Hi-Tek, Hi-Teknology 3

reviewed by dave heaton

Hip-hop producer Hi-Tek, renowned for his work back in the day with Talib Kweli and Mos Def, returns with his third solo album, Hi-teknology 3. (I’ll give you three guesses what the first two albums were called). It strikes less of a hip-hop/R&B balance than the first two. Though he starts with an R&B ballad and scatters a few more about, it’s mostly hip-hop, with a slightly rougher, tougher overall tone. There’s also a larger emphasis on up-and-coming MCs. It’s a grab-bag album in the end, though, without one dominant theme or style. Hi-Tek’s beats are less distinctive than ever, and his guest MCs and singers are generally even less notable than that.

If there’s an overall theme here it’s creativity, from the intro where a great artist is born (Hi-Tek himself, of course) to the anthem “My Piano”, featuring Ghostface Killah, Raekwon and Dion. That song has promise, but underwhelms, which is unfortunately also the case with this whole album. Talib Kweli at least shows his trademark language-twisting skills on “Time”. “Back on the Grind” features decent street-survival verses by Sean Kingston, but a terrible vocal hook for its chorus. Tracks featuring less-known MCs lke Push Montana, Chip the Rippa and LEP Count fall flat.

In the midst of all of this unfortunate blandness stands one track that shows promise: “Come Get It (Tekstrumentals)”, a moody, slightly futuristic though somewhat repetitive instrumental. Instead of creating another volume of lackluster collaborations, maybe he should focus his energy into an instrumental album – let that production evolve into something of its own.

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