Talib Kweli

Talib Kweli Greene, known professionally as Talib Kweli, is a rapper and record executive from Brooklyn, New York. One of hip-hop's most consistently lauded lyricists and one of the genre's most articulate public intellectuals, Talib Kweli has devoted over two decades to creating music that is simultaneously politically engaged, emotionally resonant, and technically dazzling. His partnership with Mos Def as Black Star produced the landmark 1998 album "Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star," one of conscious hip-hop's most celebrated recordings. His 2002 solo debut "Quality" established him as a formidable solo voice, featuring the acclaimed "Get By," produced by Kanye West. Subsequent albums including "Beautiful Struggle" (2004), "Ear Drum" (2007), and "Prisoner of Conscious" (2013) demonstrate his unwavering commitment to substance. Independent since the mid-2010s, Kweli has continued releasing acclaimed work through his Javotti Media imprint, maintaining his status as one of rap's most principled and respected artistic voices.