Gutter Rainbows

Gutter Rainbows
Studio album by Talib Kweli
Released	January 25, 2011
Recorded	2010
Genre	Alternative hip hop
Length	49:13
Label	Blacksmith Music, Javotti Media, 3D
Producer	88-Keys, M-Phazes, Shuko, Marco Polo, S1, Khrysis, 6th Sense, Ski Beatz, E. Jones, Nick Speed, Blaq Toven, Oh No, Maurice Brown, Drum Dreamers, Patrick "Ty’neg" Mathore
Talib Kweli chronology
Eardrum (2007) Gutter Rainbows (2011) Prisoner of Conscious (2013)

Gutter Rainbows is the fourth studio album by American hip hop artist Talib Kweli. The album was released on January 25, 2011, by Blacksmith Music and Javotti Media. The album was originally intended to be released in only a digital format. However, on November 16, 2010, it was announced that Duck Down Records would step in to see the album got a CD release.^[1] This included an import edition and a special edition with extras.^[2]

Reception

Critical response

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	(71/100)[3]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AbsolutePunk	86%[4]
Consequence of Sound	[5]
DJBooth	[6]
Los Angeles Times	[7]
Paste	(6.8/10)[8]
Pitchfork Media	(7.4/10)[9]
PopMatters	[10]
RapReviews	(8.5/10)[11]
Rolling Stone	[12]
Spin	(7/10)[13]

Gutter Rainbows was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. The album holds a score of 71 out of 100 from Metacritic based on "generally favorable reviews".^[3] HipHopDX gave it a score of three out of five and called it "a fairly easy spin, and can go into the listener's steady rotation in a pinch. That being said, this feels a bit like a subdued version of Eardrum."^[14] BBC Music gave it a favorable review and said, "This is an odd thing to say, given the dumbness of so many contemporary rap songs--is that Kweli tries to cram too much awareness into his lines at the expense of rhymes and flow. But trying a little too hard to find enlightenment can be forgiven when it comes from within a genre that often tips bravado ahead of insight."^[15] However, some reviews are very average or mixed: URB gave it three stars out of five and said, "Talib seems to be coasting just a bit on this cut-and-paste session. As in, from a pure musical standpoint, outside of a few of repeat-worthy tracks, Gutter Rainbows is no cure for your current cabin fever."^[16] No Ripcord gave it a score of six stars out of ten and said that it "hovers between a mainstream and an indie vibe, embracing neither and potentially isolating both audiences."^[17] Tiny Mix Tapes gave it a score of two stars out of five and said, "Kweli still has an ear for beats, and despite some particular low points here, his lyrics were always overshadowed by his flow, which is as sharp as ever."^[18]

Commercial performance

In its first week, the album sold 13,900 copies in the United States.^[19] In the first two weeks after its release, the album sold a total of 19,000 copies in the United States.^[20]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"After the Rain"	C. Njapa, T. Greene, T. Ibrahim	88-Keys	1:27
2.	"Gutter Rainbows"	M. Landon, T. Greene, R. Mandell	M-Phazes	4:11
3.	"So Low"	C. Bauss, T. Greene, M. Wright	Shuko	3:15
4.	"Palookas" (featuring Sean Price)	M. Bruno, T. Greene, S. Price	Marco Polo	3:58
5.	"Mr. International" (featuring Nigel Hall)	L. Griffin, T. Greene, N. Hall	S1	3:37
6.	"I'm On One"	C. Tyson, T. Greene	Khrysis	3:55
7.	"Wait for You" (featuring Kendra Ross)	L. Griffin, T. Greene, K. Ross	S1	3:46
8.	"Ain't Waiting" (featuring Outasight)	M. Kawesch, T. Greene, R. Andrew	6th Sense	3:58
9.	"Cold Rain"	D. Willis, T. Greene	Ski Beatz	2:36
10.	"Friends & Family"	E. Jones, T. Greene	E. Jones	3:58
11.	"Tater Tot"	N. Speed, T. Greene	Nick Speed	2:57
12.	"How You Love Me" (featuring Blaq Toven)	A. Ranson, T. Greene	Blaq Toven	4:05
13.	"Uh Oh" (featuring Jean Grae)	M. Jackson, T. Greene, T. Ibrahim	Oh No	4:16
14.	"Self Savior" (featuring Chace Infinite)	M. Brown, T. Greene	Maurice Brown	3:14

iTunes deluxe edition bonus tracks[21]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"How You Love Me" (live from BK Bowl) (featuring Blaq Toven)	A. Ranson, T. Greene	Blaq Toven	3:46
16.	"Go Now" (featuring Iron Solomon and Jean Grae)	P. Mathore, T. Greene, T. Ibrahim	Ty’neg of Drum Dreamers	4:37

Amazon bonus track[22]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"GMB (Grown Man Business)"	T. Greene, E. Jones	E. Jones	5:06

Personnel

Credits for Gutter Rainbows adapted from CD booklet.

Richard Andrew — vocals Steve Baughman — mixing Christoph Bauss — producer Maurice Brown — producer, trumpet Marco Bruno — producer Kevin Calloway — session coordinator Luis Cato — bass Jarriel Carter — horn arrangements John Cave — guitar Brian Cockerham — bass Adam Deitch — drums Jon Dixon — synthesizer Raymond Angry — keyboard Nate Jones — bass Drew Friedman — executive producer Michael Geldreich — piano Mike Gibney — mixing Talib Greene — vocals, executive producer Larry Griffin — producer, horn arrangements Nigel Hall — vocals, piano Tsidi Ibrahim — vocals, additional vocals Borahm Lee — keyboard Michael Jackson — producer Aaron Johnson — vocals Daru Jones — drums Eric Jones — producer

Michael Kawesch — producer Chris Koltay — engineer Eric Krasno — guitar Mark Landon — producer Alby Cohen - Recording Engineer on Tracks, 1-3, 5-9, 13-14 Mike L. LaValle — bass, guitar Rob Mandell — instrumentation Patrick Mathore — producer Caleb McCampbell — co-producer, additional producer, additional keys Aaron Merkin — vocals Joe Nardone — mixing Winston Nelson — rhodes, flute Charles Njapa — producer, additional vocals Sean Price — vocals Anthony Ransom — producer, vocals, publishing Kendra Ross — vocals Christopher Tyson — producer Maurizio Sera — mixing Liu Sing — publishing Nicholas Speed — producer, programming Brady Watt — bass Tony Williams — vocals David Willis — producer Mike Wyatt — engineer Harrison Young — piano James Roberts — additional vocals

Charts

Chart (2011)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[23]	29
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[24]	7
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[25]	4
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[26]	25

References

1. "Talib Kweli To Release "Gutter Rainbows" On January 25, 2011". HipHopDX. 2010-12-24. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
2. "Talib Kweli Talks Gutter Rainbows: ‘The Music Industry Doesn’t Exist’". MTV. 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
3. "Critic Reviews for Gutter Rainbows". Metacritic. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
4. Ian Walker (2011-01-25). "Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows - Album Review". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
5. Madden, Michael (2011-02-28). "Talib Kweli – Gutter Rainbows". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
6. "Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows | Album Review, Stream". DJBooth. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
7. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/01/album-review-talib-kwelis-gutter-rainbows.html
8. "Talib Kweli: Gutter Rainbows :: Music :: Reviews :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
9. "Talib Kweli: Gutter Rainbows | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 2011-01-26. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
10. "Talib Kweli: Gutter Rainbows". PopMatters. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
11. "Feature for February 1st, 2011 - Talib Kweli's "Gutter Rainbows"". Rapreviews.com. 2011-02-01. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
12. Rosen, Jody (2011-02-03). "Talib Kweli Gutter Rainbows Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
13. SPIN. "Talib Kweli, ‘Gutter Rainbows’ (Javotti Media/3D)". SPIN. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
14. "Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows". HipHopDX. 2011-01-24. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
15. "Music - Review of Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows". BBC. 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
16. "Talib Kweli, Gutter Rainbows | URB.COM". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on January 25, 2011. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
17. "Talib Kweli: Gutter Rainbows - Music Review". No Ripcord. 2011-02-02. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
18. Morris, David (2015-05-21). "Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
19. "Nicki Minaj Surpasses Kanye in Overall Sales". XXL Magazine. February 2, 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
20. ALLEN JACOBS (February 9, 2011). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 2/6/2011". Hip Hop DX. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
21. "Gutter Rainbows (Deluxe Edition) by Talib Kweli on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
22. "Gutter Rainbows (Amazon Bonus Album) [Explicit]: Talib Kweli: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
23. "Talib Kweli – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Talib Kweli. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
24. "Talib Kweli – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Talib Kweli. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
25. "Talib Kweli – Chart history" Billboard Independent Albums for Talib Kweli. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
26. "Talib Kweli – Chart history" Billboard Top Tastemaker Albums for Talib Kweli. Retrieved October 23, 2014.

External links

• Gutter Rainbows at Metacritic