Rewind: Reflection Eternal 'Train of Thought' (Part 2)

Welcome to our second look at Reflection Eternal's 2000 album 'Train of Thought'.

Talib Kweli rides solo on Hi-Tek's beat for 'Memories Live', which features a sample of Ann Peeble's minimalistic hit single 'I Can't Stand the Rain' from her 1974 album of the same title as well as a sample from Soft Machine's 1974 album cut 'Carol Ann'. Les Nubians and Talib Kweli team up on 'Love Language', which samples Norman Connors' 'Welcome'. De La Soul assists Kweli and Hi-Tek on 'Soul Rebels' which has the four emcees rhyming over the Commodores' 'Patch it Up' from the 1977 album 'Commodores'. Finally, the B-Side track 'Good Mourning' samples Hugo Montenegro's unstoppably funky track 'Dizzy' from his synth filled 1969 album 'Moog Power'.

Both Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek managed to build on the success of 'Train of Thought': Kweli has made a series of solo albums and Hi-Tek has produced albums on his own as well as produced tracks for 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, and G-Unit among others. Later this year, the duo's second album 'Revolutions Per Minute' is set to be released.

The Lowdown:
Reflection Eternal 'Memories Live', 'Love Language', 'Soul Rebels', and 'Good Mourning'
from 'Train of Thought' (2000) (MP3/CD)
Ann Peebles 'I Can't Stand the Rain'
from 'I Can't Stand the Rain' (1974) (MP3 not available/CD)
Soft Machine 'Carol Ann'
from 'Seven' (1974) (MP3/CD)
Norman Connors 'Welcome'
from 'Slewfoot' (1974) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
The Commodores 'Patch it Up'
from 'Commodores' (1977) (MP3/CD)
Hugo Montenegro 'Dizzy'
from 'Moog Power' (1969) (MP3 not available/CD)

Related Posts:
Prodcuer Profile: Kanye West (Part 2, 2001-2002) (Talib Kweli appearance)

Rewind: GZA/Genius 'Liquid Swords' (Part 2)

Welcome to the second part of our look at 'Liquid Swords' by GZA/Genius, released on this day in 1995.

'Liquid Swords''s second single was the RZA produced 'Cold World' and features a fantastic use of the Dramatics' ballad 'In the Rain'. The track also samples Stevie Wonder's 'Hotter than July' album cut 'Rocket Love'. GZA's 'Shadowboxin'', the album's final single, samples Ann Peebles' 'Trouble, Heartaches, and Sadness'. A sample of Three Dog Night appears on GZA's 'Investigatve Reports' by way of their 1974 album 'Hard Labor' and the track 'I'd Be So Happy'. The album's closing track and the only track not produced by the RZA (this track was produced by Wu associate 4th Disciple) is 'B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)' which samples an early Ohio Players track titled 'Our Love Has Died' on their pre-breakthrough album 'Pleasure'.

'Liquid Swords' has, in time, become a platinum selling album and is often cited as being one of the best hip-hop albums of all time and is the high water mark for albums released by Wu-Tang members.

The Lowdown:
GZA/Genius 'Cold World', 'Shadowboxin'', 'Investigatve Reports', and 'B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)'
from 'Liquid Swords' (1995) (MP3/CD)
The Dramatics 'In the Rain'
from 'Whatcha See is Whatcha Get' (1971) (MP3/CD)
Stevie Wonder 'Rocket Love'
from 'Hotter than July' (1980) (MP3/CD)
Ann Peebles 'Trouble, Heartaches, and Sadness'
from 'Straight from the Heart' (1971) (MP3 not available/Import CD)
Three Dog Night 'I'd Be So Happy'
from 'Hard Labor' (1974) (MP3 not available/Import CD)
The Ohio Players 'Out Love Has Died'
from 'Pleasure' (1972) (MP3 not available/CD)