Talib Kweli

Born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York,{{cite web |last=Rott |first=Ivan |title=Talib Kweli |url=http://rap.about.com/od/artistsmz/p/TalibKwelibio.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213114624/http://rap.about.com/od/artistsmz/p/TalibKwelibio.htm |archive-date=February 13, 2009 |access-date=December 27, 2008 |website=Rap.about.com}} Kweli grew up in a household in Brooklyn's Park Slope. His mother, Brenda Greene, is an English professor at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York, and his father is an administrator at Adelphi University. His younger brother, Jamal Greene, is a professor of constitutional law at Columbia Law School and a graduate of Harvard University and Yale Law School, and former clerk to Justice John Paul Stevens on the Supreme Court.{{cite web |title=Jamal Greene |url= https://www.law.columbia.edu/faculty/jamal-greene |website=Columbia Law School |access-date=October 24, 2018 |language=en}}

As a youth, Kweli was drawn to Afrocentric rappers, such as De La Soul and other members of the Native Tongues Posse whom he had met in high school. Kweli was a student at Cheshire Academy, a boarding school in Connecticut. He was previously a student at Brooklyn Technical High School, and later studied experimental theater at New York University.

Kweli made his debut in 1997, with five featured appearances on Doom, an album by Cincinnati, Ohio, group Mood.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} In Cincinnati, Kweli met Hi-Tek and the two collaborated on a few underground recordings as Reflection Eternal, including "Fortified Live" (1997), and "B-Boy Document 99/Chaos" (1999, featuring The High & Mighty).{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

File:Talib kweli-01-mika.jpg

Shortly afterwards, upon returning to New York, he reconnected with fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def and formed Black Star.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} Kweli brought along Hi-Tek to produce 1998's Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star.{{cite web |last=Westlund |first=Joshua |title=Black Star: Black Star |url=http://www.citypages.com/1998-10-14/music/black-star-black-star/ |publisher=City Pages |date=October 14, 1998 |access-date=February 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100929122224/http://www.citypages.com/1998-10-14/music/black-star-black-star/ |archive-date=September 29, 2010 }} The album, released amidst a late '90s renaissance of conscious, Afrocentric hip hop, was hailed by critics and achieved modest mainstream success.{{cite news |last=Stewart |first=Allison |title=You might not know Talib Kweli, but you should |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/events/ct-ott-0204-talib-kweli-20110204,0,6545530.story |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=February 4, 2011 |access-date=February 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217082652/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/events/ct-ott-0204-talib-kweli-20110204,0,6545530.story |archive-date=February 17, 2011 |url-status=dead }} Kweli and Hi-Tek continued their Reflection Eternal partnership on the 2000 album Train of Thought.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} The album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

An EP, Hip Hop for Respect, was organized by Mos Def and Kweli to speak out against police brutality, specifically, the case of Amadou Diallo.[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p423420|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic chart history] The project released one EP for Rawkus Entertainment. On February 4, 1999, Amadou Diallo was shot 41 times by four police officers while reaching into his pocket for his wallet. Diallo was unarmed. The project aimed to assemble 41 emcees to represent the 41 shots fired. Rappers featured on the EP include Owen Brown, Evil Dee, Kool G. Rap, Rah Digga, Sporty Thievz, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Common, Pharoahe Monch, Posdnuos, Donte and Main Flow of Mood, Nine, Tiye Phoenix, Breezly Brewn' of the Juggaknots, Punchline, Imani Uzuri, El-P and Mr. Len of Company Flow, Jah-Born of Medina Green, John Forté, Mr. Khaliyl, Fre, J-Live, Rubix, Invincible, Wordsworth, A.L., Kofi Taha, Tame One, Jane Doe, Grafh, Shyheim, Channel Live, Wise Intelligent, Cappadonna, Crunch Lo, Rock, Nonchalant, Ras Kass, Dead Prez and Parrish Smith. Producers included Mr. Khaliyl, Organized Noize, and 88-Keys.

In 2001, Kweli and Mos Def, contributed to the Red Hot + Indigo compilation album created by the Red Hot Organization.{{cite web|url=http://www.redhot.org/about/|title=About " Red Hot|access-date=March 9, 2015}} The compilation was a tribute to Duke Ellington, that raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS awareness and fighting the disease. Black Star collaborated with fellow artists John Patton and Ron Carter to record "Money Jungle". In 2002, Kweli contributed to the critically acclaimed Red Hot + Riot, a compilation CD created by the Red Hot Organization in tribute to the music and work of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti.{{cite web|url=http://www.redhot.org/catalog/red-hot-riot/|title=Red Hot + Riot [2002] " Red Hot|access-date=March 9, 2015}} He collaborated with fellow hip hop artists Dead Prez, Jorge Ben, and Bilal to remake the Fela Kuti song "Shuffering and Shmiling", for the album.

File:Black Star - Ilosaarirock 2012.jpg member Mos Def]]

In 2002, Kweli released his first solo album, Quality which featured production from a variety of producers, including DJ Quik and Kanye West.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} The album was met with widespread critical acclaim and received some mainstream attention thanks to the West-produced single "Get By" which peaked at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/talib-kweli-mn0000158801/awards|title=Talib Kweli – Awards – AllMusic|author=Jason Birchmeier|work=AllMusic|access-date=March 9, 2015}} Quality peaked at No. 21 on the US Billboard 200 and at No. 6 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart.

In February 2004, Kweli featured on Kanye West's "Get 'Em High" off of West's debut album The College Dropout.

Kweli made a total of three appearances on Chappelle's Show. He was the second musical guest on the show, which aired on January 29, 2003. For his second appearance, Kweli partnered with Yasiin Bey, as Black Star, for the finale of the show's first season on April 9, 2003. His third and final appearance on the show aired one year later on April 7, 2004.

Kweli was a member of the Spitkicker collective and tours in the early 2000s He produced collaborations with other members of the group, including Dave Chappelle, Pharoahe Monch, De La Soul, and other socially active artists.{{Cite web |last=Harrington |first=Richard |date=July 20, 2000 |title=Spotlight: De Las Soul's Future: 3 CDs and Rising |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/07/21/spotlight/6d7c759e-0a93-4fb2-a25a-63ce471ec9ed/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828191417/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/07/21/spotlight/6d7c759e-0a93-4fb2-a25a-63ce471ec9ed/ |archive-date=August 28, 2017 |access-date=December 25, 2024 |website=Washington Post}}{{Cite news |date=October 2006 |title=Spit Happens |url=http://www.spitkicker.com/spit_5_1/spit_5_1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070723095713/http://www.spitkicker.com/spit_5_1/spit_5_1.pdf |archive-date=July 23, 2007 |access-date=December 26, 2024 |work=Spit |pages=18-19 |volume=5 |issue=1}}

In the summer of 2004, Kweli, along with Bob Moore's Amazing Mongrels, supported the Beastie Boys on their "Challah at Your Boy World Tour". That same summer, appeared on a Dilated Peoples song called "Live on Stage". A live remix was later featured on the video game NBA Street Vol. 2.

In the summer of 2004, Kweli also performed at Dave Chappelle's Block Party, both as a solo act and as one half of Black Star, and he was later featured in the film and soundtrack.

In November 2004, he released his second solo album and final Rawkus release, The Beautiful Struggle, which debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard 200. Kweli responded to Jay-Z's 2003 song "Moment of Clarity" in which Jay-Z rapped: "If skills sold, truth be told/I'd probably be, lyrically, Talib Kweli",{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/25/AR2005112500241.html|title=Talib Kweli, Selling Himself Short|newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=March 9, 2015}} in his own track, "Ghetto Show" featuring Common and Anthony Hamilton by stating "If lyrics sold then truth be told/I'd probably be just as rich and famous as Jay-Z." The album featured much more commercial production, including efforts from The Neptunes, Kanye West and Just Blaze.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

In 2005, Kweli had appeared in an episode of Trippin', a 2005 MTV environmental documentary television series hosted by Cameron Diaz, also featuring Justin Timberlake, and Jimmy Fallon. On the show, said celebrities visit various ecological locales around the world, in particular underprivileged areas of the world. The four of them traveled to Tanzania to visit one of the world's largest and most thriving ecosystems left on the planet, the Serengeti Plain. There, they had gone into the depths of the Serengeti Plain with a few local zoologists at the time.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

In 2005, Kweli released a mixtape-CD with his newly formed Blacksmith Records called Right About Now: The Official Sucka Free Mix CD, a title which is considered a response to the criticism of The Beautiful Struggle.{{cite news |last=Robson |first=Britt |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/25/AR2005112500241.html |title=Talib Kweli, Selling Himself Short |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 27, 2005 |access-date=February 5, 2011}} Some people regard Right About Now as an album because of its availability through commercial sites and its release of two singles. Right About Now also lacks the DJ overlays often accompanied by mixtapes which makes the CD feel more like an album. The album sold 16,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at No. 113 on the Billboard 200.{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Chris |title=System of a Down Make It A Double With Chart-Topping Hypnotize |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1516656/system-down-on-top-again.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605113544/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1516656/system-down-on-top-again.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |publisher=MTV |date=November 30, 2005 |access-date=February 5, 2011}} Sparking some controversy, on Right About Now Kweli sampled Ben Kweller's "In Other Words" for his own song "Ms. Hill". In part seven of Kweller's video podcast series "One Minute Pop Song", Kweller said he found Kweli's use of the song "a little fucked up" due to the fact that it was sampled without permission.{{cite web |title=One Minute Pop Song by Ben Kweller |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCX54oh0p2o |publisher=YouTube |date=September 11, 2006 |access-date=February 5, 2011}} In a similar incident, Kweli reacted with outrage on Twitter when a verse from "Fly Away" was sampled in Peter Andre's track of the same name. Kweli stated, "I protect the integrity of my music like a grizzly protects cubs. Woe to those who actively stand in the way of that."{{cite web | title=Talib Kweli gets riled up about stolen verse, forgets that time he stole a verse|url=http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-news/artists/2012/10/16/talib-kweli-gets-riled-up-about-stolen-verse-forgets-that-time-he-stole-a-chorus/ |publisher=TheMusicNetwork.com |date=October 16, 2012 |access-date=October 16, 2012}} Kweli has not publicly addressed his unauthorized use of Kweller's "In Other Words".{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

File:Talibkweli.jpg

In 2006, Kweli signed a distribution deal with Warner Bros. Records for Blacksmith Records.{{cite web |title=Talib Kweli's Blacksmith Music Splits With Warner Bros. |url=http://www.okayplayer.com/news/Talib-Kwelis-Blacksmith-Music-Splits-With-Warner-Bros.html |publisher=Okayplayer |date=December 30, 2008 |access-date=February 6, 2011 |archive-date=February 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221111303/http://www.okayplayer.com/news/Talib-Kwelis-Blacksmith-Music-Splits-With-Warner-Bros.html |url-status=dead }} Warner Brothers launched an online community via Second Life for Kweli.{{cite news |title=Warner Bros. Records/Blacksmith Launches Virtual Community for Talib Kweli |newspaper=Djbooth |url=http://www.djbooth.net/index/news/entry/warner-bros-records-blacksmith-launches/ |publisher=DjBooth.net |date=October 31, 2006 |access-date=February 6, 2011}} In January, Kweli was featured in a commercial for the NCAA's Big Ten Conference, rapping about the league's basketball teams.{{cite magazine |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/luke_winn/01/06/power.rankings/2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060110123422/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/luke_winn/01/06/power.rankings/2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 10, 2006 |title=Power Rankings: Michigan St. Spartans (11–2) |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=January 6, 2006 |access-date=June 11, 2012}} In February 2006, Kweli provided the voice of the protagonist in the graffiti-themed video game Marc Eckō's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure.{{cite news |last=Saltzman |first=Marc |title=Review:Graffiti game fresh and fun |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/fun.games/02/24/getting.up/index.html |work=CNN |date=February 24, 2006 |access-date=June 11, 2012}} In October 2006, Kweli performed on MTV's Wild 'N Out, hosted by Nick Cannon.{{cite web |title=Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out " After Shows |url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/wild-n-out-the-after-show-talib-kweli/1541905/playlist.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826162126/http://www.mtv.com/videos/wild-n-out-the-after-show-talib-kweli/1541905/playlist.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 26, 2009 |publisher=MTV |date=October 5, 2006 |access-date=February 5, 2011}}

On December 31, 2006, Kweli released nine songs he recorded with underground producer Madlib for free download in conjunction with the web site for Stones Throw Records, the label to which Madlib is signed.{{cite web |title=Stones Throw 10 Year Anniversary Tour |url=http://www.sfstation.com/stones-throw-10-year-anniversary-tour-e25821 |publisher=SF Station |date=October 19, 2006 |access-date=February 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102133635/http://www.sfstation.com/stones-throw-10-year-anniversary-tour-e25821 |archive-date=November 2, 2013 }}{{cite web |title=Madlib at Stones Throw |url=http://www.stonesthrow.com/madlib|publisher=Stones Throw Records |access-date=February 5, 2011}} The album was entitled Liberation, of which Kweli states in an interview with XXL Magazine that releasing the album was liberating to him.

In 2007, the album was made available for purchase.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} In 2007 Kweli signed rapper Jean Grae{{cite news |last=Chinen |first=Nate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/02/arts/music/02grae.html?_r=1 |title=A Hip-Hop Classicist Defies Her Meager Turnout |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 1, 2008 |access-date=June 11, 2012}}{{cite web |last=Clark |first=Kevin |title=Jean Grae: The Jeanius |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/interviews/id.492/title.jean-grae-the-jeanius |publisher=Hip Hop DX |date=November 14, 2005 |access-date=February 5, 2011}} and the group Strong Arm Steady to Blacksmith Records.{{cite web |title=Artists |url=http://www.yearoftheblacksmith.com/artist |publisher=Year of the Blacksmith (TalibKweli.com) |access-date=February 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116215037/http://www.yearoftheblacksmith.com/artist |archive-date=January 16, 2011 }} Also in 2007, Kweli released his third solo album, Eardrum, on August 21. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, supported by the first single, "Listen!!!".Big Dog Status by Thomas Golianopoulos. XXL Magazine. January 2008. Page 82. Kweli embarked on a national Australian tour in October 2007. Eardrum, which featured a mix of mainstream and underground producers like Kanye West, Just Blaze, will.i.am, Nick Speed and Pete Rock,{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} received generally favorable reviews{{cite web |title=Eardrum at Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/kwelitalib/eardrum |website=Metacritic |access-date=February 5, 2011}} and went on to sell 129,000 copies after four weeks.{{cite web |last=Ewing |first=Aliya |title=Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 9/23/07 |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.5751/title.hip-hop-album-sales-week-ending-9-23-07 |publisher=Hip Hop DX |date=September 26, 2007 |access-date=February 4, 2011}} Also in 2007, Kweli released a mixtape, entitled Focus.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} October saw Kweli play one of China's earliest music festivals, the Yue Festival, organised by Split Works, alongside Faithless and Ozomatli.[http://www.spli-t.com/splitworks/yue-festival-2007-talib-kweli-ozomatli-faithless/ Spli-t.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425060454/http://www.spli-t.com/splitworks/yue-festival-2007-talib-kweli-ozomatli-faithless/ |date=April 25, 2011 }} 2007. Retrieved on 2012-15-08

In March 2008, Kweli was featured on MTV's TV show Made as the coach of Colin Colt, a young man who wanted to be made into a rap star.{{cite web |title=Made (Season 8) {{!}} Ep. 13 Rapper: Colin |url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/made-season-8-ep-13-rapper-colin/1579178/playlist.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621085107/http://www.mtv.com/videos/made-season-8-ep-13-rapper-colin/1579178/playlist.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 21, 2009 |publisher=MTV |date=March 19, 2008 |access-date=February 5, 2011}} Also in March, Kweli released his Hostile Gospel video which appeared as the "New Joint of the Day" on BET's 106 & Park.{{cite web|title=BET's 106 & Park Countdown|url=http://c0untd0wn.com/?p=563|website=Countdown.com|access-date=March 22, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402162256/http://c0untd0wn.com/?p=563|url-status=dead}} Kweli was a featured artist on the 9th Wonder and Buckshot album The Formula, released on April 29, 2008 (on the track "Hold It Down").{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} Kweli's Blacksmith Records split with Warner Bros. Records in December 2008. Kweli confirmed to AllHipHop.com that Warner Bros. would still distribute Reflection Eternal and Kweli projects, but not other acts on the Blacksmith label.{{cite web |last=Saint Louis |first=Tai |title=Talib Kweli's Blacksmith Music Splits With Warner Bros. |url=http://www.allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2008/12/29/20770108.aspx |publisher=AllHipHop.com |date=December 29, 2008 |access-date=February 6, 2011}}{{cite web |last=Ortiz |first=Edwin |title=Talib Kweli's Blacksmith Label Splits with Warner Brothers Records |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.8323/title.talib-kweli-s-blacksmith-label-splits-with-warner-brothers-records |publisher=Hip Hop DX |date=December 30, 2008 |access-date=February 6, 2011}} Kweli was featured at the fifth installment of Hot 97 radio personality Peter Rosenberg's acclaimed live interview series "Noisemakers with Peter Rosenberg" on October 21, 2009.{{cite news |title=Talib Kweli Reflects on Career at Noisemakers Event (With Exclusive Video) |newspaper=XXL Magazine |date=October 22, 2009 }} Kweli recorded a mixtape entitled Party Robot with singer Res and musician Graph Nobel under the group alias Idle Warship.{{cite web |last=Langhorne |first=Cyrus |title=Talib Kweli gives "Reflection Eternal II" UPDATE |url=http://www.sohh.com/2009/02/talib_kweli_gives_reflect.html |publisher=Souls of Hip-Hop |date=February 11, 2009 |access-date=February 5, 2011 |archive-date=July 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721201330/http://www.sohh.com/2009/02/talib_kweli_gives_reflect.html |url-status=dead }} The mixtape was released as a free download on the website for Kweli's label Blacksmith with two different cover art options in late 2009.{{cite web |last=Ortiz |first=Edwin|title=DX News Bits: Eternia, Idle Warship |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10160/title.dx-news-bits-eternia-idle-warship |publisher=Hip Hop DX |date=November 19, 2009 |access-date=February 5, 2011}} There were videos shot for two of the songs from the album: "Bedroom Lights" and "Black Snake Moan".{{cite web |title=Talib Kweli's Idle Warship – Bedroom lights |url=http://rothstien.com/2009/12/talib-kwelis-idle-warship-bedroom-lights/ |publisher=Rothstein.com |date=December 8, 2009 |access-date=February 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715204500/http://rothstien.com/2009/12/talib-kwelis-idle-warship-bedroom-lights/ |archive-date=July 15, 2011 }}{{cite web |title=Idle Warship (Talib Kweli + Res) |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/videos/id.1909/title.idle-warship-talib-kweli-res-black-snake-moan |publisher=Hip Hop DX |date=November 26, 2008 |access-date=February 5, 2011}}

In February 2009, it was announced that Kweli would be featured in the graphic novel-turned-animated series Blokhedz on Missiong.com, voicing the lead part of the character Blak.{{cite web |title=We're on a Mission, G. |url=http://blokhedz.tv/?p=588 |publisher=Blokhedz.TV |date=February 2, 2009 |access-date=February 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722013110/http://blokhedz.tv/?p=588 |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=DJ Khalil + Talib Kweli working on Blokhedz ACT II |url=http://vimeo.com/5991734 |publisher=Vimeo |date=August 19, 2009 |access-date=February 5, 2011}} Additionally, Kweli is a spokesperson and mentor for P'Tones Records a non-profit after school music program whose mission is "to create constructive opportunities for urban youth through no-cost music programs."{{cite web |title=P Tones Records – Spokespersons |url=http://www.ptonesrecords.com/spokespeople.html |publisher=P Tones Records |access-date=February 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224181151/http://www.ptonesrecords.com/spokespeople.html |archive-date=December 24, 2010 |url-status=dead }}

Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek released a second Reflection Eternal album titled Revolutions Per Minute on May 18, 2010. Revolutions per Minute was recorded at Electric Lady Studios. It is their second album after a 10-year hiatus. The album received generally positive reviews from most music critics, based on an aggregate score of 80/100 from Metacritic.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/reflectioneternal/revolutionsperminute|title=Revolutions per Minute (2010): Reviews|website=Metacritic|access-date=February 5, 2011}}

Gutter Rainbows, Kweli's fourth solo album, was the first to be released by his newly formed Javotti Media. The album was originally intended to be a digital-only release, however, on November 16, 2010, Duck Down Records announced its plans to offer Gutter Rainbows a CD release outside US.{{cite web |author=J-23 |title=Talib Kweli To Release "Gutter Rainbows" On January 25, 2011 |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.12784/title.talib-kweli-to-release-gutter-rainbows-on-january-25-2011 |publisher=Hip Hop DX |access-date=February 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002071136/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.12784/title.talib-kweli-to-release-gutter-rainbows-on-january-25-2011 |archive-date=October 2, 2012 |url-status=dead }} This included an import edition and a special edition with extras.{{cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Jayson |title=Talib Kweli Talks Gutter Rainbows: 'The Music Industry Doesn't Exist' |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657237/talib-kweli-gutter-rainbows.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205145809/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657237/talib-kweli-gutter-rainbows.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 5, 2011 |publisher=MTV |access-date=February 4, 2011}} In its first week, the album sold 13,900 copies in the United States.{{cite web |title=Nicki Minaj Surpasses Kanye in Overall Sales |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2011/02/nicki-minaj-surpasses-kanye-west-in-overall-sales-on-charts/ |publisher=XXL Magazine |date=February 2, 2011 |access-date=February 4, 2011}} In December 2010, Kweli appeared with Darryl McDaniels, Mix Master Mike and Ahmet Zappa on a cover of Frank Zappa's "Willie the Pimp" for The Frank Zappa AAAFNRAAAA Birthday Bundle 2010.

In 2011, Kweli was featured on the soundtrack for the film Beat the World with the song "Infinite Love".{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/beat-world-original-soundtrack/id433793704|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912035627/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/beat-world-original-soundtrack/id433793704|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 12, 2014|title=iTunes – Music – Beat the World (The Original Soundtrack) by Various Artists|work=iTunes|access-date=March 9, 2015}}

Kweli's fifth solo album, Prisoner of Conscious, earned its title because of Kweli's constant labeling as a "conscious rapper." It also pays tribute to Nigerian reggae artist Majek Fashek's album Prisoner of Conscience. Before the release of Gutter Rainbows, Kweli began working on P.O.C., and put cuts originally intended for latter on Rainbows. Upon its May 7, 2013, release Prisoner of Conscious was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics, and debuted at number 48 on the Billboard 200 chart.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23951/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-5-12-2013|title=Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 5/12/2013|magazine=HipHopDX |access-date=May 14, 2013}} The album featured guest appearances from Nelly, Miguel, Currensy, Kendrick Lamar, and Busta Rhymes. With production by RZA, J. Cole, Oh No, Harry Fraud, and others. The selection of the tracks on this album were more experimental and worked towards illuminating musicality. Kweli went on to release music videos for "Hamster Wheel", "Upper Echelon", and "Come Here" and more.

In August 2013, Kweli announced that in 2014 he would release his next studio album, Gravitas. The album included guest appearances from Raekwon, Black Thought, and The Under Achievers with production by OhNo, Statik Selektah, and J Dilla.

In the summer of 2015, Kweli released another free album entitled Fuck The Money featuring guest appearances from Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump, Miguel, Styles P and others.

In November 2016, he released a compilation mixtape with to promote Javotti Media's developing artists, Awful People Are Great at Parties.{{cite news |url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/stream-talib-kweli-and-friends-new-album-awful-people-are-great-at-parties-news.25205.html? |title=Talib Kweli releases Awful People Are Great at Parties |last=Schwartz |first=Danny |date=November 3, 2016 |website=Hotnewhiphop |access-date=November 3, 2016}}

2017 saw two releases from Kweli; The Seven,{{Cite news|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/talib-kweli-and-styles-p-the-seven-new-mixtape.116964.html|title=Talib Kweli & Styles P – The Seven [Album Stream]|work=HotNewHipHop|access-date=November 29, 2017}} a joint effort with Styles P of The Lox in April and his eighth solo album, Radio Silence in November.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/talib-kweli-radio-silence/|title=Talib Kweli: Radio Silence Album Review {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|language=en|access-date=November 29, 2017}}

Kweli published his memoir, Vibrate Higher: A Rap Story, in 2021.{{Cite web|title=MCD {{!}} Announcing Talib Kweli's VIBRATE HIGHER!|url=https://www.mcdbooks.com/news/announcing-talib-kweli-s-vibrate-higher|access-date=October 28, 2020|website=MCD|language=en}}

Partnering with Uproxx in June 2019, Talib Kweli launched a weekly podcast called The People's Party with co-host Jasmin Leigh. The show has aired over one hundred episodes to date. Guests include DMX, Ice Cube and The Game.{{Citation|title=People's Party With Talib Kweli: Best Of The First 100 Episodes Feat. DMX, Ice Cube, The Game & More| date=June 14, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT8N_jWkiAc| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/dT8N_jWkiAc| archive-date=November 14, 2021 | url-status=live|language=en|access-date=July 13, 2021}}{{cbignore}}

During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic, Talib teamed up with former collaborator Yasiin Bey and longtime friend Dave Chappelle to work on Talib's second podcast venture, The Midnight Miracle.{{Cite magazine|last=Blistein|first=Jon|date=May 11, 2021|title=Dave Chappelle, Talib Kweli, Yasiin Bey Launch New Podcast 'The Midnight Miracle'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/dave-chapelle-talib-kweli-yasiin-bey-podcast-the-midnight-miracle-1167892/|access-date=July 13, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}

He also confirmed that he plans to reunite with Madlib to offer Liberation 2 and Mos Def for a sophomore Black Star release.{{cite web|last=Blanco|first=Alvin|date=January 25, 2011|title=Talib Kweli: Speak Of Freedom|url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/groove-blogpost.aspx?post=4745e330-e2ad-49d9-9cc9-a8a19b2f532e|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714125416/http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/groove-blogpost.aspx?post=4745e330-e2ad-49d9-9cc9-a8a19b2f532e|archive-date=July 14, 2011|access-date=February 5, 2011|publisher=MSN Entertainment}}

In 2011, Kweli founded Javotti Media, an independent label. Signed artists have included Cory Mo, Jessica Care Moore, K'Valentine and Brazilian MC Niko Is.{{cite web|url=http://www.javottimedia.com/|title=Javotti Media|website=Javottimedia.com|language=en-US|access-date=October 26, 2018}}

In 2014, Kweli's former collaborator, Res, offered a song featuring Kweli, without his permission, as a reward for crowdfunding donations. In 2018, Res posted screenshots of Kweli apologizing for attempting to kiss her to her Instagram account. She also claimed Kweli held her career hostage for rejecting his sexual advances.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/talib-kweli-faces-sexual-harassment-accusations-from-former-protege-res-629864/|title=Talib Kweli Faces Sexual Harassment Accusations From Former Protégé Res|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 4, 2018}} The case was dismissed by Judge Carolyn Wade.{{cite web |last1=Minsker |first1=Evan |title=Talib Kweli Battles Ex-Collaborator Res in Court, on Twitter Over Sexual Harassment Claim |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/talib-kweli-battles-ex-collaborator-res-in-court-on-twitter-over-sexual-harassment-claim/ |website=Pitchfork |date=June 3, 2018 |access-date=May 1, 2020}}

Kweli was accused of harassing a Twitter user in July 2020 after the user accused him, along with other popular figures in music, of only dating or marrying light-skinned black women. The user tweeted a message that did not specifically mention Kweli by name.[https://thejasminebrand.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Talib-Kweli-Maya-Moody-the-jasmine-brand-4.jpg Maya Moody] July 2020 Kweli later announced on Instagram that he was leaving Twitter "for the green pastures of Patreon."{{Cite web|last=Curto|first=Justin|date=July 24, 2020|title=Talib Kweli Is Off Twitter After Harassing One Woman for Weeks|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/07/talib-kweli-twitter-maya-moody.html|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=Vulture.com|language=en-us}} A spokesperson for Twitter stated that Kweli's account had been permanently suspended "after repeated violations of the Twitter rules."{{Cite web|last=Sodomsky|first=Sam|title=Talib Kweli Permanently Suspended From Twitter After Alleged Harassment|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/talib-kweli-permanently-suspended-from-twitter-after-alleged-harassment/|access-date=August 5, 2020|website=Pitchfork|date=August 4, 2020|language=en-us}}{{Cite news|last=Mowatt|first=Robyn|date=August 5, 2020|title=Talib Kweli's Twitter Account Has Been Permanently Suspended After Weeks of Targeted Harassment|url=https://www.okayplayer.com/news/twitter-suspends-talib-kweli-following-targeted-harassment.html|access-date=August 5, 2020|newspaper=Okayplayer|language=en-US}}

Kweli is known for his strong political views and activism, specifically on topics of racial stereotypes and police brutality.{{cite web |url=http://www.talibkweli.com/|title=Talib Kweli|website=Talibkweli.com|access-date=October 15, 2013}}

He is an advocate on behalf of political prisoners and a supporter of community organizations like the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement. He has spoken often to inner-city high school and college students.{{cite magazine |first=Melissa |last=Locker|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2013/06/19/talib-kweli-on-the-burdens-of-being-hip-hops-outspoken-conscience/|title=Talib Kweli|magazine=Time |date=June 19, 2013|access-date=October 15, 2013}}

Kweli urged people to ask hip-hop artists questions in order to engage them politically, but warned not to get frustrated if artists do not "give you what you want" in their replies. He said that musicians bear an unfair burden to use their music as a platform because they have the ability to influence people. Kweli mentions that artists, just like their audience, fall victim to their upbringing.{{cite web|first=Jeff |last=Chang|url=http://progressive.org/mag_chang1005|title=An Uplifting Voice of Hip-Hop|work=Progressive Magazine|date=October 2005|access-date=October 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018012917/http://progressive.org/mag_chang1005|archive-date=October 18, 2013|url-status=dead}} In 2017, rapper Remedy and Kweli feuded on Twitter regarding Remedy's pro-Israel political stance, which conflicts with Kweli's criticism of Israel's occupation of Palestine, and his criticism of Zionism.{{Cite news|url=https://forward.com/schmooze/348752/the-jewish-rapper-with-wu-tang-ties-and-his-nasty-twitter-beef-over-israel/|title=The Jewish Rapper With Wu-Tang Ties — and His Nasty Twitter Beef Over Israel|last=Kestenbaum|first=Sam|date=August 30, 2016|work=The Forward|access-date=February 27, 2018}}

In an interview with The Huffington Post, Kweli stated that young people can make a difference because they have the energy to actually go out to the public and do something. He has also stated his belief that activism cannot be done by just sitting at a computer.{{cite web |first=Seamus |last=McKiernan|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/01/talib-kweli-regeneration-documentary-activism_n_1560971.html/|title=Talib Kweli|work=The Huffington Post |date=June 1, 2012|access-date=October 15, 2013}}

On June 1, 2019, Kweli was disinvited from the Open Source Festival in Düsseldorf because of his support for BDS which has been classified as antisemitic by the German parliament and his tour of Germany was cancelled.{{cite web|url=https://rp-online.de/kultur/bds-vorwuerfe-gegen-talib-kweli-und-open-source-festival-in-duesseldorf_aid-39182691|title=Interview Philipp Maiburg: Festival-Chef reagiert auf Israel-Kritik|last=Holstein|first=Philipp|website=RP ONLINE|date=June 2, 2019|language=de|access-date=July 8, 2019}} Kweli responded to this on his Facebook page, where he stated, "I would like to perform in Germany but I don't need to. I'd rather be a decent human being and stand up for what's right than censor myself and lie about BDS for a check."{{cite news|url=https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/tamara-nassar/rapper-talib-kweli-rejects-german-demand-denounce-israel-boycott|title=Rapper Talib Kweli rejects German demand to denounce Israel boycott|last=Nassar|first=Tamara|date=June 7, 2019|website=The Electronic Intifada|language=en|access-date=July 8, 2019}}{{better source|EI is generally unreliable|date=October 2024}}

Kweli was one of more than 600 musicians who signed an open letter calling for a boycott of performances in Israel until they end the occupation of the Palestinian territories.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/368531-run-the-jewels-and-noname-among-600-musicians-calling-for-israel-boycott-news|title=Run The Jewels & Noname Among 600+ Musicians Calling For Israel Boycott|website=HNHH}}

Along with Mos Def, Kweli organized the Hip Hop for Respect CD and video in 2000, which spoke out against police brutality and specifically about the death of Amadou Diallo at the hands of New York City police. Profits from the CD were given to the Hip Hop For Respect Foundation, a nonprofit organization that encouraged celebrities to become involved with their fans. The Hip Hop For Respect contained 41 different artists for each shot that the police took at Diallo.{{cite book|author=Yvonne Bynoe|title=Stand and Deliver: Political Activism, Leadership, and Hip Hop Culture|publisher=Soft Skull|year=2004|isbn= 978-1-932360-10-3}}

In May 2005, Kweli and Mos Def gathered with supporters at City Hall in New York to demand that the federal government drop the million dollar bounty that was placed on political activist Assata Shakur and remove her from the terrorist watch list.{{cite web|first=Hillary |last=Crosley|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1502956/mos-def-talib-kweli-fight-activist.jhtml/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021131248/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1502956/mos-def-talib-kweli-fight-activist.jhtml/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2013|title=Talib Kweli fight Activist|publisher=Viacom International |date=May 25, 2005|access-date=October 15, 2013}}

Kweli visited the Occupy Wall Street camp in October 2011 to show support for the protestors.{{cite magazine|first=Eric |last=Sundermann|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/talib-kweli-at-occupy-wall-street-we-have-to-grow-20111007|title=Talib Kweli at Occupy Wall Street|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=October 7, 2011|access-date=October 15, 2013}}

On October 1, 2012, Kweli spoke at a rally at city hall to urge the NYPD police to end their stop-and-frisk policy.{{cite web|first=Kelly|last=Vinella |url=http://www.dominionofnewyork.com/2012/10/01/talib-kweli-speaks-out-against-stop-and-frisk/#.Ul9N_BCaj9M |title=Talib Kweli Speaks out against Stop and Frisk |publisher=Dominion of New York |date=October 1, 2012 |access-date=October 15, 2013}}

On August 7, 2013, Kweli traveled to Tallahassee to spend a night in the capital building with the Dream Defenders, a group of students that created a sit-in at the Florida governor's office to protest the state's stand-your-ground law.{{cite web|author=AJ Vicens|url=https://www.motherjones.com/media/2013/08/interview-talib-kweli-greene-prisoner-conscious/|title=Interview Talib Kweli|work=Mother Jones|date=August 26, 2013|access-date=October 15, 2013}}

On August 19, 2014, Kweli traveled to Ferguson, Missouri, to join the community in protesting the shooting of Michael Brown.{{cite web|author=Eric Diep |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/08/talib-kweli-ferguson/ |title=10 Reasons Why Talib Kweli Is Going To Ferguson |work=XXL Magazine |date=August 18, 2014 |access-date=August 20, 2014}}

Kweli joined South African artist Cassper Nyovest on a new remix of his single "Doc Shebeleza", a tribute to the Kwaito music icon of the same name. The original appeared on Nyovest's album Tsholofelo. The remix was produced by Anatii and was released on November 3, 2014, as a free digital download.{{cite web|url=http://notjustok.com/2014/11/03/cassper-nyovest-ft-talib-kweli-doc-shebeleza-remix/|title=Cassper Nyovest ft. Talib Kweli – Doc Shebeleza (Remix)|publisher=Not Just Ok |date=November 3, 2014|access-date=November 4, 2014}}

In 2015, Kweli held two concerts to mark the one year anniversary of Michael Brown's death. The line up for the benefit show "Ferguson is Everywhere" featured Common, Bun B, M1 from Dead Prez, Rapsody, Tef Poe, Kendra Ross, Rebel Diaz, Jasiri X, Immortal Technique, and Pharoahe Monch.{{cite web |last1=Diep |first1=Eric |title=Talib Kweli, Common, Bun B And More Are Performing a Free Show in St. Louis for Michael Brown |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2015/08/ferguson-is-everywhere-concert-st-louis-missouri |website=Complex |access-date=August 11, 2018 |date=August 9, 2015}}

{{Main|Talib Kweli discography|List of Talib Kweli songs}}

• Quality (2002)
• The Beautiful Struggle (2004)
• Eardrum (2007)
• Gutter Rainbows (2011)
• Prisoner of Conscious (2013)
• Gravitas (2013)
• Fuck the Money (2015)
• Radio Silence (2017)

• Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (with Mos Def as Black Star) (1998)
• Train of Thought (with Hi-Tek as Reflection Eternal) (2000)
• Liberation (with Madlib) (2007)
• Revolutions Per Minute (with Hi-Tek as Reflection Eternal) (2010)
• Habits of the Heart (with Res as Idle Warship) (2011)
• Indie 500 (with 9th Wonder) (2015)
• The Seven (with Styles P) (2017)
• Gotham (with Diamond D) (2021)
• No Fear of Time (with Yasiin Bey as Black Star) (2022)
• Liberation 2 (with Madlib) (2023)
• The Confidence of Knowing (with J. Rawls) (2024)

In 2022, Kweli's memoir, Vibrate Higher: A Rap Story (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021), won a PEN Oakland – Josephine Miles Literary Award.

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|1=http://www.talibkweli.com}}

{{Talib Kweli}}

{{Soulquarians}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kweli, Talib}}

Category:1975 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American rappers

Category:African-American male rappers

Category:21st-century American male rappers

Category:20th-century American male rappers

Category:African-American poets

Category:African-American songwriters

Category:Alternative hip-hop musicians

Category:American male poets

Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians

Category:Hip-hop activists

Category:People from Park Slope

Category:Rappers from Brooklyn

Category:Songwriters from New York (state)

Category:Tisch School of the Arts alumni

Category:Writers from Brooklyn

Category:Cheshire Academy alumni

Category:Soulquarians members

Category:Black Star (rap duo) members