Gutter Rainbows

[Javotti Media/3D]

The latest from Talib Kweli is largely a DIY affair: The rapper recorded and released it outside the major-label system, and no big-name producers or big-shot guests were involved. It’s just Kweli with a handful of collaborators, dropping rhymes that veer toward the socially conscious over neo-soul beats. In other words, it’s not all that different from what the New York MC has been doing all along. He scoffs at gangsta clichés on the title track, connects booty-centric player themes to his quest for true love on “Ain’t Waiting” and muses over current events on “Cold Rain,” all of which feature rhymes well-versed in pop culture. He changes it up on “Tater Tot,” narrating a wounded ex-soldier’s tale in the first person over heavy bass and a claustrophobic synthesizer. It’s a reminder of how effective Kweli is when he has something serious to say—and pleasant though the album is, Gutter Rainbows could have used a few more tracks like it. –Eric R. Danton