Talib Kweli Greene (born October 3, 1975 in Brooklyn, New York) is a North … Read Full Bio ↴Talib Kweli Greene (born October 3, 1975 in Brooklyn, New York) is a North American MC known as one of the most prominent rappers in underground hip-hop, and is critically acclaimed frequently, despite not being commercially successful. Kweli first gained recognition through Black Star, a collaboration with fellow MC Mos Def. He released his solo debut album Quality in 2002 and has since released 2004's The Beautiful Struggle, 2005's mixtape album Right About Now, 2007's Eardrum, 2011's Gutter Rainbows and 2013's Prisoner of Conscious. He has also released two albums with Hi-Tek under the name Reflection Eternal and a collaboration album with Madlib in 2007 plus two albums with Res under the name Idle Warship.

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.

Raise The Bar
Talib Kweli Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴

(woman: just give me a try!)
[Verse 1]
(what we gon' do? yeah)
We gon' work, we gon' play
We gon' lead the way
We gon' say everything that we need to say
Then get ghost in the breeze to blow the leaves away
MCs today, it's like they throwin' our seeds away

But that ain't for me to say, right?
It ain't got to be this way
We gon' take charge, make gods out of men
We gon' raise bars, show why'all how to win
Hit the rally, hit the riot, get the party started
Respect the words you herbs, it's the Kwelity artist
I solemnly promised the knowledge will demolish your college
Admonishes scholars, you acknowledge the dollars (yeah)
Want me to payola? Man I don't even know that boy, I'm takin' over
Keepin' it fresh like bakin' soda in your fridge
I keep Brooklyn like Jamaica so ???

[Hook]
That's how it is,

Overall Meaning

I interpret these lyrics as an anthem for taking control and making change. The opening line, "We gon' work, we gon' play" sets a tone of determination and perseverance in achieving success. The focus then shifts to leadership, with the line "We gon' lead the way," suggesting the singer's confidence in their own ability to guide and inspire others. They also assert that they will speak their minds, as they say "We gon' say everything that we need to say."

The next line is particularly striking: "Then get ghost in the breeze to blow the leaves away." This invokes a sense of impermanence and possibility, suggesting that after speaking their piece, the singer and their allies will disappear into the wind, leaving behind a clean slate on which to write new stories.

The following lines expand on this idea, calling out MCs for "throwin' away" their own potential, but making it clear that the singer is not interested in judging or dwelling on negativity. Instead, they assert their intent to "raise bars" and impart knowledge that will "demolish" conventional thinking. The final lines tie it all back to the singer's identity as a Brooklyn-native, suggesting that they will always represent their roots, but will also transcend them.

Overall, I see "Raise the Bar" as a call to action, urging listeners to seize their power and create change in their own lives and beyond. It's a statement of confidence and determination, and an expression of hope for a brighter future.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: C OROC, PENELOPE MC CLENDON, TALIB KWELI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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