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.
Rush
Talib Kweli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They come to me for the lyrical, spiritual, raw shit I spit at you
Original, and I see collective, not individual
Visual, on the mic I'm un-fuck-wit-able
Invincible, official nigga who they come to
For the hardcore, art of war, rhymes that I got in store
Triple W in curo son dot org
Do the album with Kweli, we do it like we suppose to
Nobody come close to my crew, we wild nice
You ain't tight, your rhymes is like what a child writes
When he can't spell, you chase crumbs and get ate like Han-sel
Can't hold your mic, like your liquor, your style like an Amstel
Smack a nigga til my motherfuckin hands swell
You ain't fly and you prolly guy can't sell
y'all niggas shaky like handheld, amuteur camera work
In walking this planet of earth
I'm the illest emcee and a man of my word
When I came out, niggaz didn't understand it at first
I'm known to roll up my sleeves and put my hands in the dirt
We at war and I got a battle plan that can work
With the proper execution so I'm killin' the mic
You get hit like a deer standin' still in the light
I'm spillin' it like, I ain't never had a meal in my life
Feed my family with my pen, it's so real what I write
We fight, fuck, get buckwild
Kill, chill, make love, have child
Freestyle, b-boy, hit the block
Build, destroy, get it hot
Yo, I make the place go apeshit (c'mon)
Ain't no other way to say it, ain't nuttin to play with
I'm Langston Hughes, "Dreams Deferred" seen and heard in the flesh
Cause so many people believe the word even when it seems absurd
With keen observation I peep the game
And got blood on his hands, I can see the stains
My street slang spray like shots when heat bang out
Niggas keep my name in they mouth, I put they flame out
Where I'm from, action is first and talk is second
I'm sharp like the blade in the logo of Rawkus Records
New York's infected, niggaz beefin' on the mix-tape
Got Nickelback niggaz thinkin' they can fuck with big weight
Hell no, give it up, it's enough
We about to live it up, with ten of us
We ride and you live with us
Pick it up, party people, you about to get in touch
Give it up, everybody, you about to get a rush
You can find Kweli in the cut, wth a Cohiba lit up bout to split a Dutch
Get it up, everybody, you about to get in touch
Give it up, everybody, you about to get a rush (woo!)
Yeah, yeah
Quality material
Yo, check this out
Yeah, you heard it
Kweli
You don't know how to say it by now, fuck you
Broadcastin' live, from Brooklyn, New York City
Yeah, turn this shit up
It's Quality music
You know how we use it
Feel the rush
Feel the rush
In "Rush," Talib Kweli uses his lyrics to assert his dominance in the rap game. He boasts about his lyrical ability and how others come to him for "the hardcore, art of war, rhymes" that he has in store. He also mentions his collaboration with another rapper, Mos Def, and how they plan to do it "like we're supposed to." He continues with his dominance theme, claiming he is unstoppable and that nobody can come close to his crew.
The second verse shifts the tone to a more aggressive, street-level vibe. He talks about his ability to make the "place go apeshit" and how he's seen and heard like a "Dreams Deferred" by Langston Hughes. He also addresses the beefs in the rap game and how talk is cheap, but action is first in his neighborhood. The verse ends with him rallying the listeners to "pick it up, party people, you about to get in touch" and "you about to get a rush."
Kweli's use of vivid imagery and confident lyricism showcases his skills as a rapper and his determination to be the best in the game. The song's energy and intensity also demonstrate his ability to connect with his audience and get them hyped up.
Line by Line Meaning
They come to me for the lyrical, spiritual, raw shit I spit at you
I am known for my exceptional lyrics, spiritual without the sugarcoating, and raw rhymes
Original, and I see collective, not individual
My style is distinct, and I prioritize the collective over personal success
Visual, on the mic I'm un-fuck-wit-able
My delivery is so captivating that it's impossible to imitate or outshine me
Invincible, official nigga who they come to
I am considered invincible in hip-hop and the go-to rapper for serious lyricism
For the hardcore, art of war, rhymes that I got in store
I specialize in creating hardcore, battle-ready rhymes based on the art of war, and I have plenty in store
Triple W in curo son dot org
Head over to curoson.org to visit my website
For education and culture, heads is waitin' for Mos to
My website is committed to education and culture, and Mos Def is coming for a collaboration
Do the album with Kweli, we do it like we suppose to
Mos Def and I will do a collaboration album that will live up to people's expectations
Nobody come close to my crew, we wild nice
My team is unbeatable in terms of talent and overall awesomeness
You ain't tight, your rhymes is like what a child writes
Your rhymes are amateurish and lack creativity or skill
When he can't spell, you chase crumbs and get ate like Han-sel
You're going after crumbs and getting consumed like Hansel and Gretel in the wood
Can't hold your mic, like your liquor, your style like an Amstel
You can't handle the mic, much like how you can't hold your liquor, and your style is weak like Amstel beer
Smack a nigga til my motherfuckin hands swell
I'm not afraid to use violence to establish my dominance over weak opponents
You ain't fly and you prolly guy can't sell
Your career isn't going anywhere, and you're not marketable
y'all niggas shaky like handheld, amuteur camera work
Your skills are shaky like unsteady amateur camera work
In walking this planet of earth
As I move through life and interact with others
I'm the illest emcee and a man of my word
I am the best rapper alive and always keep true to my promises
When I came out, niggaz didn't understand it at first
When I first emerged in the hip-hop scene, many people were confused by my style
I'm known to roll up my sleeves and put my hands in the dirt
I am not afraid to dirty my hands and work hard to accomplish my goals
We at war and I got a battle plan that can work
Hip-hop is a battlefield, and I have a winning strategy
With the proper execution so I'm killin' the mic
If I properly execute my rhymes, the mic won't stand a chance
You get hit like a deer standin' still in the light
You'll get hit by my rhymes like a deer standing frozen in headlights
I'm spillin' it like, I ain't never had a meal in my life
I'm spitting my rhymes out with desperation and hunger, like I've never had a meal before
Feed my family with my pen, it's so real what I write
My rhymes are real and come from a genuine place that allows me to provide for my family
We fight, fuck, get buckwild
We engage in aggressive, energetic behavior
Kill, chill, make love, have child
We experience various aspects of life, such as death, relaxation, romance, and reproduction
Freestyle, b-boy, hit the block
We embrace hip-hop culture by freestyling, breakdancing, and taking to the streets
Build, destroy, get it hot
We build up our community, break down barriers, and heat things up
Yo, I make the place go apeshit (c'mon)
My rhymes and energy are so powerful that I rile up the crowd and make them go wild
Ain't no other way to say it, ain't nuttin to play with
There's no easier way to explain my talent and skill, and I'm not someone to joke around with
I'm Langston Hughes, "Dreams Deferred" seen and heard in the flesh
I am a modern-day Langston Hughes, and the imagery in my rhymes represents the deferred dreams of black people
Cause so many people believe the word even when it seems absurd
My rhymes are so powerful that they can make people believe things that might seem unbelievable at first
With keen observation I peep the game
I am a careful observer of human nature and understand the dynamics of the industry
And got blood on his hands, I can see the stains
I can see the aggression and violence that some people in the industry engage in
My street slang spray like shots when heat bang out
My street-smart rhymes are as potent as gunshots
Niggas keep my name in they mouth, I put they flame out
People like to talk about me, but my talent speaks for itself and puts their own fires out
Where I'm from, action is first and talk is second
In my neighborhood, we prioritize action over empty words
I'm sharp like the blade in the logo of Rawkus Records
My rhymes are as sharp as the blade in the logo of my record label, Rawkus Records
New York's infected, niggaz beefin' on the mix-tape
New York is embroiled in beefs and competition over mix-tapes
Got Nickelback niggaz thinkin' they can fuck with big weight
Even inferior rappers with no talent believe that they can challenge me
Hell no, give it up, it's enough
No, they should just stop and recognize that they're no match for me
We about to live it up, with ten of us
I'm about to hang out with my crew and have a good time
We ride and you live with us
If you're with us, you become a part of our crew and experiences
Pick it up, party people, you about to get in touch
Get ready, everyone, you're about to feel the energy of this party
Give it up, everybody, you about to get a rush
Everyone, prepare to get excited and hyped up
You can find Kweli in the cut, wth a Cohiba lit up bout to split a Dutch
You can find me relaxing on the sidelines with a lit Cohiba cigar, preparing to roll up a Dutch.
Get it up, everybody, you about to get in touch
Everyone, prepare to feel the energy of this party
Give it up, everybody, you about to get a rush (woo!)
Get ready, everyone, you're about to feel the highs of this amazing experience.
Yeah, you heard it
Yeah, you heard what we said
Kweli
It's Talib Kweli, saying his name for the record
You don't know how to say it by now, fuck you
If you still can't pronounce my name correctly after all these years, then I don't care about you
Broadcastin' live, from Brooklyn, New York City
I am broadcasting live from the heart of Brooklyn, New York City
It's Quality music
This is high-quality music being produced
You know how we use it
You already know how we utilize our music
Yeah, turn this shit up
I want the volume up and the energy level high
Feel the rush
Experience the energetic rush and excitement of this music.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Dorsey Wesley, Talib Greene
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind