New York-rapparen Talib Kweli har genom årens lopp släppt otaliga soloprojekt, men även flera samarbetsskivor med både producenter och rappare; Yasiin Bey (Black Star), Hi-Tek (Reflection Eternal), Madlib, 9th Wonder och Styles P. Under pandemin har Talib Kweli arbetat på att färdigställa ett nytt Black Star-projekt i samarbete med Madlib.

Innan ett Black Star-projekt materialiserar släpper Talib Kweli nu samarbetsprojektet “Gotham”, där Brooklyn-MC:n slagit sina påsar ihop med legendariske DITC-producenten/rapparen Diamond D. Förutom att ha släppt det ikoniska debutalbumet “Stunts, Blunts & Hiphop” (1992) har Diamond producerat otaliga artister, däribland Fugees, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, Raekwon, Rapsody, Pharoahe Monch, Fat Joe m.fl. I ett pressmeddelande kommenterar Talib Kweli samarbetet med Diamond D:

“One of the first well-known producers to ever show me love in this music business was the legend Diamond D. I was raised on his music, from his solo work to the incredible contributions he’s made on the albums of others like Big L, Yasiin Bey, A Tribe Called Quest, Fat Joe, Fugees and many others. As a Bronx native, his sound represents the best, most original hip-hop in the world. New York City”

Diamond D berättar vidare om hur projektet kom till:

“Talib was in LA for a while working and I sent him about ten-tracks in total. When I saw him in LA a few weeks later, he had already recorded about eight demos. He told me that when he heard the tracks, sonically, they took him back to NYC and that organic mind space really inspired him to write and record. That’s the catalyst which induced the formation of Gotham. I look forward to hearing what the fan’s favorite tracks are from the project.”

På albumet gästar Busta Rhymes, Skyzoo, John Forte, NIKO IS och Nire’ Alldai.