EvolutionHipHop : Featured Artists : Talib Kweli

Talib Kweli hails from Brooklyn, New York. I knew about Talib's work with Mos Def on the Black Star album, but I took notice of him on Soundbombing II (1999). As a member of Reflection Eternal (collaboration with Cincinnati-based DJ/producer Hi-Tek) Soundbombing contained the songs "Chaos" featuring Bahamadia and "On Mission". Talib's verses were lyrical standouts on the Rawkus roster of featured artists.

Black Star (1998) was Talib's first album release with fellow Brooklyn emcee Mos Def. The album's standout songs include "Definition", "Lions of Hip-Hop" and "Respiration". For avid rap listeners, this introduction cemented both Mos Def and Talib Kweli as respected emcees.

In 2000, the Reflection Eternal album Train of Thought was released. The album's standout songs include "Move Somethin'", "The Blast", "This Means You" featuring Mos Def, "Ghetto Afterlife" and "Soul Rebels" featuring De La Soul.

Talib released his first solo album Quality (2002) to much critical acclaim. The album was highlighted by the hit single "Get By", but also includes "Waitin' For The DJ" featuring Bilal, "Shot Body", "Good To You" & "Joy" with Mos Def.

In 2004, he released The Beautiful Struggle. This album has a more social-conscious driven theme featuring the songs "I Try" featuring Mary J. Blige, "Never Been In Love" and "Black Girl Pain" with Jean Grae.

In 2007, Talib started his record label Blacksmith. He released his third solo album Eardrum. The lead single 'Hot Thing' pays homage to the special women in our lives. The video was a take on the Hewlett Packard ad campaign. Other stand-out tracks include "Say Something" f. Jean Grae, "Country Cousins" with UGK, "In The Mood" f. Kanye and "More Or Less".

Kweli is also a member of Idle Warship, a musical trio with Philadelphia singer Res, and Canadian singer/rapper Graph Nobel.

Reflection Eternal reunited for an official album in 2010 called Revolutions Per Minute. The first single "Back Again" was the stand-out track.

Talib Kweli's latest album Gutter Rainbows came out in 2011. Notables tracks include "Palookas" featuring Sean Price, "I'm On One" produced by Khrysis and "Friends And Family".

Future projects include more Idle Worship songs, another solo album entitled Prisoner of Conscious and an album with producer Madlib called Liberation 2.

- Dogmatic

Blacksmith [Label]