of hip-hop like De La Soul ("Soul Rebels"), Mos Def ("This Means You"), and Kool G Rap ("Ghetto Afterlife"), REFLECTION ETERNAL is packed with everything a hip-hop fan could want. A notable cut is "Down For the Count," which features Rah Digga, Xzibit and a cameo from boxing champion Lennox Lewis, here performing in something of a different style to his showbiz colleague Oscar De La Hoya. If you're looking for pure hip-hop, REFLECTION ETERNAL is for you.
