by Nick Pfeiffer
Lyrical prodigy Talib Kweli and extraordinary underground hip-hop producer DJ Hi-Tek comprise Reflection Eternal. Kweli -- who's name literally means &seeker of truth& -- also owns a small bookstore in Brooklyn and is more than just an average MC, being also a key to the Mos Def collaborational LP Black Star. He first met Hi-Tek in 1994 while visiting Cincinnati, and appeared on a track from Hi-Tek's group Mood After Reflection Eternal's inception in 1997, the pair were signed to indie powerhouse Rawkus Records, where they released their first single &Fortified Live& b/w the indie sensation &2000 Seasons.& The best way to describe Talib Kweli is as an erudite wordsmith prodigy; he incorporates political issues, complex metaphors, vivid imagery, a braggadocio rhyme style, and an overall charisma into his precise lyrical presentation. Although Reflection Eternal is an &underground& hip hop group in principal, the relevance of Kweli's lyrics and the resonance of Hi-Tek's production propelled them to the forefront of quality hip-hop. Reflection Eternal was also featured on Mos Def's album Black on Both Sides, as well as the antiestablishment opus album entitled The Unbound Project. The duo's self-titled debut LP was actually filed under the name of Talib Kweli & DJ Hi-Tek.