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Ear Drum
by
Ear Drum Image
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 38 Ratings

  • Summary: The Brooklyn-born hip-hop artist's third album features such guests as UGK, Justin Timberlake and Norah Jones.

Top Track

Hot Thing
Yeah, special dedication I'm sending this one out to you And you and you and you I said to you and you and you She cold blooded, I love how we... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    100
    A procession of sharp cuts. [24 Aug 2007, p.133]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. RapReviews.com
    95
    Talib Kweli has made the career-defining work that his fans have been expecting for nearly a decade.
  3. Filter
    86
    The production work throughout provides a head-bobbing, arm-waving backdrop to Kweli’s lyrical genius, exactly as it should.
  4. Billboard
    70
    There are enough different feels and flows to dazzle listeners with Kweli's dexterity, but some judicious editing could have produced something perhaps even more impressive.
  5. Hot Press
    65
    Kweli's collaborative work has set the bar so high that his solo efforts routinely fail to meet these exalted expectations.
  6. Observer Music Monthly
    60
    He's back on his own terms, those of the earnest hyper-intelligent bookworm who won the plaudits of Jay-Z and 50 Cent, and sounding a lot more comfortable, with 'Hostile Gospel' and 'Say Something' re-staking a claim for the hip hop high ground over beats that are soulful and sonically coherent.
  7. Dusted Magazine
    40
    Ear Drum is his sprawling, messy 2007 manifesto, loaded with rhymes that take weeks to unpack, to say nothing of the bizarre diversity of producers and guests.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. KyleZ.
    Sep 11, 2007
    10
    Album of the year. Hands down. Production from long time partner Hi-Tek on More or Less is phenomenal. The quintessential Hip-Hop album.
  2. moem.
    Aug 27, 2007
    10
    Classic record.
  4. EdwardH
    Sep 11, 2007
    10
    He is a freekin' genius I have neva seen anyone outshine UGK not anyone, neva eva. But he doez it, his like tha lyrical perfection of He is a freekin' genius I have neva seen anyone outshine UGK not anyone, neva eva. But he doez it, his like tha lyrical perfection of Nas, Kanye West, and Jay z all in one. One of NY'z Finest, correction one of tha rap games finest, pure genius and raw rappin' talent dat is true and really really inspirational. Keep doin' yo thang man. Its rappers Iike you dat I live 2 hear in rap muzik.… Expand
  5. TroyM
    Aug 22, 2007
    9
    It's nice none the less, just a step behind "Reflection Eternal", but if you know nothing about Talib Kweli, this is the perfect cd to It's nice none the less, just a step behind "Reflection Eternal", but if you know nothing about Talib Kweli, this is the perfect cd to introduce you to one of the greatest emcees you will ever here in you life, don't sleep on this one… Expand
  6. spookyx
    Aug 23, 2007
    9
    Solid from begining to end
  7. [Anonymous]
    Aug 23, 2007
    8
    A huge step up from his last 'legit' album, The Beautiful Struggle, although not quite at Reflection Eternal level.
  8. Brandon
    Aug 26, 2007
    8
    Refreshing. If you're tired of the same ol' same ol'....get this album.

See all 10 User Reviews

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