Who Defined “Jewish”? The Deeper Battle Over Identity and Divine Authority By: Michael Taylor | ThaWilsonBlock Magazine In today’s world of rewritten truths and rebranded identities, few topics are more misunderstood—or more manipulated—than the question: Who is a Jew? For centuries, institutions, cultures, and religious authorities have claimed the right to define Jewishness. But beneath the noise of tradition and politics lies a deeper issue—a spiritual one. Because the question isn't just how “Jewish” is defined. The real question is: Who or what has the authority to define it in the first place? --- The Origin of the Covenant When we go back to the beginning, the answer is simple and undeniable. The Most High—YHWH—established a covenant with Abraham, reaffirmed it through Isaac, and fulfilled it through Jacob, who was renamed Israel. The covenant was not based on culture or customs. It was based on divine election and lineage. > “I will establish my covenant betw...
J. Rawls Reunites With Talib Kweli for His 10th Solo LP “The Confidence of Knowing” (Album Review)
Talib Kweli is a 48 year old MC, songwriter, entrepreneur & activist from Brooklyn, New York notable for being 1/2 of the duos Black Star & Reflection Eternal with Yasiin Bey & Hi-Tek respectively. His solo debut Quality was released in the fall of 2002 to significant acclaim through Rawkus Records following Black Star’s eponymous debut & Reflection Eternal’s debut album Train of Thought, the sophomore effort The Beautiful Struggle received more moderate reception although songs like “Broken Glass” & “I Try” always stood out & Eardrum has to be my 2nd favorite album from Kweli’s behind the debut. Gutter Rainbows as well as Prisoner of Conscious & Gravitas were all received positively albeit not much as Quality & Eardrum, but Fuck the Money left the public divided & Indie 500 produced by The Soul Council was a considerable improvement as was Radio Silence. Last we heard Talib on his own excluding Gotham’s eponymous debut & of course Black Star & Liberation’s sophomore efforts no fear of time* & Liberation 2 was last Christmas when the Holy Daze EP which was ok, so I was intrigued in hearing that J. Rawls was fully producing Kweli’s 10th album.
“Breath, Eyes, Memory” is a laidback opener explaining the difference between European art & African art whereas the title track featuring Blu warmly talks about having to be brave enough to be yourself. “Native Sons” goes full-fledged boom bap paying homage to the Native Tongues collective just before the jazzy, drumless “We Outside” featuring TriState himself finds the 2 talking about never being divided.
As for “To the Ghetto”, we have Kweli over synths mixed with kicks & snares telling us he really doesn’t have any friends in this business only trusting a select few while “SWAT” by Coast Kweli gets on the hardcore tip letting y’all know who be up in the house tonight. “Turnstyle” featuring Buckshot & Skyzoo keeps things in the basement taking y’all back to ‘92, but then “Shalamar” featuring Ras Kass getting in a bag similar to the titular soul trio.
“Pay Homage” featuring IDK, Phil Da Agony & Planet Asia soulfully advises to respect the foundation while “Love for Life” draws from neo-soul discussing the magic in comforting one another. “Steve Austin” featuring Diani finds the father/daughter duo slickly boasting while “Sing into the Sky” featuring Niko Is returns to the boom bap doing simply that until they fall. “It’s Workin’” ends on a jazzy note talking about what you’re doing is working out.
All 3 of the duo albums that Kweli has been involved with in this current decade so far all been near-perfect in their own rights & I don’t think The Confidence of Knowing is a classic per se, but I do think that’s significantly better than the holiday EP we got from him almost 9 months ago. Even putting Talib’s social media behavior to the side, he’s still a remarkably talented lyricist & J. Rawls’ production bounces between boom bap & bare jazz loops fluidly.
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