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MCEO w/Talib Kweli & Mick BoogieAlbum Review by:
Mike Ivey Jr.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
 Talib Kweli’s train was stalled by the Universal machine at certain stops, but he still moves at hip hop warp speed, mixing socio-political tones with the personal for the new ‘MCEO,’ w/DJ Mick Boogie. It’s thirty two tracks deep but, due to a colorful array of acts and personal Blacksmith Records promos, manages not to bore.
‘MCEO’ includes “Hostile Gospel” (remix); Brooklyn hard rock Joel Ortiz lends a typically searing verse, about his everyday struggle, to Just Blaze’s old time blend of rapid snares and grooving keys.
Kweli re-introduces Strong Arm Steady and Jean Grae throughout ‘MCEO,’ but Idle Warship, a newly formed duo of Kweli and singer Res, may be the conscious emcee’s most daring project yet; “Screaming,” featuring MC Chris, is a wonderful, electronica doused jam, akin to “We Got The Beat” (‘The Beautiful Struggle,’ 2004). “Industry Diary” is gourmet cuisine for starving artists; “Pharrell’s on deck and he’s writing me all types of songs/ and Dr. Dre’s a fan but so what/ I been working so hard and so long,” vents the nostalgic songstress Res.
“Hunters” shows Strong Arm Steady’s (Krondon, Phil Da Agony, Mitchy Slick) chemistry, but the Blacksmith trio’s other ‘MCEO’ appearances aren’t notable. Jean Grae, the labels’ next solo offering, expresses her many voices in ‘MCEO,’ from the nonchalant rapper (“Think About It”), and prickly punch-liner (“Mean”) to the love stoned, tender artist (“Love Thirst”).
Kweli, though not known for classic remakes, makes himself right at home over Raekwon’s “Incarcerated Scarfaces” and, alongside fury in the flesh Busta Rhymes, Rakim’s seminal “Follow The Leader;” in ten years the industry has respected and overlooked Kweli but it shouldn’t take his humility for weakness; “god emcee helped me manifest the god in my/ see, the ’87 state of mind that I’m in/ bow to the king, ya try, ya not him,” the Brooklynite flows in an obvious answer to Jay-Z’s Rakim homage in “Blue Magic” (‘American Gangster,’ 2007). Diverse collaborations with Fly Union, legendary duo UGK, indie gorilla Buckshot, and world renowned Dr. Cornel West (“Bushonomics”) also go hard through speakers. When major emcees do mixtapes, it turns out to be much more; ‘MCEO’ is definitely a worthwhile experience.
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