His name is Arabic, meaning 'the seeker' or 'student of truth and knowledge'. His parents were both college professors: his mother an English professor, his father a sociology professor. As a youth, he was drawn to Afrocentric rappers, such as De La Soul and other members of the Native Tongues Posse and in 1995 began recording with producer Hi-Tek and rapper Mos Def who he met at central park, and later attended New York University with. With Mos Def (together the pair were known as Black Star), Kweli achieved some mainstream success with Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (1998). Also noted are Kweli and Mos' central input on Rawkus Records' compilation album Soundbombing (1997). Soundbombing also include collaborations between Kweli and DJ Hi Tek as Reflection Eternal. Together they released Train of Thought in 2000, which sold better than most alternative hip hop albums at the time. He has since released a critically acclaimed solo debut, Quality in 2002. In 2004, he released his second solo album, The Beautiful Struggle. His third solo album Ear Drum was released on August 21st, 2007.
Kweli has created his own record label, Blacksmith Records and has recently signed acclaimed female rapper Jean Grae, with rumors continuing to grow that underground veteran MF Doom is the next artist to be picked up. He left Geffen Records and has signed with the Warner Music Group.
He has since broken through slightly more towards the mainstream, thanks in large part to several appearance on the comedy show Chappelle's Show, both solo and with long-time collaborator Mos Def, this is due to a friendship between the host and creator of the show, comedian Dave Chappelle and the rapper. He also had a guest spot on friend and frequent collaborator Kanye West's widely successful debut album The College Dropout on the track "Get 'Em High". West has also produced some of Kweli's songs, including his biggest commercial hit "Get By". Kweli can also be seen in a commercial for the NCAA's Big Ten Conference, rapping about the league's basketball teams. Talib Kweli provided the voice for the main character, Trane, in the video game Marc Ecko's Getting Up, released in 2006.
Another World
Talib Kweli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Small brats get they ass kicked, me and Mos smash it
Top gun like what comes after the, fist rockin' knife
Check the keys that get played on the roads of life
Yo the rhyme is so heavy like a load of my chest
Travel on these mc's, leave 'em broken like house pets
Priceless like the streets I'm on, my word is born
You like Paula Abdul-ka-ka compared to Sarah Born?
Mc's sayin' damn what got it goin after you
Slam my microphone and do just what I have to do
Hey yo, I'd like to stop and chat but I'm just passing through
You know I'd like to stop and chat but I'm just passing through
I'm on my way back to Louis Avenue
Inside Brooklyn the b-boy capital, lot of cats travel to black eratical
Say, my response is invatically yes
We invatically fresh, you dramatically stressed
These mc's proceed to cease the presidential palace
And burn Babylon like a ?
Strive to maintain balance
With the God given talent
Articulate the article, eliminate the fossical
Black Star Line shine remarkable, they style ain't even talk-able
These socalled criminals is fictional they make the party turn miserable
We document the memorable
Then break 'em up like syllables
Straight down to earth like minerals
Your style is foul like down? chemicals
We five-dimensional, audio, visual, physical, spiritual, lyrical
Another world
Another world, y'all
We transmit another world
Another World, y'all
We transmit another world
Another World, y'all
We transmit another world
Black Star 'bout to shine from what
Yo Mos, ain't it a shame how these people treating life like a game
Ain't gonna give you no fame by callin out your name
Just explain how I do it and, lead by example
Stay away from repetition don't wanna sound like no sample
You can't handle this Messiah
My shit is classical we get bug' like Umfufu, "You treat me like animal!"
Just 'cause you got money, don't mean you made it
Just 'cause you make it don't give you the right to be a ?
Matter fact stay out my face
I can't take it like them stupid big horse bills
Your defense is nill, my chatter, shatter your force field
Kweli and Mos Definition with more lines then a petition
Yo my mission is to break shit in half, like intermission
Then get missin' with Hi-Tech or anyone like that
Costin' one million pounds 'cause it sound so fat
Lay you flat like the carpet
Take the tobacco out my spliff before you spark it
The only tye I rock is chocolate
Makin' profits like Spacely Sprockets, you can't stop it
The topic, we always gonna be black like markets
From the underground, look around and tell me what you see
Another picture painted perfectly by yours truly
Another world, y'all
Say what, another world
Another world, y'all
Say what, another world
Travellin' through, time and space
On the the Black Star galactica
Yo, another world
'nother 'nother, 'nother, 'nother, 'nother world
Never never never soap opera
Whether you, Indian, Dominican, Jamaican or Bolivian
No matter what disc recorder or part of town you livin' in
I recommend you listenin' to these distinguished gentlemen
Who take the proper measurement to represent
The solo's ? chrome is known to built on
Gleam on the measurement
Master MC carpentry
Talib kwa, the Kweli in quality
Put the groundation down properly
You can't trespass the property
Ain't takin' or breakin', robbery
Got the whole owner blast-back policy
Follow me, descendant of the grand master armery
Where cats rock the Wallabe and Kangols, MC's exchange flows
The same goes on, they'll be here when we gone
Hope they heart stay strong for
The other world
The other world y'all
Say what, another world
Another, 'nother 'nother 'nother
Say what, another world
'nother 'nother 'nother
The song "Another World" by Talib Kweli has the concept of transmitting ideas and messages to another world. The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery, metaphors, and wordplay. The opening lines offer a boastful statement, proclaiming the performers as fantastic with the ability to flip tracks with ease, and that they’re ready to take anyone down who may challenge them. The rap describes the artistic excellence that the duo is capable of, highlighting the wordplay and metaphors used in their raps. The song also touches upon blackness and racism, with a comparison to Paula Abdul and Sarah Born that underscores the systemic racism that Kweli has had to struggle against.
The chorus emphasizes the central theme of the song- that they are transmitting a message to another world, and that the message should be heard by people of all races and nationalities. The lyrics also reference global cultures, such as Jamaican, Dominican, Indian and Bolivian, highlighting the universal appeal of hip hop music.
Overall, "Another World" is a powerful commentary on the impact of hip hop music and the importance of transmitting messages through art. The lyrics address themes of racial injustice, artistic expression, and cultural exchange.
Line by Line Meaning
We fantastic, flippin' on tracks like gymnastics
We are amazing, effortlessly flowing on these tracks, like gymnasts doing stunts
Small brats get they ass kicked, me and Mos smash it
Amateurs get defeated, Mos Def and I conquer the rap game
Top gun like what comes after the, fist rockin' knife
We are the best, even beyond being 'top gun', because our rhymes are sharp and powerful like a fist and a knife
Check the keys that get played on the roads of life
Pay attention to the important things in life, like the lessons we learn and the paths we take
Yo the rhyme is so heavy like a load of my chest
My rhymes are so powerful that it feels like I am carrying a weight on my chest
Travel on these mc's, leave 'em broken like house pets
I am so good at rapping that I easily defeat other rappers, making them feel small and insignificant
Priceless like the streets I'm on, my word is born
I am worth more than anything you see on these streets and my rhymes are full of truth and authenticity
You like Paula Abdul-ka-ka compared to Sarah Born?
Your rhymes are inferior, like Paula Abdul's music compared to Sarah Vaughan's jazz
Sayin', what did I do to be so black and blue
Reflecting on the struggle and oppression that comes with being black in America
Mc's sayin' damn what got it goin after you
Other rappers are intimidated by my success and wonder how I got so good
Slam my microphone and do just what I have to do
I perform my best and leave everything on the stage
Hey yo, I'd like to stop and chat but I'm just passing through
I am busy and on the go, so I do not have time to stop and chat
I'm on my way back to Louis Avenue
Heading towards the Brooklyn neighborhood of Louis Avenue
Inside Brooklyn the b-boy capital, lot of cats travel to black eratical
Brooklyn is known for its b-boy culture, attracting many people to experience its unique and edgy vibe
Say, my response is invatically yes
My response is a resounding yes
We invatically fresh, you dramatically stressed
We are always fresh and new, while others are feeling the pressure and anxiety
These mc's proceed to cease the presidential palace
These rappers are trying to take down the government and those in power
And burn Babylon like a ?
They want to rebel against the establishment, like burning down Babylon in the Bible
Strive to maintain balance
We aim to balance our personal and artistic lives and strive for equilibrium
With the God given talent
We believe our talent as rappers is a gift from God
Articulate the article, eliminate the fossical
We articulate and express our ideas clearly, while eliminating outdated and irrelevant views
Black Star Line shine remarkable, they style ain't even talk-able
Our rap group is exceptional and unmatched, with a style that defies description
These socalled criminals is fictional they make the party turn miserable
These supposed criminals are fake, and only bring negativity to the party
We document the memorable
We document the important moments in history and our personal lives through our music
Then break 'em up like syllables
We deconstruct and examine these moments through our rhymes
Straight down to earth like minerals
We are genuine and down-to-earth, like the minerals found in the earth
Your style is foul like down? chemicals
Your style is unpleasant and unappealing, like harsh chemicals
We five-dimensional, audio, visual, physical, spiritual, lyrical
We are multidimensional artists, expressing ourselves through sound, visuals, movement, spirituality, and words
Never never never soap opera
We are not fake or melodramatic like a soap opera
Whether you, Indian, Dominican, Jamaican or Bolivian
No matter where you come from
No matter what disc recorder or part of town you livin' in
No matter your socio-economic status or where you live
I recommend you listenin' to these distinguished gentlemen
I recommend listening to us, as we are respected and talented rappers
Who take the proper measurement to represent
We take great care in representing ourselves and our community
The solo's ? chrome is known to built on
Solo artists like us have a reputation for being skilled and successful
Gleam on the measurement
We shine like diamonds on the scale of success
Master MC carpentry
We are masters of our craft, like carpenters who build and create with precision
Talib kwa, the Kweli in quality
I, Talib Kweli, am known for my quality and excellence
Put the groundation down properly
We lay down a solid foundation for our music and our careers
You can't trespass the property
You cannot interfere with our territory or our success
Ain't takin' or breakin', robbery
We do not steal or cheat, we earn our success
Got the whole owner blast-back policy
Our success is protected by our policies and actions
Follow me, descendant of the grand master armery
Follow me, as a descendant of the great rappers who came before me
Where cats rock the Wallabe and Kangols, MC's exchange flows
Where rappers wear classic fashion like Wallabees and Kangols, and the best MCs share their music with each other
The same goes on, they'll be here when we gone
The cycle of rap and music creation will continue, even after we are no longer present in the industry
Hope they heart stay strong for
I hope the upcoming artists stay dedicated and strong in their hearts
The other world
The world of music and creation that we are a part of
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DANTE SMITH, JONATHAN BAKER, S GILBERT, TALIB KWELI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Poetics
"We document the memorable/ and break em up like syllables/ stay down to earth like minerals". "We 5-dimensional... audio, visual, physical, spiritual, lyrical". Mos Def and Talib Kweli are both in the top 10 MCs of all time. They're way too brilliant to be ovalooked. It's cuz of artists like them that make Hip Hop more than just some music genre... artists like them represent true Hip Hop - the movement!
Ms. Sherry Sherrill
Ase. Amen.
Bryan Peña
Mos Def killed it!! Classic verses 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Trent Yates
Kweli is one hell of a lyricist. This joint is underrated. Real hip hop to the fullest
aBSOpinion
Blackstar never ceases to amaze me. Mos Def and Talib Kweli are the best MCs ever. This song is just more proof as far as I am concerned. Too bad they don't get as much exposure as other MCs on MTV and BET especially since they are so much better.
RealSupervillain
They really define current conscious hip-hop in my mind. No other cats are doing what they do. I'm still loving hip-hop
Djsignify
real banger this one... "wide angles" might be one of the most slept on albums of all time
Iman A
Hell yeah man. Respiration is one of my favorite songs of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HEEMIN
two of the greatest stars in hip hop, Black Star and Gang Starr
RNN
Wouldn’t both examples be constellations?