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.
Beast
Talib Kweli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When them boys wit the Tec's throwin' up they set
And the spot so hot the ceilin' start to sweat
Yeah, that's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The
And you lockin' up them hips, get the drillin' wit the tips, and
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The
Knowledge is the founder of everything in existence
If you not droppin' knowledge about us it's 'cause you ig'nant
A top-notch scholar wit honors, I'm so gifted
Live is the most vicious, honest and prolific
I drop diabolical brollic wit no gimmick
Astonish the flow critics, rhyme wit the most lyrics
I paint pictures, jot it and dot it but won't print it
My ? is photogenic, I am the most vivid
Man, I got a brain the size of the most biggest
Wide as them cold rivers, wise as them old niggaz
Tired of this, though, half of you rhyme it but don't live it
Watch it and go spit it, stop it, I know Physics
Breakin' yo physical, demolishin' yo spirit
The struggle got me thinkin' demonic and so wicked
Man, I'm so deep I'm bottomless, yo, kill it
Wise wit the flow, rhyme about Hymen, it's so senseless
When them boys wit the Tec's throwin' up they set
And the spot so hot the ceilin' start to sweat
Yeah, that's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The
When you just a little tipsy, you lookin' at them lips
And you lockin' up them hips, get the drillin' wit the tips, and
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The
Live New York rap, stay away from the pork crap
Actin' like you all that, get smacked if you talk back
Spiritual like Rakim on ice, like Kane with the females
Slick Rick and Biggie Smalls attention to detail
Political like PE, I'm spittin' fire like Ice Cube
Kweli a nice dude 'til you start fuckin' with my food
Rap'll set the right mood, fin' to blow like a light fuse
You might lose, ya chance of winnin' slimmer than a size two
Plus, the shit you kick so wack niggaz ready to fight you
Fuck rap, you better off wit spoken word kickin' Haiku
Or rhymes got teeth that'll bite you, make it clearer than white booze
You ain't special, there's a million rappers like you
Far from clumsy, but I drop lines and spill bars
Smoke more trees and be around more Black chicks than Bill Maher
Peel a card off the deck, this that real hard Hip-Hop shit
Niggaz feel y'all, it's real, y'all
When them boys wit the Tec's throwin' up they set
And the spot so hot the ceilin' start to sweat
Yeah, that's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The
When you just a little tipsy, you lookin' at them lips
And you lockin' up them hips, get the drillin' wit the tips, and
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The
The Beast is out when the police is out
They be pullin' out and really showin' you what peace/piece about
Upholdin' the law that's designed to keep my people down
Bourgeois niggaz walkin' around like everything is equal now
I'm peepin' how from the beat cop to the Interstate trooper
To the Feds who put a price on the side of head of Cuba, B
Protectin' the property value over the people life
To take action against a foul government is the people right
But not too many ready to fight
It's like you'd rather be at home watchin' a flick or a fight
Or maybe Nick-At-Nite
It's sick how I'm addicted to mics, become a flickerin' light
After I spark I'm always ready to write
Where I'm from, they be watchin' us, but we be watchin' them
And bust shots 'til the coppers bring the choppers in
The squad cars try to box me in
But I got knowledge of self and it's stronger than any cage you can lock me in
When them boys wit the Tec's throwin' up they set
And the spot so hot the ceilin' start to sweat
Yeah, that's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The
When you just a little tipsy, you lookin' at them lips
And you lockin' up them hips, get the drillin' wit the tips, and
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
That's when The Beast come out
A lot of different Beasts or demons roamin' the planet
And they surface at any given time
You never know when they can surface and come right up out of you
No matter how righteous you think you are
Situation could go down when you forced
To let The Beast out
In Talib Kweli's song "The Beast," the rap artist tells a story of a monster that comes out in certain situations. The first verse of the song describes the moment when the Beast comes out, which is when boys with Tec's throw up their set, and the place becomes so hot that the ceiling starts to sweat. The chorus repeats the phrase 'That's when the Beast comes out, indicating the emergence of the monster. The second verse is Talib Kweli dropping knowledge about himself. He talks about being a top-notch scholar with honors and a wise man. He is also a professional rapper, producing prolific rhymes, painting pictures with words, and creating unpredictable flows.
The third verse is about New York rap staying away from "pork crap," which means avoiding bad music. Kweli takes the opportunity to showcase his political and cultural knowledge referencing Rakim, Kane, PE, Ice Cube, Slick Rick, and Biggie Smalls. He also talks about his love for trees and being around black chicks more than Bill Maher. Kweli pledges allegiance to hip hop and challenging MCs who think they are special.
The last verse describes the Beast coming out when police are out, protecting property value over people's lives, and not too many are ready to fight. Talib believes in taking action against a foul government, which is the people's right. The Beast is a collective energy that Talib Kweli and his New York brothers in the hip hop community can tap into to release themselves of oppression and fight injustice.
Line by Line Meaning
Dave, this a monster
The situation being described is dangerous and possibly violent.
When them boys wit the Tec's throwin' up they set
When armed gang members are present, claiming their territory with hand gestures.
And the spot so hot the ceilin' start to sweat
When the atmosphere is tense and heated.
Yeah, that's when The Beast come out
Referring to the violence that tend to happen in tense situations.
That's when The Beast come out
Re-emphasizing that tense or aggressive situations bring out a violent side.
When you just a little tipsy, you lookin' at them lips
When someone is slightly drunk, they may be tempted to pursue someone they find attractive.
And you lockin' up them hips, get the drillin' wit the tips, and
The temptation leads to sexual desire and potentially dangerous behavior.
Knowledge is the founder of everything in existence
Knowledge is the fundamental element that creates everything.
If you not droppin' knowledge about us it's 'cause you ig'nant
If someone is not speaking truthfully or knowledgeably about a topic, it is because they are ignorant.
A top-notch scholar wit honors, I'm so gifted
The artist describes themselves as a highly educated person with talents and abilities.
Live is the most vicious, honest and prolific
Life can be brutal, but also truthful and productive.
I drop diabolical brollic wit no gimmick
The artist's lyrics are intense, bold, and honest without relying on cheap tricks.
Astonish the flow critics, rhyme wit the most lyrics
The singer's rap technique impresses critics and is full of clever wordplay and complex rhymes.
I paint pictures, jot it and dot it but won't print it
The singer's lyrics create vivid images but are not necessarily meant to be taken literally.
My ? is photogenic, I am the most vivid
The singer's mind creates very clear and detailed mental images.
Man, I got a brain the size of the most biggest
The artist has an exceptionally large brain.
Wide as them cold rivers, wise as them old niggaz
The artist has a wide mind and deep wisdom that comes with age.
Tired of this, though, half of you rhyme it but don't live it
The singer is frustrated that many rappers make claims they don't actually live up to.
Watch it and go spit it, stop it, I know Physics
The singer has a deep understanding of rap technique and can create complex rhymes.
Breakin' yo physical, demolishin' yo spirit
The artist is so skilled at rap that they can emotionally break down others.
The struggle got me thinkin' demonic and so wicked
Hardship has caused the artist to have dark thoughts.
Man, I'm so deep I'm bottomless, yo, kill it
The artist has a deep understanding and command of their craft.
Wise wit the flow, rhyme about Hymen, it's so senseless
The singer can make even odd or challenging subjects sound good in a rap.
Live New York rap, stay away from the pork crap
The artist is committed to authentic New York rap and avoids fake or commercially produced rap.
Actin' like you all that, get smacked if you talk back
The singer won't tolerate arrogance and will respond with force.
Spiritual like Rakim on ice, like Kane with the females
The singer has deep, spiritual knowledge and combines it with smooth sexual prowess.
Slick Rick and Biggie Smalls attention to detail
The singer is intent on creating a very polished and detail-oriented rap.
Political like PE, I'm spittin' fire like Ice Cube
The artist is politically aware and speaks out against societal injustice.
Kweli a nice dude 'til you start fuckin' with my food
The artist is friendly unless someone tries to harm them or what they care about.
Rap'll set the right mood, fin' to blow like a light fuse
A well-delivered rap can create a mood change that leads to explosive energy.
You might lose, ya chance of winnin' slimmer than a size two
If someone does not take risks or give their all, their chances of success are very slim.
Plus, the shit you kick so wack niggaz ready to fight you
If someone's rap is bad, others might react with hostility.
Fuck rap, you better off wit spoken word kickin' Haiku
If someone is not good at traditional rap, they might be better off doing more free-form spoken word poetry.
Or rhymes got teeth that'll bite you, make it clearer than white booze
The artist's rhymes are powerful and can cut deeply, and make sense like clear alcohol.
You ain't special, there's a million rappers like you
The singer wants to make clear that there are many types of rappers who are not unique.
Far from clumsy, but I drop lines and spill bars
The artist is not sloppy in their rap technique, but they do like to play around creatively with their lyrics.
Smoke more trees and be around more Black chicks than Bill Maher
The singer enjoys smoking marijuana and being around Black women.
Peel a card off the deck, this that real hard Hip-Hop shit
The singer is about to lay down some raw and intense hip-hop.
Niggaz feel y'all, it's real, y'all
People connect with and understand the singer's message.
The Beast is out when the police is out
When police are present, there is a heightened risk of violence or aggression.
They be pullin' out and really showin' you what peace/piece about
Police can use force when trying to maintain peace, which can lead to injuries or death.
Upholdin' the law that's designed to keep my people down
The singer believes the laws and the police are designed to oppress them and their community.
Bourgeois niggaz walkin' around like everything is equal now
Some people with middle-class status act like racism and oppression no longer exist.
I'm peepin' how from the beat cop to the Interstate trooper
The artist has observed how even low-level law enforcement can be corrupt.
To the Feds who put a price on the side of head of Cuba, B
The artist believes the government is corrupt and oppressive, and is even putting bounties on political dissidents.
Protectin' the property value over the people life
The artist believes the government and the police prioritize protecting wealth over protecting human lives.
To take action against a foul government is the people right
The singer believes it is necessary and justified to fight against an unjust government.
But not too many ready to fight
The artist acknowledges that not many people are truly ready to fight against corrupt powers.
It's like you'd rather be at home watchin' a flick or a fight
People may be more comfortable doing passive things like watching TV or movies instead of fighting for their rights.
Or maybe Nick-At-Nite
People may be more comfortable watching reruns of old TV shows than dealing with the harsh reality of current events.
It's sick how I'm addicted to mics, become a flickerin' light
The singer is obsessed with performing and rapping, which drives them forward.
After I spark I'm always ready to write
After performing or writing, the artist is always ready to do more.
Where I'm from, they be watchin' us, but we be watchin' them
The artist and their community are used to being surveilled and policed, but they also keep a close eye on the authorities.
And bust shots 'til the coppers bring the choppers in
If necessary, the singer and their community will use violence against the authorities.
The squad cars try to box me in
Police try to corner or trap the singer.
But I got knowledge of self and it's stronger than any cage you can lock me in
The artist believes their inner strength and self-knowledge can overcome even the strongest attempts to control them.
A lot of different Beasts or demons roamin' the planet
Metaphorical beasts and demons (such as greed, anger, or violence) are present everywhere.
And they surface at any given time
These metaphorical beasts can emerge unpredictably.
You never know when they can surface and come right up out of you
Even someone who thinks they are righteous can succumb to their inner demons when provoked.
No matter how righteous you think you are
Even someone who believes they are doing good or living righteously can have deeply buried flaws.
Situation could go down when you forced
When stress or violence is inflicted upon someone, they may react violently or aggressively in response.
To let The Beast out
This refers to someone unleashing or giving in to their inner demons in order to respond to a tense situation with violence.
Lyrics © Royalty Network
Written by: CARL TERRELL MITCHELL, MICHAEL MOORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@OKAYPLAYER75
One of those rare Kweli songs where he got taken out...Pap was super focused
@quincg1288
Took OUT.
@Aramaic1990
Pap spanked Talib on this
@ManLikeAce
Pap keeps it 100.
@MartellThaCool
amazing & Talib & Papoose on 1 track
@billybased64
Hell Yeah! Immortal Technique is da shit. All three of them are some o fthe smartest rappers out there.
@SharifTruth1991
He Killed this shit
@1985whale
respect to best two lyrists
@freddyfredricks9595
P-Whale Hoover i agree bro....that hate or he better stuff ...just good music
@jbSOB23
Talib kills them bars!