Talib Kweli

Success stories like Talib Kweli rarely happen in the rap game. An underground icon circa the slamming Black Star singles "Respiration" and "Definition," Kweli went his own way soon afterward, much like his partner in rhyme, Mos Def. That's meant a gradual move to the thought-provoking sector of mainstream hip-hop, signaled first by the hungry horns and timpani rolls of "Move Somethin'," followed by the throwback cowbell clang of "Broken Glass," the piano-led chase scene "Get By," and more.

This installment of Next Steps spotlights two solid but very different sides to Talib Kweli. In one corner, you get the classic conscious-rap cuts on which he and Mos Def melded together perfectly, from the new jack swing of "Know That" to the stand-up string routines of "This Means You" and "Joy." And in the other stands a preview of Kweli tracks to come from the official Right About Now mix CD, including the Mexican jumping bean synths of "Flash Gordon" and the ecstatic flow of "K.O.S."

Talib Kweli made his name by rising from the rap underground, so you can bet his hidden gems shine like the finest bling. Solo-wise, "Guerilla Monsoon Rap" gets dark and driving, and "Ghetto Afterlife" hammers home a barrage of piano hooks. As for Kweli's guest work, it doesn't get much tighter than the unrefined live rap of "Rolling with Heat," the Saturday morning cartoon revival "Old School," the post-nasal drip of "Ridin'," or the televised revolution of "My Favorite Mutiny."

Now that Talib Kweli's skills are finally starting to pay his bills — as commercial radio, alongside critics, recognizes his rhymes — it's interesting to see just how the MC evolved with the times over the course of the past decade. Emerging in 1998 as one-half of Black Star, he quickly became pegged as a leader in a return to hip-hop's golden age, a time when innovative verses were valued as much as raucous drum breaks and samples. Over the years, he's taken that attitude to another level, crafting a solid solo debut alongside producer Hi Tek (Reflection Eternal — Train of Thought), and following that up with such spitfire tracks as "Supreme Supreme," "Flash Gordon," and "Broken Glass." Toss in some slick R&B/rap duets (featuring Mary J. Blige on "I Try" and Faith Evans on "We Know"), and it's clear that Kweli is in the game for the long run.