GradeL D+
Talib Kweli trys to fills the void in socially-conscious hip-hop with his new LP “Gutter Rainbows,” but he ultimately falls short. Inspired by older albums like Kanye West’s “The College Dropout,” “Rainbows” sounds out-of-place with its melodies and structure. Lyrically, Kweli rallies listeners to live better lives, but his melodies do not hold enough weight to keep listeners interested. Kweli tries too hard to seem jaded and “above it all” throughout the album. The album incorporates hip-hop, jazz and R&B to create a barely listenable album.