Quality (Talib Kweli album)
Quality | ||||
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Eric Krasno, Dahoud Darien | ||||
Talib Kweli chronology | ||||
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Singles from Quality | ||||
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Quality is the first
Background
In 1998 Talib Kweli and
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
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 79/100[8] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [9] |
Blender | [10] |
The Guardian | [11] |
Houston Chronicle | 4/5[12] |
Los Angeles Times | [13] |
Pitchfork | 9.1/10[14] |
Rolling Stone | [15] |
Spin | 8/10[16] |
USA Today | [17] |
Vibe | 4.5/5[18] |
Quality was released on November 19, 2002
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.
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[30]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Keynote Speaker" (featuring Dante Smith | Ayatollah | 4:14 | |
8. | "Talk to You (Lil' Darlin')" (featuring Bilal) |
| 5:00 | |
9. | "Guerrilla Monsoon Rap" (featuring Black Thought & Pharoahe Monch) |
| Kanye West | 4:13 |
10. | "Put It in the Air" (featuring DJ Quik) |
| DJ Quik | 4:56 |
11. | "The Proud" |
| Ayatollah | 5:06 |
12. | "Where Do We Go" (featuring Res) | J Dilla | 3:58 | |
13. | "Stand to the Side" (featuring Novel & Vinia Mojica) |
| J Dilla | 6:32 |
14. | "Good to You" |
| Kanye West | 4:21 |
15. | "Won't You Stay" (featuring Kendra Ross) |
| Supa Dave West | 5:25 |
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
Chart (2002) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canadian R&B Albums ( Nielsen SoundScan)[31]
|
18 |
US Billboard 200[22] | 21 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[23] | 6 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2002) | Position |
---|---|
Canadian R&B Albums ( Nielsen SoundScan)[32]
|
199 |
Canadian Rap Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)[33] | 99 |
Chart (2003) | Position |
---|---|
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[34] | 54 |
Singles
Song | Chart (2002) | Peak position |
---|---|---|
"Good to You" | US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[35] | 95 |
"Waitin' For The DJ" | US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[36] | 77 |
Song | Chart (2003) | Peak position |
"Get By" | US Billboard Hot 100[25] | 77 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[36] | 29 | |
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[37] | 16 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[38] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
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.
- ^ Complex. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Talib Kweli Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- 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.