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.
Here We Go
Talib Kweli Lyrics
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Nowhere to turn, nowhere to run and there's nothin new
Where do we go for inspiration?
It's like pain is our only inspiration
Where do we go? What do we say? What do we do?
Nowhere to turn, nowhere to run and there's nothin new
Where do we go for inspiration?
It's like pain is our only inspiration
Yea, I see a place where little boys and girls
Are shells in the oceans not knowin they a pearl
No one to hold 'em while they growin
They livin' moment to moment without a care in the whole world
Now, if I could help it I tell it just like it is
And I may say some things that you don't like to hear
I know this: that people lie, people kneel
People die, people heal, people steal, and people shed tears
What's real, blood spills, gun kill, the sun still, rise
Above me, trust me, it must be, morning, time
Wake up, the stakes up
Everybody want the cake up, to break up with the crew
But when the karma come back for what you do
It's too late to make up, some excuse
Where do we go? What do we say? What do we do?
Nowhere to turn, nowhere to run and there's nothin new
Where do we go for inspiration?
It's like pain is our only inspiration
Where do we go? What do we say? What do we do?
Nowhere to turn, nowhere to run and there's nothin new
Where do we go for inspiration?
It's like pain is our only inspiration
I come from people who stronger than time and space
Wherever there's competition you gonna find the race
I find a place in my heart for this hip-hop
And pump blood through my vein my skin get hot
I take you very serious and make you write more
If I don't celebrate I got nothing to fight for
I'm tight raw, excite y'all like nightfall
I'm tight y'all, I walk the street like y'all
About action, talk is cheap, right y'all?
You start yappin' think about the beef you might cause
The trouble you could get into
You don't study, you not prepared and cats is testin you
What you gonna do when you gotta face
The manifestation of the words that you put in space
They already there you can't take 'em out
The studio gangsta inside you tryin' to break out
Where do we go? What do we say? What do we do?
Nowhere to turn, nowhere to run and there's nothin new
Where do we go for inspiration?
It's like pain is our only inspiration
Where do we go? What do we say? What do we do?
Nowhere to turn, nowhere to run and there's nothin new
Where do we go for inspiration?
It's like pain is our only inspiration
Yea, I see a place where little boys and girls
Are shells in the oceans not knowin they a pearl
No one to hold 'em while they growin
They livin' moment to moment without a care in the whole world
Now, if I could help it I tell it just like it is
And I may say some things that you don't like to hear
I know this: that people lie, people kneel
People die, people heal, people steal, and people shed tears
What's real, blood spills, gun kill, the sun still, rise
Above me, trust me, it must be, morning, time
Wake up, the stakes up
Everybody want the cake up, to break up with the crew
But when the karma come back for what you do
It's too late to make up, some excuse
The lyrics of Talib Kweli's Here We Go speak to the rootlessness and lack of inspiration that many people face in their lives. He asks the questions, "Where do we go? What do we say? What do we do?" and acknowledges that there is nowhere to turn, nowhere to run, and nothing new. Kweli suggests that pain is the only source of inspiration available. He then begins to detail his observations of the world, including the plight of children who have no one to hold them while they grow, living moment to moment without a care.
In the second half of the song, Kweli reflects on his own roots and the importance of hip-hop to his identity. He takes his role as an artist seriously and urges others to do the same, warning of the consequences of not being prepared. He acknowledges the reality that people lie, people die, people heal, and people shed tears. The song finishes with a warning that karma will come back for what you do, and that it's too late to make excuses when it does.
Overall, Talib Kweli's Here We Go highlights the struggles of finding inspiration and grappling with the harsh realities of life, while also encouraging listeners to take responsibility for their actions and the words they put out into the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Where do we go? What do we say? What do we do?
Lost and uncertain, we question our direction and purpose
Nowhere to turn, nowhere to run and there's nothin new
Feeling trapped and devoid of options or novelty
Where do we go for inspiration?
We seek a source of motivation and creativity
It's like pain is our only inspiration
However, we often only find inspiration from our suffering and hardships
Yea, I see a place where little boys and girls
Are shells in the oceans not knowin they a pearl
No one to hold 'em while they growin
They livin' moment to moment without a care in the whole world
I observe a world where innocent children are left adrift with no guidance or knowledge of their worth
Now, if I could help it I tell it just like it is
And I may say some things that you don't like to hear
If I had the power, I would speak truthfully and openly, even if it challenges your notions
I come from people who stronger than time and space
Wherever there's competition you gonna find the race
My heritage is one of resilience and tenacity, where competition thrives
I find a place in my heart for this hip-hop
And pump blood through my vein my skin get hot
Hip hop is my passion and drives my soul
I take you very serious and make you write more
If I don't celebrate I got nothing to fight for
I value your art and encourage your growth, for without celebration, there is no motivation to strive for greater achievement
I'm tight raw, excite y'all like nightfall
I'm tight y'all, I walk the street like y'all
I am skilled and captivating, roaming the streets alongside my peers
About action, talk is cheap, right y'all?
You start yappin' think about the beef you might cause
Words alone mean nothing; one must consider the repercussions and conflicts they could instigate
What you gonna do when you gotta face
The manifestation of the words that you put in space
They already there you can't take 'em out
When your spoken words become reality, you cannot undo the effects they have caused
The studio gangsta inside you tryin' to break out
Your inner fake persona, trying to take over and influence your actions
What's real, blood spills, gun kill, the sun still, rise
Above me, trust me, it must be, morning, time
Wake up, the stakes up
The truth is harsh and violent, but time passes and dawn arrives, urging us to face the challenges ahead
Everybody want the cake up, to break up with the crew
But when the karma come back for what you do
It's too late to make up, some excuse
Everyone desires success, even if that means abandoning those who helped them get there, but eventually, their actions will come back to haunt them, and it will be too late to make amends
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES DEWITT YANCEY, SHAREESE R. BALLARD, TALIB KWELI GREENE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind