Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations is, for better and worse, the musical equivalent of a Spike Lee joint, filled with the same moments of poignancy and the same pitfalls of self-righteousness. Princeton professor and African-American studies luminary Dr. Cornel West has assembled an impressive and wide-reaching array of musicians including Talib Kweli, Prince, KRS One, Andre 3000, and Gerald Levert in what ultimately amounts to an allstar poetry slam. Musically, the prevailing style throughout is a deftly mixed brand of old and new-school hip-hop that is flawlessly produced and leans toward the laid-back and conversational. However, this is far from being a traditional hip-hop record: West’s collaboration with Prince, “Dear Mr. Man,” and the closing “What A Matter of” are slinky contemporary R&B jams, and West’s “911″ is an almost jazzy reflection with airy percussion and a pair of complimentary acoustic guitars.

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