Talib Kweli
Wikimp3 information about the music of Talib Kweli. On our website we have 70 albums and 70 collections of artist Talib Kweli. You can find useful information and download songs of this artist. We also know that Talib Kweli represents Rap genres.
Biography
[Edit]If skills sold, Talib Kweli would have been one of the most commercially successful rappers of his time. As it was, however, the earnest MC became one of the most critically successful rappers of his time, which dawned in the late '90s when he rapped alongside Mos Def and DJ Hi-Tek as part of the group Black Star. This trio of up-and-comers and their widely acclaimed self-titled 1998 album debut, Black Star, helped make Rawkus Records one of the premier underground rap outposts of the late '90s. Kweli and Hi-Tek then collaborated as a duo on Reflection Eternal (2000), which firmly established them apart from Mos Def, who had gone solo. For a moment there, Kweli and his Rawkus associates seemed like a full-fledged movement — a return to the sort of hip-hop associated with the so-called golden age. However, it wasn't to be. Rawkus somehow lost its momentum, and its roster sadly dispersed, leaving Kweli on his own to carry the torch. He continued his output, beginning with a proper solo debut, Quality (2002), and though he didn't rack up towering sales numbers, he remained a critical favorite. In fact, he was one of the most admired and respected rappers on the major-label circuit during the mid-2000s, best evidenced by Jay-Z's famous Black Album rhyme: "If skills sold, truth be told/I'd probably be, lyrically, Talib Kweli."
Born in Brooklyn as the eldest of two sons born to college professors, Kweli's first name, Talib, is an Arabic name meaning "the seeker or student," while his last name is a Ghanaian name meaning "of truth or knowledge." He began developing his literary gift in elementary school, when he'd write short stories, poems, and that sort of stuff. It wasn't until years later in high school that he turned to hip-hop as an outlet for his self-expression. There in high school he met a young Dante Smith, better known today as Mos Def. This fateful meeting further drew Kweli toward hip-hop, and another fateful meeting further convinced him that he had a bright future as an MC. During a 1994 trip to Cincinnati he met Tony Cottrell, aka DJ Hi-Tek, who at the time was part of a local rap group called Mood. Kweli impressed Hi-Tek during their time together, and the DJ invited the MC to guest on several tracks for Mood's 1997 album Doom. Shortly afterward, Kweli and Hi-Tek formed a partnership as Reflection Eternal and recorded "Fortified Live," which a then-fledging Rawkus label released on its first Soundbombing compilation.
A year later in 1998, the two invited Mos Def into the mix, and the Black Star album resulted. And with it came a steady downpour of critical acclaim that turned these guys into media darlings overnight. They might not have sold millions of albums, but Kweli, Hi-Tek, and Mos Def most certainly impressed a great many people, among them critics, fellow rap artists, and a lot of folks who enjoyed a good old-fashioned hip-hop album with an emphasis on beats, rhymes, and life — not dramatized gunplay or interpolations of proven pop songs. That was the end of Black Star, however. In 1999 Mos Def released his debut solo album, Black on Both Sides, and turned away from music and toward an acting career, leaving Kweli and Hi-Tek on their own. The duo returned to their Reflection Eternal partnership and released an album of the same name in 2000. It spawned a few minor hits: "Move Somethin'" and "The Blast."
When Kweli returned with his Quality album in 2002, things had changed a bit. For one, he was truly solo. Mos Def was long gone, and Hi-Tek was off focusing on his own solo career as a for-hire producer. So Quality featured Kweli collaborating with a host of different artists, among them a young and promising yet still largely unknown producer named Kanye West. "Get By" was the fruit of Kweli's collaboration with West, and it became the rapper's biggest hit to date, aided quite a bit by a non-album remix featuring Jay-Z of all people. The remix got a lot of radio play, but still, Quality didn't put up Jay-Z numbers and Kweli remained a critical favorite, a reputation cemented all the more in late 2003 when Jigga gave him the aforementioned high-profile shoutout in "Moment of Clarity."
All of this set the stage very well for The Beautiful Struggle, which dropped in fall 2004. The expectations for the album were gargantuan because of the Jay-Z rhyme, and also because a great many hip-hop disciples felt Kweli was long overdue for a commercial breakthrough. The album was undoubtedly his most commercial effort to date, featuring a few token radio-ready hook singers like Mary J. Blige and Anthony Hamilton, not to mention a roster of hitmaking producers like the Neptunes, Just Blaze, and Kanye. It was also Kweli's most self-conscious to date, however, as it was well apparent that the commercial pressures had begun to affect his mindset. He responded by splitting from his distributor, Universal, and lying low for a while, releasing a stopgap mixtape, Right About Now (2005) via Koch.
In anticipation of his next solo album, Kweli collaborated with producer Madlib on the digital-only Liberation, which was made available as a free download during the first week of 2007 on the Stones Throw website. Finally, in August of that same year, Kweli issued the full-length album Eardrum on his own label, Blacksmith, via a partnership with Warner Bros. Debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and selling about 60,000 copies in its first week, Eardrum was Kweli's best-selling album to date and featured beats from not only Madlib but also Hi-Tek, Kanye, Pete Rock, and will.i.am, among others, and featured guests like Norah Jones, UGK, Justin Timberlake, and Strong Arm Steady. In 2010, the album Reflection Eternal: Revolutions Per Minute reunited Talib and Hi-Tek under their Reflection Eternal moniker, then that same year, the solo Gutter Rainbows was the first album to be released by Talib's Talibra imprint. His 2013 release Prisoner of Conscious balanced radio-friendly numbers with more abstract tracks and featured Nelly, Curren$y, and Kendrick Lamar. The 2014 effort Gravitas followed the same path, this time with Big K.R.I.T., Mike Posner, and writer Neil Gaiman among its guests.
Title: Beautiful - Single
Artist: Outasight, Big K. R. I. T., Talib Kweli, Mela Machinko
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Punk Rock
Title: Reflection Eternal: Strangers (Paranoid) [feat. Bun B] - Single
Artist: Talib Kweli
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Push Thru (feat. Kendrick Lamar & Curren$y) - Single
Artist: Talib Kweli
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Every Ghetto, Pt. 2 (Every Ghetto Pt. 2) [feat. Aloe Blacc & Problem] - Single
Artist: Talib Kweli
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Train of Thought: Lost Lyrics, Rare Releases & Beautiful B-Sides, Vol. 1
Artist: Talib Kweli
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Rock
Title: Beautiful (feat. Big K.R.I.T., Outasight & Mela Machinko) - Single
Artist: Talib Kweli
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Heads up Eyes Open (feat. Rick Ross & Yummy Bingham) - Single
Artist: Talib Kweli
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Punk Rock
Title: How I Do (ChopNotSlop Remix) [feat. O.G. Ron C.] - Single
Artist: Talib Kweli
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Soul
Title: Reflection Eternal: Midnight Hour (feat. Estelle) - Single
Artist: Talib Kweli
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Reflection Eternal: Revolutions Per Minute (Deluxe Version)
Artist: Talib Kweli
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: F**k the Money (feat. Cassper Nyovest) - Single
Artist: Talib Kweli
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, World Music
Title: Stand Up (The Sean Bell Tribute Song) - Single
Artist: Cassidy, Styles P, Maino, Talib Kweli, Swizz Beatz
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Pop
Title: Is It a Dream - Single
Artist: Joe Budden, Talib Kweli, Doc Ish, ANGELICA C
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Train Of Thought Lost Lyrics, Rare Releases & Beautiful B-Sides
Artist: Talib Kweli
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Oh Really Remix (feat. Talib Kweli & Geo of Blue Scholars) - Single
Artist: KRS - One, Geologic, Talib Kweli, Buckshot
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: People Power
Artist: Zap Mama, Talib Kweli, Angélique Kidjo / Angelique Kidjo, Ahmed Soultan, Jabulani Tsambo
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Alternative
Title: Finally Free (feat. Talib Kweli) - Single
Artist: Talib Kweli, DeStorm
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Collections
Title: Care for Haiti
Genre: World Music
Title: Stick It (Original Soundtrack)
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Blue Note Remixed - 50 Of the Best
Genre: Jazz
Title: Getting Up (Soundtrack from the Video Game)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Dave Chappelle's Block Party (Live)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: DJ EFX Presents Coast 2 Coast 128
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Oz: The Soundtrack
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Lyricist Lounge, Vol. 1
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Babygrande Presents: Beat Down Vol. 1
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Babygrande Presents: The Reflection Eternal Collection
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: We Run Texas 2
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: The Frank Zappa Aaafnraaaa Birthday Bundle
Genre: Rock
Title: The Best of Brooklyn Underground Hip Hop
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Beat the World (The Original Soundtrack)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Soul, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Red Hot + Riot
Genre: Jazz
Title: Pacha's Pajamas - A Story Written By Nature, Vol. I
Genre: Kids
Title: Duck Down Presents: Heartburn
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Dave Chappelle's Block Party (Live)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Lyricist Lounge, Vol. 2 (Explicit Version)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: IZM Will Never Die
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: The Rose, Vol. 2: Music Inspired By Tupac's Poetry
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Oz: The Soundtrack (Clean)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Best of Duck Down Music - 2011
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Best Of Good Hands
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: GuessWhyld Presents: Out the Vault
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Natural Selection, Vol. 2
Genre: House, Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: You Don't Know the Half
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Hip Hop Anthology CD 1
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: I'M Good...
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Goon Trax In Ya Mellow Tone 2
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Pop
Title: Street Flava (Disc 1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Roc Nation
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Stick It
Genre: New Age, Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Dancefloor, World Music, Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack, Funk
Title: Rap R & B Club Music (CD3)
Genre: Rap, Club/Dance
Title: Rap R & B 2013 (CD3)
Genre: Rap
Title: 02 - 05 - 13 Hip - Hop Rnb Singles (CD6)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Step Up - Basketball Music Vol. 1 (CD 2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Pop
Title: Step Up - Basketball Music Vol. 2 (CD 2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Pop
Title: Step Up - Basketball Music Vol. 4
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Pop
Title: Grey'S Anatomy (Season 7)
Genre: Electropop, Indie Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack, Indie
Title: Renegades
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Alternative Rock
Title: Hip - Hop - R & B Singles 10. 04 (CD1)
Genre: Pop
Title: Best Of April Car Soundz
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Dancefloor, Club/Dance, Pop
Title: R & B Playhouse
Genre: House, Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Take It Slow R & B Vol. 3
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Hip - Hop RnB Singles (2013 - 20 - 07) (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Soul, Pop
Title: Innervisions (CD1)
Genre: Trip Hop, Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Blues, Rock, Dancefloor, Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack, Funk
Title: Innervisions (CD2)
Genre: Trip Hop, Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Blues, Rock, Dancefloor, Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack, Funk
Title: Universe Electronic Beats
Genre: Trip Hop, Electronica
Title: Dubstep And Drum N Bass EPs Vol. 24 (CD1)
Genre: Drum & Bass, Dubstep
Title: Indie 69 August 2013 (CD2)
Genre: Indie
Title: DafuQ! 's Volume 11: September 2013 - Dubstep (CD2)
Genre: Dubstep
Featuring albums
Title: The Less You Know, The Better (Deluxe Edition)
Artist: Dj Shadow
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Jazz, Rock, Punk Rock, Bop
Title: The Less You Know, the Better
Artist: Dj Shadow
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Jazz, Rock, Punk Rock, Bop
Title: Purple City Byrdgang: Hatin' From the Sideline
Artist: Purple City, Moe Sticky
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Feel The Bass (feat. Talib Kweli) (12")
Artist: Sa - Ra Creative Partners
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Where It Started At (NY) (feat. Talib Kweli, Jadakiss, Papoose & Dion) (12")
Artist: Hi Tek
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Comme un aimant (Version 2) [Bande originale du film]
Artist: Bruno Coulais, Akhenaton
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Comme un aimant (Version 1) [Bande originale du film]
Artist: Bruno Coulais, Akhenaton
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Afro Samurai (Soundtrack from the TV Series)
Artist: Rza
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: 9th Wonder Presents: Jamla Is The Squad (Deluxe Edition)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Rawkus Records - Best of Decade I 1995-2005 (Explicit Version)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Boom Bap Hip Hop: Classic Underground Hip-Hop
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Mr. Timberlake
Artist: Justin Timberlake
Genre: Downtempo, Electronica, Eurodance, House, Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Jazz, Rock, Dancehall, Club/Dance, Pop, Pop Rock, Pop Rap, Synth Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack, Acoustic
Title: Uncommon Classics, Volume 1 + 2 (Mixed By Dj Risky Bizness)
Artist: Common
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B