Talib
Kweli
Born Talib Kweli Greene in Brooklyn, New York,
Talib’s name is an Arabic translation
meaning “student of truth.” He has
certainly lived up to this title as an MC. Kweli
has been an avid reader and talented writer
since he was young, writing rhymes as early
as junior high. Friends with rapper Mos Def,
he gained access to the hip-hop scene in Cincinnati,
Ohio in 1994. Here he met and began working
with Tony “DJ Hi-Tek” Cottrell.
Hi-Tek was producer for the group Mood and invited
Kweli to feature on their album Doom.
Through these partnerships, Kweli succeeded
in founding the Nkiru Center for Education and
joined the 1990s hip-hop revival with the group
Black Star. He also produced the maxi-single
Hip Hop for Respect with well-known collaborators
to protest the wrongful murder of Amadou Diallo,
an unarmed African immigrant who was gunned
down by NYC police in 1999.
Kweli went solo with his album Quality in 2000.
He continued to gain recognition as an acclaimed
rapper by collaborating with and earning mentions
from rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West. In Fall 2004,
Kweli released his best album yet, Beautiful
Struggle. This album addresses many issues related
to oppression including the treatment of AIDS
orphans and life in the ‘hood. According
to Kweli, "As a resource, hip-hop has been
greater than any music we have. . . . The possibilities
for what we can do in our communities, for people's
self esteem or their economic situation is what
is so exciting. It's beautiful that I can use
this resource, sell records and still just be
Talib Kweli" (www.contactmusic.com).
Black Girl Pain is one great example of the
socially-aware lyrics written by Kweli. The
song is an ode to all black women. It encourages
them to rise above society’s negative
messages about beauty and to stand strong, black,
and proud:
They
just know the name they don't know the pain
So
please hold your heads up high
Don't
be ashamed of yourself know I
Will
carry it forth ‘til the day I die
They
just know the name they don't know the pain
black girl
(©
2004 Rawkus Records; From: www.azlyrics.com)
Although Kweli may not want to be known as
a “political” rapper, his intelligent
and inspirational lyrics touch many lives. I
recommend this album to anyone with an ear open
to really hear the messages he sends.
Reference: http://www.contactmusic.com/new/artist.nsf/ArtistNames/Talib%20Kweli
http://www.mtv.com/music/#/music/artist/kweli_talib/bio.jhtml
http://www.azlyrics.com/k/kweli.html
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