Reflection Eternal

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Reflection Eternal

Origin	Brooklyn, New York; Cincinnati, Ohio
Years active	1997 – present
Genres	Hip Hop
Labels	Rawkus Records Blacksmith Records
Members	Talib Kweli Hi-Tek

Reflection Eternal is a hip hop duo composed by rapper Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek. They released their first, and only album, Train of Thought in 2000.

1 Biography
2 Non-album Tracks
- 2.1 Reflection Eternal Tracks
- 2.2 Collaborations
3 Discography
- 3.1 Singles

[edit] Biography

The duo of Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek met in Tek's native Cincinnati, Ohio, following the release of the Hi-Tek/Mood collaboration "Hustle on the Side". Kweli and Hi-Tek made their first official collaboration in 1997 on Mood's debut album, Doom, on the tracks "Tunnel Bound" and "Industry Lies". That same year, the two formed as Reflection Eternal, and signed to upstart underground hip hop label Rawkus Records. The tracks from their debut single, "Fortified Live" b/w "2000 Seasons", were included on the Rawkus Records compilation Soundbombing in October 1997. In 1998, Kweli and his high school friend, fellow Rawkus Records artist Mos Def, formed the duo Black Star, and released their first, and only album, Black Star, to rave reviews. Hi-Tek provided production for a number of songs on the album, including the singles "Definition" and "Respiration". The album put the three at the forefront of the newly revived underground hip hop scene, and was followed by a number of acclaimed collaborations and albums. Kweli and Hi-Tek reconnected in 2000 for the release of their debut album, Train of Thought. Though highly acclaimed, the release did not receive a significant amount of commercial attention, despite the success of the rap hits "Move Somethin'" and "The Blast". Following the Train of Thought album, the duo split for solo projects, beginning with Hi-Tek's Hi-Teknology, released in 2001. The album didn't receive as much attention or as many sales as Train of Thought, though the single "Round & Round" became a crossover hit in 2002. Kweli released his first solo album, Quality, in late 2002. Hi-Tek was not involved with the project's production, instead featuring beats from artists like Kanye West, DJ Scratch, DJ Quik, Ayatollah and J Dilla. The Kanye West-produced single "Get By" became Kweli's biggest success, charting on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2003. Kweli's second solo album, 2004's The Beautiful Struggle, saw the duo working together once again, with three tracks produced by Hi-Tek. Kweli will release his next album, Eardrum, in late 2006. Also in late '06, Hi-Tek will be releasing the follow-up to his debut, Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip, on Babygrande Records.

[edit] Non-album Tracks

[edit] Reflection Eternal Tracks

"Fortified Live" (appears on the Soundbombing compilation, 1997)
"2000 Seasons" (also appears on the Soundbombing compilation, 1997)
"The Manifesto" (appears on Lyricist Lounge, Volume One compilation, 1998)
"Chaos" (appears on the Soundbombing 2 compilation, 1999)
"On Mission" (also appears on the Soundbombing 2 compilation, 1999)
"The Express" (from the "The Express" single, 2000)
"Train of Thought" (from the "The Blast" single, 2000)
"Down for the Count (Solo Version)" (from the "The Blast" single, 2000)
"The Human Element" (from the Unbound Project, Volume 1 compilation, 2000)
"Sharp Shooters" (from the Lyricist Lounge 2 compilation, 2000)
"Bridge to 'Bama (Remix)" (from the Soulive single "Bridge to 'Bama", 2001)

[edit] Collaborations

"Industry Lies" (from the Mood album Doom, 1997)
Songs from the Mos Def & Talib Kweli Black Star album, 1998
"Transmorgify" & "Empty Pages" (from the compilation Mission Control Presents, 2000; both songs are by Mood)
Songs from the Hi-Tek album Hi-Teknology, 2001
Songs from the Talib Kweli album The Beautiful Struggle, 2004
Songs from the Hi-Tek album Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip, 2006
Songs from the Talib Kweli album Eardrum, 2006

[edit] Discography

Album cover	Album information
	Black Star (by Mos Def & Talib Kweli) Released: August 26, 1998 Billboard 200 chart position: #53 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #13 Singles: "Definition"/"Twice Inna Lifetime", "Respiration"
	Train of Thought (by Reflection Eternal) Released: October 17, 2000 Billboard 200 chart position: #17 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #5 Singles: "Some Kind of Wonderful", "Move Somethin'"/"Good Mourning", "The Blast"/"Down For The Count"
	Hi-Teknology (by Hi-Tek) Released: May 8, 2001 Billboard 200 chart position: #66 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #12 Singles: "Round & Round"/"All I Need Is You", "The Sun God"/"Get Back Pt. 2"
	Quality (by Talib Kweli) Released: November 19, 2002 Billboard 200 chart position: #21 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #6 Singles: "Waitin' for the DJ"/"Guerilla Monsoon Rap", "Good To You"/"Put It In The Air", "Get By"
	The Beautiful Struggle (by Talib Kweli) Released: September 28, 2004 Billboard 200 chart position: #14 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #3 Singles: "I Try", "Never Been In Love"/"A Game"/"Black Girl Pain"
	Right About Now: The Official Sucka Free Mix CD (by Talib Kweli) Released: November 22, 2005 Billboard 200 chart position: #113 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #24 Singles: "Flash Gordon", "Fly That Knot"/"Who Got It"
	Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip (by Hi-Tek) Released: October 17, 2006 Billboard 200 chart position: #38 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #8 Singles: "Where It Started At (NY)"/"Can We Go Back"
	Eardrum (by Talib Kweli) Released: January 2007 Billboard 200 chart position: R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: Singles: "Listen!!!"

[edit] Singles

Year	Song	U.S. Hot 100	U.S. R&B	U.S. Rap	Album
1998	"Definition" (Black Star)	#60	#31	#3	Black Star
1999	"Respiration" (Black Star feat. Common)		#54	#6	Black Star
2000	"Move Somethin'" (Reflection Eternal)		#32	#1	Train of Thought
2001	"The Blast" (Reflection Eternal feat. Vinia Mojica)		#48	#2	Train of Thought
2001	"The Sun God" (Hi-Tek feat. Common & Vinia Mojica)		#77		Hi-Teknology
2002	"Round & Round" (Hi-Tek feat. Jonell)	#62	#13	#1	Hi-Teknology
2002	"Good to You" (Talib Kweli)		#95		Quality
2002	"Waitin' for the DJ" (Talib Kweli feat. Bilal)		#77		Quality
2003	"Get By" (Talib Kweli)	#77	#29	#16	Quality
2004	"I Try" (Talib Kweli feat. Mary J. Blige)		#77		The Beautiful Struggle