Reflection Eternal
Encyclopedia
Reflection Eternal is a hip hop
duo composed of emcee Talib Kweli
and DJ Hi-Tek
. They released their first album, Train of Thought
, in 2000. They have since released a mixtape, The RE: Union, in late December 2009, and their second album Revolutions Per Minute
was released May 18, 2010.
and Hi-Tek
met in Tek's native Cincinnati, Ohio
, following the release of the Hi-Tek
/Mood
collaboration "Hustle on the Side". Kweli and Hi-Tek made their first official collaboration in 1997 on Mood's debut album, Doom, on the track "Industry Lies". That same year, the two formed as Reflection Eternal, and signed to upstart underground hip hop
label Rawkus Records
. The tracks from their debut single, "Fortified Live" b/w "2000 Seasons", were included on the Rawkus Records compilation Soundbombing
in October 1997. In 1998, Kweli and his high school friend, fellow Rawkus Records artist Mos Def
, formed the duo Black Star
, and released their first, and only album, Black Star, to rave reviews. Hi-Tek provided production for a number of songs on the album, including the singles "Definition" and "Respiration". The album put the three at the forefront of an underground hip hop scene that appeared at the time to be flagging against the influence of the "Jiggy" era of hip-hop, and was followed by a number of acclaimed collaborations and albums. Kweli and Hi-Tek reconnected in 2000 for the release of their debut album, Train of Thought
. Though highly acclaimed, the release did not receive a significant amount of commercial attention, despite the success of the rap hits "Move Somethin'
" and "The Blast
".
Following the Train of Thought album, the duo split for solo projects, beginning with Hi-Tek's Hi-Teknology
, released in 2001, on which Kweli appeared. The album didn't receive as much attention or as many sales as Train of Thought, though the single "Round & Round" became a crossover hit in 2002. Kweli released his first solo album, Quality
, in late 2002. In a 2002 interview he also stated that another Reflection Eternal and Black Star album would be released. Hi-Tek was not involved with the project's production, instead featuring beats from artists like Kanye West
, DJ Scratch
, DJ Quik
, Ayatollah
and J Dilla
. The Kanye West-produced single "Get By" became Kweli's biggest success, charting on the Billboard Hot 100
in 2003. Kweli's second solo album, 2004's The Beautiful Struggle
, saw the duo working together once again, with three tracks produced by Hi-Tek. Kweli released his next album, Ear Drum, in 2007, featuring production from Tek; Hi-Tek released the follow-up to his debut, Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip
, in 2006 and his third album, Hi-Teknology 3: The Underground, in 2007, both on Babygrande Records
and both featuring appearances by Kweli.
The duo announced that another Reflection Eternal album was in the works in 2008. They named their second album Revolutions Per Minute.
They played a live reunion gig in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on September 20, 2009. In the same year Bootsy Collins collaborated with Talib Kweli
and Hi-Tek
on the track "Internet Connection". also a track "Back Again" has been released along with video. They also collaborated with J. Cole, Mos Def
, and Jay Electronica
on the track "Just Begun"http://www.thatsthatish.com/2010/01/reflection-eternal-just-begun-feat-jay.html. These 3 songs were released in a mixtape on January 1, 2010 called The Re:Union which received positive fanbase feedback. Their second album Revolutions Per Minute was released on May 18, 2010 with similar praise as their debut album. It spawned 3 singles: "In This World", "Strangers (Paranoid)" featuring former UGK
member Bun B
, and Midnight Hour featuring Atlantic recording artist Estelle
.
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
duo composed of emcee Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
and DJ Hi-Tek
Hi-Tek
Tony Cottrell, better known as Hi-Tek, is an American record producer and rapper from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is best known for his work with Talib Kweli on his Reflection Eternal album and on Black Star...
. They released their first album, Train of Thought
Train of Thought (Reflection Eternal album)
Train of Thought is the debut album of American hip hop duo Reflection Eternal, released October 17, 2000 on Rawkus Records. Collaborating as a duo, rapper Talib Kweli and DJ and hip hop producer Hi-Tek recorded the album during 1999 to 2000, following their individual musical work that gained...
, in 2000. They have since released a mixtape, The RE: Union, in late December 2009, and their second album Revolutions Per Minute
Revolutions per Minute (Reflection Eternal album)
Revolutions per Minute is the second studio album by American hip hop duo Reflection Eternal, released May 18, 2010, on Blacksmith Records and Rawkus Records...
was released May 18, 2010.
History
The duo of Talib KweliTalib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
and Hi-Tek
Hi-Tek
Tony Cottrell, better known as Hi-Tek, is an American record producer and rapper from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is best known for his work with Talib Kweli on his Reflection Eternal album and on Black Star...
met in Tek's native Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, following the release of the Hi-Tek
Hi-Tek
Tony Cottrell, better known as Hi-Tek, is an American record producer and rapper from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is best known for his work with Talib Kweli on his Reflection Eternal album and on Black Star...
/Mood
Mood (hip hop crew)
MOOD is a hip hop group based in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, composed of rappers Main Flow, Donte, and record producer Jahson. They first came to prominence with the Hi-Tek produced single "Hustle on the Side" in 1996...
collaboration "Hustle on the Side". Kweli and Hi-Tek made their first official collaboration in 1997 on Mood's debut album, Doom, on the track "Industry Lies". That same year, the two formed as Reflection Eternal, and signed to upstart underground hip hop
Underground hip hop
Underground hip hop is an umbrella term for hip hop music outside the general commercial canon. It is typically associated with independent artists, signed toindependent labels or no label at all....
label Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records is an American hip-hop record label known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Rawkus started in 1996 with initial releases ranging from hip-hop to drum and bass...
. The tracks from their debut single, "Fortified Live" b/w "2000 Seasons", were included on the Rawkus Records compilation Soundbombing
Soundbombing
Soundbombing is a 1997 compilation album from independent Hip Hop label Rawkus Records. This was the first in a long line of acclaimed compilations from Rawkus, followed by two installments of the Lyricist Lounge series and two more Soundbombing albums...
in October 1997. In 1998, Kweli and his high school friend, fellow Rawkus Records artist Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
, formed the duo Black Star
Black Star (hip hop group)
Black Star is a hip hop duo composed of Mos Def and Talib Kweli.-History:Black Star arose from the underground movement of the late 1990s, which was in large part due to Rawkus Records, an independent record label stationed in New York City. They released one self titled album...
, and released their first, and only album, Black Star, to rave reviews. Hi-Tek provided production for a number of songs on the album, including the singles "Definition" and "Respiration". The album put the three at the forefront of an underground hip hop scene that appeared at the time to be flagging against the influence of the "Jiggy" era of hip-hop, and was followed by a number of acclaimed collaborations and albums. Kweli and Hi-Tek reconnected in 2000 for the release of their debut album, Train of Thought
Train of Thought (Reflection Eternal album)
Train of Thought is the debut album of American hip hop duo Reflection Eternal, released October 17, 2000 on Rawkus Records. Collaborating as a duo, rapper Talib Kweli and DJ and hip hop producer Hi-Tek recorded the album during 1999 to 2000, following their individual musical work that gained...
. Though highly acclaimed, the release did not receive a significant amount of commercial attention, despite the success of the rap hits "Move Somethin'
Move Somethin'
Move Somethin may refer to:*Move Somethin, a 1988 album by 2 Live Crew*"Move Somethin'", a song by Reflection Eternal from their 2000 album Train of Thought...
" and "The Blast
The Blast (song)
"The Blast" is a hip hop single from Reflection Eternal's debut album, Train of Thought. It features rapping from the duo's emcee, Talib Kweli, as well as from its producer, DJ Hi-Tek. It is the only Reflection Eternal song that Hi-Tek raps on, and like all Reflection Eternal songs, he produces it....
".
Following the Train of Thought album, the duo split for solo projects, beginning with Hi-Tek's Hi-Teknology
Hi-Teknology
Hi-Teknology is the debut album from producer Hi-Tek, released on Rawkus Records. Most songs feature rapping or singing by other artists, and all are produced by Hi-Tek...
, released in 2001, on which Kweli appeared. The album didn't receive as much attention or as many sales as Train of Thought, though the single "Round & Round" became a crossover hit in 2002. Kweli released his first solo album, Quality
Quality (album)
Quality is rapper Talib Kweli's first solo album. It was released on November 19, 2002 under Rawkus Records. It received wide critical acclaim and had some commercial appeal from the song "Get By" produced by Kanye West...
, in late 2002. In a 2002 interview he also stated that another Reflection Eternal and Black Star album would be released. Hi-Tek was not involved with the project's production, instead featuring beats from artists like Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
, DJ Scratch
DJ Scratch
DJ Scratch is an American hip hop DJ and producer.-Career:DJ Scratch is the 1988 New Music Seminar Battle For World Supremacy DJ Champion, Grammy nominated, Multi Platinum Producer & The 2010 Master Of The Mix World Champion....
, DJ Quik
DJ Quik
David Martin Blake , better known by his stage name DJ Quik, is an MC and record producer. According to Quik himself, his stage name reflects his ability to produce records in short time....
, Ayatollah
Ayatollah (producer)
Lamont Dorrell, better known as Ayatollah is a Hip-Hop producer from Queens, New York who has produced for predominantly New York-based rappers including Mos Def, R.A. The Rugged Man, Tragedy Khadafi, Wordsworth, Vast Aire, Afu-Ra, Guru, M.O.P., Inspectah Deck, Cormega, Ghostface Killah as well as...
and J Dilla
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
. The Kanye West-produced single "Get By" became Kweli's biggest success, charting on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 2003. Kweli's second solo album, 2004's The Beautiful Struggle
The Beautiful Struggle
The Beautiful Struggle is the second solo album by American rapper Talib Kweli. The album was released in 2004, and features guest appearances by rappers such as Common and Jean Grae...
, saw the duo working together once again, with three tracks produced by Hi-Tek. Kweli released his next album, Ear Drum, in 2007, featuring production from Tek; Hi-Tek released the follow-up to his debut, Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip
Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip
Hi-Teknology²: The Chip is a sequel album to Hip hop producer Hi-Tek's first album, Hi-Teknology. Born as Tony Cottrell, He had spent most of his time in the low key hip-hop scene of Cincinnati, Ohio who eventually ran into Mood in 1992. Working with him kickstarted his career and affiliated...
, in 2006 and his third album, Hi-Teknology 3: The Underground, in 2007, both on Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records is an independent record label based in New York City founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by the The Orchard, and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood.-Discography:...
and both featuring appearances by Kweli.
The duo announced that another Reflection Eternal album was in the works in 2008. They named their second album Revolutions Per Minute.
They played a live reunion gig in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on September 20, 2009. In the same year Bootsy Collins collaborated with Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
and Hi-Tek
Hi-Tek
Tony Cottrell, better known as Hi-Tek, is an American record producer and rapper from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is best known for his work with Talib Kweli on his Reflection Eternal album and on Black Star...
on the track "Internet Connection". also a track "Back Again" has been released along with video. They also collaborated with J. Cole, Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
, and Jay Electronica
Jay Electronica
Timothy Elpadaro Thedford , better known by his stage name Jay Electronica, is an American hip hop recording artist and record producer...
on the track "Just Begun"http://www.thatsthatish.com/2010/01/reflection-eternal-just-begun-feat-jay.html. These 3 songs were released in a mixtape on January 1, 2010 called The Re:Union which received positive fanbase feedback. Their second album Revolutions Per Minute was released on May 18, 2010 with similar praise as their debut album. It spawned 3 singles: "In This World", "Strangers (Paranoid)" featuring former UGK
UGK
UGK was an American hip hop duo from Port Arthur, Texas formed in 1987 by the late Chad "Pimp C" Butler . He then joined with Bernard "Bun B" Freeman, who became his longtime partner...
member Bun B
Bun B
Bernard Freeman better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK . He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas...
, and Midnight Hour featuring Atlantic recording artist Estelle
Estelle (musician)
Estelle Fanta Swaray commonly known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle, is an English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer.-Early Life:Estelle was born 18 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, England...
.
Studio albums
| Album information |
|---|
| Train of Thought Train of Thought (Reflection Eternal album) Train of Thought is the debut album of American hip hop duo Reflection Eternal, released October 17, 2000 on Rawkus Records. Collaborating as a duo, rapper Talib Kweli and DJ and hip hop producer Hi-Tek recorded the album during 1999 to 2000, following their individual musical work that gained...
|
| Revolutions per Minute Revolutions per Minute (Reflection Eternal album) Revolutions per Minute is the second studio album by American hip hop duo Reflection Eternal, released May 18, 2010, on Blacksmith Records and Rawkus Records... |
Singles
| Year | Song | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S. R&B | U.S. Rap Hot Rap Tracks Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single... |
|||
| 2000 | "Move Somethin'" | — | 32 | 1 | Train of Thought |
| 2001 | "The Blast" (feat. Vinia Mojica Vinia Mojica Vinia Mojica is a singer from Queens, New York, best known for her collaborations with the Native Tongues collective and other hip hop artists.... ) |
— | 48 | 2 | |
| 2009 | "Back Again" (feat. Res) | — | — | — | Revolutions per Minute |
| 2010 | "Just Begun" (feat. Jay Electronica Jay Electronica Timothy Elpadaro Thedford , better known by his stage name Jay Electronica, is an American hip hop recording artist and record producer... , J. Cole & Mos Def Mos Def Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which... ) |
— | — | — | |
| "In This World" | — | — | — | ||
| "Strangers (Paranoid)" (feat. Bun B Bun B Bernard Freeman better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK . He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas... ) |
— | — | — | ||
| "Midnight Hour" (feat. Estelle Estelle (musician) Estelle Fanta Swaray commonly known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle, is an English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer.-Early Life:Estelle was born 18 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, England... ) |
— | — | — | ||
Appearances as Reflection Eternal
- "Fortified Live" (appears on the SoundbombingSoundbombingSoundbombing is a 1997 compilation album from independent Hip Hop label Rawkus Records. This was the first in a long line of acclaimed compilations from Rawkus, followed by two installments of the Lyricist Lounge series and two more Soundbombing albums...
compilation, 1997) - "2000 Seasons" (also appears on the Soundbombing compilation, 1997)
- "The Manifesto" (appears on Lyricist Lounge, Volume OneLyricist Lounge, Volume OneLyricist Lounge, Volume One is the first installment of Rawkus Records Lyricist Lounge album series, based on the Lyricist Lounge showcases in New York...
compilation, 1998) - "Chaos" (appears on the Soundbombing 2Soundbombing 2Soundbombing II is the second installment in Rawkus Records Soundbombing series, and was possibly the most successful and acclaimed release out of all the Rawkus compilations. Soundbombing 2 fuses up-and-coming MC's with established rappers, and was able to deliver an underground Hip Hop sound to a...
compilation, 1999) - "On Mission" (also appears on the Soundbombing 2 compilation, 1999)
- "The Express" (from "The Express" single, 2000)
- "Train of Thought" (from "The Blast" single, 2000)
- "Down for the Count (Solo Version)" (from "The Blast" single, 2000)
- "The Human Element" (from the Unbound Project, Volume 1 compilation, 2000)
- "Sharp Shooters" (from the Lyricist Lounge 2Lyricist Lounge 2Lyricist Lounge 2 is the second installment in Rawkus Records Lyricist Lounge album series. The release was one of Rawkus' most commercially successful releases, featuring the hit crossover singles, "Oh No" and "Get Up", the former charting on the Billboard Hot 100...
compilation, 2000) - "Bridge to 'Bama (Remix)" (from the SouliveSouliveSoulive is a funk/jazz trio that originated in Woodstock, New York, and is known for its solos and catchy, upbeat songs. The band consists of Eric Krasno , Alan Evans , Neal Evans...
single "Bridge to 'Bama", 2001) - "Let Me See (Remix)" (by MorcheebaMorcheebaMorcheeba are a British band, mixing influences from trip hop, rock, R&B, and pop.They have produced 7 albums since 1995, two of which reached the UK top ten.-Biography:...
)
Other Collaborations
- "Industry Lies" (from the MoodMood (hip hop crew)MOOD is a hip hop group based in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, composed of rappers Main Flow, Donte, and record producer Jahson. They first came to prominence with the Hi-Tek produced single "Hustle on the Side" in 1996...
album DoomDoom (Mood album)Doom is the 1997 debut album of hip hop group Mood. It features production by DJ Hi-Tek and guest appearances by Talib Kweli and Wu-Tang-affiliated group Sunz of Man. It features one single, "Karma", whose b-side is "Cincinnati". Mood's classic Doom launched the careers of Talib Kweli, Hi-Tek, and...
, 1997) - Songs from the Mos DefMos DefDante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
& Talib Kweli Black Star album, 1998 - "Halfway" (from the BrixxBrixxBrixx was a Danish pop group which represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 1982, in which it sang "Video, Video".The group members were Brixx Hawthorne, Jens Brixtofte, John Hatting, Torben Jacobse, Steen Eljer Olsen and Bjørn Holmgård Sørensen....
album Everything Happens For A Reason), 1999 - "Transmorgify" & "Empty Pages" (from the compilation Mission Control Presents, 2000; both songs are by Mood)
- Songs from the Hi-Tek album Hi-TeknologyHi-TeknologyHi-Teknology is the debut album from producer Hi-Tek, released on Rawkus Records. Most songs feature rapping or singing by other artists, and all are produced by Hi-Tek...
, 2001 - Songs from the Talib Kweli album The Beautiful StruggleThe Beautiful StruggleThe Beautiful Struggle is the second solo album by American rapper Talib Kweli. The album was released in 2004, and features guest appearances by rappers such as Common and Jean Grae...
, 2004 - Songs from the Hi-Tek album Hi-Teknology 2: The ChipHi-Teknology 2: The ChipHi-Teknology²: The Chip is a sequel album to Hip hop producer Hi-Tek's first album, Hi-Teknology. Born as Tony Cottrell, He had spent most of his time in the low key hip-hop scene of Cincinnati, Ohio who eventually ran into Mood in 1992. Working with him kickstarted his career and affiliated...
, 2006 - Songs from the Talib Kweli album EardrumEardrum (album)Eardrum is the fourth solo album from American hip hop artist Talib Kweli. The album was his Warner Bros. Records debut with his first album on his own label, Blacksmith Records. It was engineered by Joel Hamilton, Ryan Kennedy, Mike Houge and Dave Dar. Eardrum was released on August 21, 2007 on...
, 2006 - Songs from the Rawkus Records album Soundbombing II, 1999