Talib Kweli is an intellectual, street-savvy MC with socially conscious messages and a flow that can be at turns sleek, forceful, and singsong rugged. He’s been active since the late 1990s (he had his start as one-half of Black Star with Mos Def) and has eight solo LPs to his credit. The most recent is last year’s Radio Silence, which is a pretty solid outing from what I’ve heard of it so far. Check out “Let It Roll” for some strong Kweli rhyme game.
Live, he has raw power and a dynamic stage presence (including loads of one-liners and clever banter—man can hold an audience rapt and make ’em laugh), amping up crowds while easing and sliding through verses and songs. When I saw him, Kweli performed accompanied by a hard-grooving high-spirited band that was tight as hell. At his Saturday night Seattle date, expect a set list of new joints, old joints (like the ubiquitous “Get By”), and the occasional cover (he’s been known to reimagine the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby”).
Some choice cuts below.
