Music Preview: Talib Kweli at Emo's [Tonight]

Legendary Brooklyn MC, Blacksmith records CEO, and Ben Kweller sampler Talib Kweli rolls into Austin tonight to headline a jam-packed lineup at Emo’s. Kweli debuted in 1997, and almost immediately became an underground hero thanks to two landmark albums Rawkus albums, Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star, and Train of Thought, his collaboration with DJ Hi-Tek as Reflection Eternal. While Kweli’s solo output has been decidedly spottier, his status as a top-flight lyricist has never been questioned; what has been elusive to him is mainstream success. Although his latest LP Eardrum peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200, Kweli hasn’t yet achieved the commercial powerhouse status of a Jay-Z, Nas, or Kanye West.

Kweli has promised a full slate of touring and new albums for 2009 (although they’re essentially the same albums he said we’d have in 2008): a debut full-length from Idle Warship, his trio with Res and Graph Nobel, a brand new record and tour with Reflection Eternal, and his long-delayed fifth solo album, tentatively titled Prisoner of Conscious. Hot off a wildly successful Black Star reunion show in New York, there’s also talk of a full-on Black Star tour, but best not to get your heart set on that just yet. In the meantime, Kweli’s in town tonight before heading off on the Rock the Bells festival tour, and he’s brought his Blacksmith Records label mates Strong Arm Steady to warm up the outside stage. Local MCs Zeale and Traygod will also appear, and the whole shebang is hosted by Austin hip-hop apostle Bavu Blakes.


Talib Kweli [Official] [MySpace]
Strong Arm Steady [MySpace]
Zeale [MySpace]
Traygod [MySpace]
Bavu Blakes [MySpace] [08 So Great project at Austin Hip-Hop]