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aloovn- p»e o*ioft'<n ^f1 vltere's a Oatscn •feriW.. I ... ' ^ /hr* becans^I ^ * I'm maftie&.J > ^ i/ J PUTTING HIS FACE ON. FACE TO FACE. BOLD FACED. FACE THE MUSIC. FACE THE FACTS. FACE THE FIRING SQUAD. DEADPAN. CD REVIEW Kweli meshes traits on album “QUALITY" Talib Kweli ★★★★ out of -a it is it is BY TITAN BARKSDALE TIIK GAMECOCK Talib Kweli’s lead single, “Waiting for the DJ,” has a glossy video complete with scantily clad models dancing under strobe lights. The video created some uncertain ty about his new release, “Quality,” because many fans expected the so cially-conscious emcee to stay seri ous, but Kweli can have fun, too. On this album, Kweli shows he’s not the same kid sharing the mic with backpackers from his “Fortified Live” days. He shows he’s not the same incense-burning revolutionary from his Blackstar days. He also shows he’s not just a complement for partner and pro ducer Hi-Tek, who is absent from this album. Kweli shows he’s fi nally fused his many characteris tics on this album. “Quality” opens with unbridled energy that doesn’t fade until a few tracks later. “Rush” has a crescen do of incessant thumps that usher in blaring, staccato horns followed by knifing electric-guitar chords that mesh perfectly, thanks to the Megahertz production. Kweli lets the listener know how passionate he is about hip-hop: “I’m spilling it like I never had a meal in my life/feed my family with my pen, it’s so real when I write.” Produced by Kanye West, “Get By” features chopped piano chords, Miss-Mary-Mack hand claps and a bellowed chorus, all of which form a soul-stirring ode to people and the self-destructive crutches they use to get through life. Cocoa Brovaz drops in on the puzzling, yet oper ational “Gun Music” as Kweli takes on the persona of a trigger happy gun carrier. Of course, “Quality” features some tracks that show Kweli’s more familiar visceral side: “The Proud,” “Where Do We Go” and “Stand to the Side” are included on the album in succession, giv ing the listener a block of intro spective social commentary backed by slow grooves. It’s also essential that Kweli in clude ballads: “Joy,” a screaming Ayatollah-laced track about child birth; “Talk to You,” a brooding Soulquarians production that fea tures Bilal; and “Won’t You Stay,” a melodious Dave West construc tion that features Kendra Ross singing the hook. DJ Quik’s synthesized sound on “Put It In the Air” might be the only outright miss on the album. This track is well put together and Kweli rides the beat, but, like “Gun Music,” it disrupts the al bum’s continuity. There’s also an abundance of singing supplied by Bilal, Res, Vinia Mojica, Kendra Ross and others. To some, the crooning might be over the top, but dedicat ed fans know this has been a part of Kweli’s soulful vibe. The useless guest spots, such as Xzibit’s few seconds of babbling at the end of “Rush” and Mos Def s unimagina tive hook on “Joy,” are counter acted by tracks such as “Guerrilla Monsoon Rap,” on which Black Thought and Pharoahe Monch join Kweli in a lyrical suicide drill. Unlike on “Train of Thought,” the track sequencing of “Quality” is almost flawless, which gives the album a distinct flavor and the lis tener a smooth, pleasurable ride. Aside from a few slipups, all of Kweli’s traits find a happy com promise in “Quality.” -1 Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockmixeditor(a)hotmail.com Indian Music CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 would be producing with the Sarod. He said what he played during the concert would be “dry” to Westerners because “Westerners are used to hearing harmony.” In Indian classical music, mu sicians play only one note at a time and rely heavily on melody. “We use the same notes as you use,” Buddahdev said while play ing a scale, “but our manner of us * ing them is different.” Buddahdev and Dasgupta’s first piece lasted almost an hour before breaking for intermission. Subsequent pieces were shorter. Patel said instrumental music transcends cultural boundaries. “You don’t need to know vocabu lary to understand,” he said. Earl Thomas, a third-year math student, attended the concert be cause he has a personal interest in music. “There are probably some things they’re doing up there that we can’t interpret,” he said. “I think it’s a good thing for artists of different parts of the world to show what they have.” Talwani and Keshiv Desai, an other of SIPA’s founding members and USC graduate, said they are trying expose Columbia to Indian culture. SIPA’s goal is to have five or six concerts a year, including instrumental music, vocal music and Indian dancing, said Talwani. E-mail sipasc@yahoo.com for information about SIPA and its events. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Latvian 5_of Galilee 8 Warnings 14 Sea green 15 NYC arena 16 Make shoe repairs 17 Sound of rippling water 18 Simian 19 Zodiac sign 20 Kitchen fixture 21 Brought to mind 23 Writer Bagnold 24 Large African antelopes 25 Religious grp. 27 Low 28 Jacket part 33 Marriage partner 35 Artful paper folding 37 Denver pro 40 Persian Gulf island 41 Commuter flight 43 Fibula or tibia 44 Vagrants 45 Actor Kilmer 47 Epic tales 51 Of thp Vatinan 53 Lug along 54 Achieved a narrow victory 59 Lawman Dillon 60 King Arthur’s paradise 61 Inc. in Liverpool 62 Landed 63 Make shoe repairs 64 Tour segment 65 Riviera city 66 Light meals 67 Raw mineral 68 Time period DOWN 1 Ran out 2 Horselike 3 Hit the hay 4 Speak with condescension 5 Kiss loudly 6 Give one’s support to 7 Order of business © 2002 Tribune Media Services, Inc 11 /25/02 All rights reserved. 8 Giant with 100 eyes 9 Knowing look 10 Lamenter’s words 11 Tim of “WKRP in Cincinnati" 12 List of options 13 Inadvertent error 22 Self-defense system 26 Aluminum silicates 28 Detroit team 29 Quite a few 30 Singer Tillis 31 Rhea’s relative 32 Designer Claiborne 34 Crafty critter 36 Greek letter 37 _humbug! 38 Spanish river 39 Globe 42 Reitman or Lendl 43 Demolition expert Solutions ■» 46 Very handsome young man 48 Net minder 49 New York prison 50 Hunting dog 51 Window parts 52 Rock shelf 54 Violent conflicts 55 Baking box 56 ESA’s partner on the ISS 57 Voting group 58 Part of an egg HOROSCOPES ARIES Hold on tight and set your course for the stars. Projects started now turn out even better than you imagined. You still have to do the research, but luck is in your favor. TAURUS Tempted to do something fiscally foolish? Here are a few clues to minimize the danger. Investing in home and family is the strategy most likely to reap rich dividends. Real estate works, too. GEMINI Hand over the reins to somebody who wants to take control, so long as this is a person you can trust. The one who’s most noticeable now probably is trustworthy. CANCER You may be draggin’, but don’t let on. An early start gives you a huge advantage. Don’t sleep late if it’ll cost you. LEO You’re almost ready to take offlike a rocket. But if you do, will you leave something valuable behind? Don’t give up anything you can’t replace. VIRGO You may not be ready to get back to work quite yet. There’s an almost overwhelming urge to stay home with family and catch up on the latest news. Maybe you can if you do only the most important tasks. LIBRA It’s much easier to be a team player now. It’s not that they’ve changed; more likely you’ve grown. You’re ready to play on a higher level. SCORPIO There’s liable to be an inspection today, or an exam, or an audit. All they want are the facts, and if you produce those, they’ll be happy and you’ll gain in status. SAGITTARIUS You should be able to blast past just about any obstacles in your path. You’ve done the planning, ^ right? Punch into overdrive! Warp speed! CAPRICORN There’s almost too much going on inside your head. You could come up with a get-rich scheme that will actually work. Find a quiet place where you can think it over. AQUARIUS Today is an 8 _ Do you have a devoted and affectionate partner in your life? Want one? Good prospects should be abundant. PISCES You can achieve the goals you’ve set, but it may take a while. There’s plenty of work, and you know where to find it. If you don’t, ask f around. CALENDAR Monday, Nov. 25 "MOSTLY MARTHA": A German cooking comedy, the film depicts a battle of wills between a workaholic chef and her 8-year-old niece, whose parents were killed in a car wreck. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre, 937 Main St. Tuesday, Nov. 26 "MOSTLY MARTHA": 7 and 9:15 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre. "BAREFOOT IN THE PARK": 8 p.m. Workshop Theatre, 1136 Bull St. $13 for adults; $11 students, seniors and military. Wednesday, Nov.27 THE BREAKFAST CLUB: Senate Park, 931-B Senate St. $5. NONSTOP HIP-HOP LIVE: New Brookland Tavern. "MOSTLY MARTHA": 3,7 and 9:15 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre. "BAREFOOT IN THE PARK": 8 p.m. Workshop Theatre. $13 adults; $11 students, seniors and military. Thursday, Nov. 28 2 DEEP PRESENTS JIVE TURKEY: Jason Wilson's birthday bash. New Brookland Tavern. "MOSTLY MARTHA": 7 and 9:15 p.m. Nickelodeon With The Movielife, Brand New and Burns Out Bright 8 p.m. New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St. Tuesday. Theatre. Friday, Nov. 29 LIFE EVER AFTER WITH CATALYTIC AND POP 39: Senate Park. $5. THE VOID FAREWELL SHOW: New Brookland Tavern. BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME WITH END OF ALL: Uncle Doctor's, 1734 Mobile Drive. "I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE": 8 p.m. Trustus Theatre, 520 Lady St. $20. FILMPHORIA: The event features screenings of . student, local and independent films. Art Bar, 1211 Park St. 18 and up. "LAST KISS": In this tale of midlife crises, Carlo, a man with marriage looming over him, plans to travel across Africa with his drinking buddies and starts an affair with an 18-year-old girl on his wedding day. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre. Saturday, Nov. 30 COURAGE RILEY WITH WAKE UP SEPTEMBER: 6 p.m. New Brookland Tavern. EXIT 101 WITH SELLING TRUTH AND INFINITE: 9:30 p.m. New Brookland Tavern. LOVEFIST WITH SHELDON: Uncle Doctor's. u "I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE": 8 p.m. Trustus Theatre. $20. "LAST KISS": 3,7 and 9:30 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre. Sunday, Dec. 1 "LAST KISS": 3,7 and 9:30 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre.