Fireside Chat

Talib Kweli

Blacksmith Records, New York City

There aren't many emcees like Kweli. He keeps the spirit of old school hip hop alive and well, with a dextrous technique and a deep, spiritual flow that could cut through floodplains. Delivering the first acclaimed Black Star LP with Mos Def and Hi-Tek set Talib on a road of beats and messages, exploring roots, culture, and community with an energy that doesn't take the tempting paths of greed, selfishness, and consumerism for granted. Talib has always stuck to his guns: whether he's collaborating with Kanye West, Madlib, or Dave Chapelle, the themes in Talib's lyrics speak of a message way bigger than the sum of their parts. Recently creating his own record label Blacksmith Records, his drive shows no signs of slowing, and with each new release he delivers antidotes not just to vapid, plastic hip hop, but to the wider ills of culture and society in general. Climb aboard the Black Star vessel.