Listening to any Kweli track makes clear why he’s among the most respected rappers and lyricists. The Brooklyn artist first gained national recognition in ’97 when he teamed up with Yasiin Bey (né Mos Def) for the seminal and definitive Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, an album that ushered in hip hop for the new millennium. His ability to deliver a smooth flow on the beautiful struggle of life, the systematic racism and oppression of the poor and the hope needed to get by has made him musical catnip for megastars. Names like DJ Quik, John Legend and Danger Mouse have collaborated on his socially conscious bangers. It doesn’t get any more real than Talib Kweli.
Tue, 7pm, $35/adv, $40/door
Ritz, San Jose
