Talib Kweli

Talib Kweli is an American rapper, born in Brooklyn, New York, and one of the most respected lyricists in conscious hip-hop. He first gained wide recognition as one half of Black Star, the duo he formed with Yasiin Bey (then known as Mos Def), whose self-titled 1998 album became a landmark of underground hip-hop for its dense wordplay and socially engaged themes. Kweli also recorded as part of Reflection Eternal alongside producer Hi-Tek, further cementing his reputation for intricate, politically aware rhymes over soulful, sample-based production.

As a solo artist, Kweli built a substantial catalog marked by technical skill and thoughtful subject matter, with «Get By» — built around a Kanye West-produced sample of Nina Simone — standing as one of his signature songs. His collaborations span a wide swath of hip-hop, including work with Kanye West, Common, Madlib, Q-Tip, The Roots, Dead Prez and John Legend, as well as younger artists like Kendrick Lamar, Blu and Curren$y, reflecting his standing as a bridge between hip-hop generations.

Beyond music, Kweli has been an outspoken voice on social and political issues and has pursued independent, direct-to-fan distribution of his work, including through his own platform, underscoring his long-standing commitment to artistic and commercial independence within hip-hop.