Reflection Eternal

Reflection Eternal brings together lyrical prodigy Talib Kweli and extraordinary underground hip-hop producer DJ Hi-Tek. Kweli, whose name translates directly to “seeker of truth,” runs a modest bookstore in Brooklyn and stands out not merely as an MC but as an essential partner in Mos Def’s collaborative album Black Star. The pair first crossed paths in Cincinnati during 1994, when Kweli contributed a verse to a recording by Hi-Tek’s group Mood. Formed in 1997, Reflection Eternal soon joined the roster of independent powerhouse Rawkus Records and issued their opening single, “Fortified Live,” backed by the underground favorite “2000 Seasons.”

Kweli’s style fuses political commentary, intricate metaphors, striking imagery, boastful rhyme patterns, and magnetic presence into sharply crafted verses. Though rooted in underground hip-hop, the pointed substance of his writing and the resonant force of Hi-Tek’s beats quickly elevated the duo among the most respected acts in the genre. Reflection Eternal also appeared on Mos Def’s Black on Both Sides and on the antiestablishment collection The Unbound Project. Their first full-length album, Train of Thought, arrived in October 2000. The two artists reconvened a decade later to issue Revolutions Per Minute once again under the Reflection Eternal name.