Talib Kweli's Javotti Media Presents: The Cathedral Mixtape Review

If you don't know who Talib Kweli is, you probably don't know real hip hop. I'm totally kidding of course (who likes that type of person?), but to deny Kweli has had a huge influence in all of rap is an ignorant thing to do. His consistency as a rapper doesn't show up in records sales, it shows up in his skills as an emcee, and to say he is underrated (even today) is an understatement. It's truly fun to listen to Kweli kick skill on the mic, but his newest effort doesn't focus on just him, it focuses on the label he's pushing to become great:  Javotti Media. Is Kweli pushing Javotti in the right direction?  This remains to be seen, at least for now.

The first track, a Kweli solo spitting joint, starts with comedian Affion Crockett giving some hilarious opening banter. Crockett does this throughout the entire tape, and it surely adds a different vibe to the tape, it almost seems as if Affion is acting as the tape's DJ (just less annoying with no tags). But the track, titled "Another Day", is a smooth track that shows signs of the old school hip hop sound that Kweli is so well known for. The rhythmic drums and the steady bass line make for a good opening to warm you up for the rest of the tape.

The chill vibe is a consistent one throughout the tape, with slower paced beats that allow the rappers to differentiate and slow up flows that fit very well, an example of this being evident on "Cherry Beamer Dreaming" where rapper NIKO IS showcases his talents. The slow paced beats and vibe you can also find on tracks like "Boomerang", where "quality over quantity" is stressed, and it's hard to argue that it isn't.  Other chilled out tracks include the smoker's anthem "Roll Me Up" featuring Altitude and Cory Mo, and perhaps the stand out track of the tape, "Everywhere I Go" featuring fellow speaker bumpers Big K.R.I.T and Curren$y. K.R.I.T lays down a smooth hook that certainly makes this track one to bump in the trunk.

    
The song "Dreams" ft. singer RES and the Piano Tribute Players is a truly heartfelt, masterful performance on piano and in singing. The first time I heard this I was truly moved, and I felt the pain and honesty in RES's voice as the thought crossed my mind that I had never heard anything like this before. We need to talk about this singer RES:  I don't know where Kweli found her, but he surely is doing right if he plans to push her to be big. Her vocal talents on "Dreams" and the live version of "What's Real" are just a taste of her talents ("What's Real" makes me want to see Kweli and RES live), but she really steals the show on her very own solo singing track "For Who You Are", which resembles an old Spinners' song as its smooth jazzy sound mixed with her lovely vocals bring you back to old love songs, while at the same time presenting you with a fresh new sound that could take this girl far if she plays her cards right.

So in all, does Talib succeed with his new mix tape?  You'd be crazy to say he doesn't, the great mix of songs, which includes lyrical acrobatics and jovial jams to soulful singing singles and uplifting efforts, definitely sounds like more an album than it does a mix tape, and even though nowadays it's become second nature for artists to put out their best work for free (some of it, at least), this tape becomes only a sample of what to expect from Kweli's ever growing Javotti media brand. The mix of originality with old school fits very well as usual for Kweli, and he looks to bring up a team that deserves recognition just as much as he does. I'll end this review with my personal favorite track from the tape, "D.R.E.A.M" featuring Kweli and Pharoahe Monch.

                    (*Disclaimer: I do not own any of these songs posted, or any of the rights to them*)