Talib Kweli

The Brooklyn-based MC Talib Kweli earned his stripes as one of the most lyrically gifted, socially aware, and politically insightful rappers to emerge in the past two decades. He has not only established himself as a respected solo artist but also gained recognition through his collaboration with Mos Def as one-half of Black Star and his work with producer Hi-Tek for Reflection Eternal. Kweli has also collaborated with artists such as Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Just Blaze, J Dilla, and Madlib, commanding attention with his top-tier lyricism, captivating stories, and ability to rhyme over virtually any type of instrumental.

In 2011, Kweli founded Javotti Media, an independent label that is self-defined as “a platform for independent thinkers and doers.” He has set out to make Javotti Media into a media powerhouse that releases music, films, and books. In addition to releasing several of his own albums through Javotti Media, Kweli has also used the platform to promote developing artists, exemplified by a compilation mixtape in released in 2016.

Kweli's extensive discography includes several critically acclaimed albums such as 2002's "Quality," 2004's "The Beautiful Struggle," 2007's "Eardrum," 2011's "Gutter Rainbows," 2013's "Prisoner of Conscious," 2013's "Gravitas," 2015's "Fuck the Money," and 2017's "Radio Silence." In 2021, Kweli expanded his creative output beyond music by publishing his memoir, "Vibrate Higher: A Rap Story," which won a PEN Oakland – Josephine Miles Literary Award in 2022.

Apart from his work in music, Kweli has also been active in various forms of media and activism. He launched the weekly podcast "The People's Party" in 2019 and also co-hosts "The Midnight Miracle" with Dave Chappelle and Yasiin Bey. He has spoken to inner-city high school and college students and made appearances at events such as Occupy Wall Street and protests against police brutality, advocating on various social issues. Meanwhile, Kweli continues to contribute to the hip-hop culture, with plans to reunite with Madlib for "Liberation 2" and Mos Def for a sophomore Black Star release.