Gutter Rainbows

Gutter Rainbows
Studio album by Talib Kweli
Released January 25, 2011
Recorded 2010
Genre Alternative hip hop, conscious hip hop
Length 49:13
Label Blacksmith Music, Javotti Media, 3D
Producer 88-Keys, M-Phazes, Shuko, Marco Polo, S1, Khrysis, 6th Sense, Ski Beatz, E. Jones, Nick Speed, Blaq Toven, Oh No, Maurice Brown, Drum Dreamers, Patrick "Ty’neg" Mathore
Talib Kweli chronology

Eardrum
(2007)		 Gutter Rainbows
(2011)		 Prisoner of Conscious
(2013)

Gutter Rainbows is the fourth solo album by American hip hop artist Talib Kweli. The album was the first to be released by his imprint Talibra. The album was originally intended to be released in only a digital format. However, on November 16, 2010, it was announced that Duck Down Records would step in to see the album got a CD release.[1] This included an import edition and a special edition with extras.[2]

Reception

Critical response

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic (71/100) [3]
Review scores
Source Rating
AbsolutePunk 86% [4]
Consequence of Sound [5]
DJBooth [6]
Los Angeles Times [7]
Paste (6.8/10) [8]
Pitchfork Media (7.4/10) [9]
PopMatters [10]
RapReviews (8.5/10) [11]
Rolling Stone [12]
Spin (7/10) [13]

So far, the album holds a score of 71 out of 100 from Metacritic based on "generally favorable reviews".[3] AllHipHop.com gave it a score of 8.5 out of 10.[14] HipHopDX gave it a score of three out of five and called it "a fairly easy spin, and can go into the listener's steady rotation in a pinch. That being said, this feels a bit like a subdued version of Eardrum."[15] BBC Music gave it a favorable review and said, "This is an odd thing to say, given the dumbness of so many contemporary rap songs--is that Kweli tries to cram too much awareness into his lines at the expense of rhymes and flow. But trying a little too hard to find enlightenment can be forgiven when it comes from within a genre that often tips bravado ahead of insight."[16] However, some reviews are very average or mixed: URB gave it three stars out of five and said, "Talib seems to be coasting just a bit on this cut-and-paste session. As in, from a pure musical standpoint, outside of a few of repeat-worthy tracks, Gutter Rainbows is no cure for your current cabin fever."[17] No Ripcord gave it a score of six stars out of ten and said that it "hovers between a mainstream and an indie vibe, embracing neither and potentially isolating both audiences."[18] Tiny Mix Tapes gave it a score of two stars out of five and said, "Kweli still has an ear for beats, and despite some particular low points here, his lyrics were always overshadowed by his flow, which is as sharp as ever."[19]

Commercial performance

In its first week, the album sold 13,900 copies in the United States.[20] In the first two weeks after its release, the album sold a total of 19,000 copies in the United States.[21]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "After the Rain"  C. Njapa, T. Greene, T. Ibrahim88-Keys 1:27
2. "Gutter Rainbows"  M. Landon, T. Greene, R. MandellM-Phazes 4:11
3. "So Low"  C. Bauss, T. Greene, M. WrightShuko 3:15
4. "Palookas" (featuring Sean Price)M. Bruno, T. Greene, S. PriceMarco Polo 3:58
5. "Mr. International" (featuring Nigel Hall)L. Griffin, T. Greene, N. HallS1 3:37
6. "I'm On One"  C. Tyson, T. GreeneKhrysis 3:55
7. "Wait for You" (featuring Kendra Ross)L. Griffin, T. Greene, K. RossS1 3:46
8. "Ain't Waiting" (featuring Outasight)M. Kawesch, T. Greene, R. Andrew6th Sense 3:58
9. "Cold Rain"  D. Willis, T. GreeneSki Beatz 2:36
10. "Friends & Family"  E. Jones, T. GreeneE. Jones 3:58
11. "Tater Tot"  N. Speed, T. GreeneNick Speed 2:57
12. "How You Love Me" (featuring Blaq Toven)A. Ranson, T. GreeneBlaq Toven 4:05
13. "Uh Oh" (featuring Jean Grae)M. Jackson, T. Greene, T. IbrahimOh No 4:16
14. "Self Savior" (featuring Chace Infinite)M. Brown, T. GreeneMaurice Brown 3:14

Personnel

Credits for Gutter Rainbows adapted from CD booklet.

  • Richard Andrew — vocals
  • Steve Baughman — mixing
  • Christoph Bauss — producer
  • Maurice Brown — producer, trumpet
  • Marco Bruno — producer
  • Kevin Calloway — session coordinator
  • Luis Cato — bass
  • Jarriel Carter — horn arrangements
  • John Cave — guitar
  • Brian Cockerham — bass
  • Adam Deitch — drums
  • Jon Dixon — synthesizer
  • Raymond Angry — keyboard
  • Nate Jones — bass
  • Drew Friedman — executive producer
  • Michael Geldreich — piano
  • Mike Gibney — mixing
  • Talib Greene — vocals, executive producer
  • Larry Griffin — producer, horn arrangements
  • Nigel Hall — vocals, piano
  • Tsidi Ibrahim — vocals, additional vocals
  • Borahm Lee — keyboard
  • Michael Jackson — producer
  • Aaron Johnson — vocals
  • Daru Jones — drums
  • Eric Jones — producer
  • Michael Kawesch — producer
  • Chris Koltay — engineer
  • Eric Krasno — guitar
  • Mark Landon — producer
  • Alby Cohen - Recording Engineer on Tracks, 1-3, 5-9, 13-14
  • Mike L. LaValle — bass, guitar
  • Rob Mandell — instrumentation
  • Patrick Mathore — producer
  • Caleb McCampbell — co-producer, additional producer, additional keys
  • Aaron Merkin — vocals
  • Joe Nardone — mixing
  • Winston Nelson — rhodes, flute
  • Charles Njapa — producer, additional vocals
  • Sean Price — vocals
  • Anthony Ransom — producer, vocals, publishing
  • Kendra Ross — vocals
  • Christopher Tyson — producer
  • Maurizio Sera — mixing
  • Liu Sing — publishing
  • Nicholas Speed — producer, programming
  • Brady Watt — bass
  • Tony Williams — vocals
  • David Willis — producer
  • Mike Wyatt — engineer
  • Harrison Young — piano
  • James Roberts — additional vocals

References

  1. ↑ "Talib Kweli To Release "Gutter Rainbows" On January 25, 2011". Hip Hop DX. Retrieved 4 February 2011. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  2. ↑ Rodriguez, Jayson. "Talib Kweli Talks Gutter Rainbows: 'The Music Industry Doesn't Exist'". MTV. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Critic reviews at Metacritic
  4. ↑ AbsolutePunk review
  5. ↑ Consequence of Sound review
  6. ↑ DJBooth review
  7. ↑ Los Angeles Times review
  8. ↑ Paste review
  9. ↑ Pitchfork Media review
  10. ↑ PopMatters review
  11. ↑ RapReviews review
  12. ↑ Rolling Stone review
  13. ↑ Spin review
  14. ↑ AllHipHop review
  15. ↑ HipHopDX review
  16. ↑ BBC Music review
  17. ↑ URB review
  18. ↑ No Ripcord review
  19. ↑ Tiny Mix Tapes review
  20. ↑ "Nicki Minaj Surpasses Kanye in Overall Sales". XXL Magazine. February 2, 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  21. ↑ ALLEN JACOBS (February 9, 2011). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 2/6/2011". Hip Hop DX. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  22. ↑ "United States/Canada iTunes bonus tracks". iTunes. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  23. ↑ "United States Amazon bonus track". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-03-30.

External links