From Powells.com
Hot new releases and under-the-radar gems for adults and kids.
Synopses & Reviews
From one of the most lyrically gifted, socially conscious rappers of the past twenty years, Vibrate Higher is a firsthand account of hip-hop as a political force
Before Talib Kweli became a world-renowned hip hop artist, he was a Brooklyn kid who liked to cut class, spit rhymes, and wander the streets of Greenwich Village with a motley crew of artists, rappers, and DJs who found hip hop more inspiring than their textbooks (much to the chagrin of the educator parents who had given their son an Afrocentric name in hope of securing for him a more traditional sense of pride and purpose). Kweli's was the first generation to grow up with hip hop as established culture — a genre of music that has expanded to include its own pantheon of heroes, rich history and politics, and distinct worldview.
Eventually, childhood friendships turned into collaborations and Kweli gained notoriety as a rapper in his own right. From collaborating with some of hip hop's greatest — including Mos Def, Common, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, and Kendrick Lamar — to selling books out of the oldest African-American bookstore in Brooklyn, and ultimately leaving his record label and taking control of his own recording career, Kweli tells the winding, always compelling story of the people and events that shaped his own life as well as the culture of hip hop which informs American culture at large.
Vibrate Higher illuminates Talib Kweli's upbringing and artistic success, but so too does it give life to hip hop as a political force — one that galvanized the Movement for Black Lives, and serves a continual channel for resistance against the rising tide of white nationalism.
Review
"A valuable memoir." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Music lovers, both fans of Kweli and those less familiar with him, will be gratified by this evocative story of how he has drawn from experiences to craft his art." Library Journal
Review
"Hip-hop musician Kweli recounts his rise through the music industry and shares his thoughts on current events in this outspoken and enthusiastic memoir....Kweli's fans are in for a treat." Publishers Weekly
Review
"With a direct and detailed style....As a time capsule of autobiography and hip-hop history, this will more than speak to Kweli's many fans." Booklist
Review
"Talib Kweli is one of the most important voices and minds of our generation. His work across the board always makes me think on a higher level and see things in a new way, and all the while it's done with quality and excellence. This book is an excursion into the minds of one our great ones." Common
Review
"Talib Kweli is a hip hop mirror ball, distributing light everywhere. For years, he's seen things, heard things — worldwide. It bodes the reader well to journey his mind and experiences in this book." Chuck D
Review
"Thank you my dear brother Talib for these birth/family memories and your artistic/poetic Now words reminding us that we are indebted to your generation of poets/rappers for continuing the Trinity of Black language/music/and activism. Your brilliant life of poetry reminds us that A Luta Continua." Sister Sonia Sanchez
About the Author
Talib Kweli is one of the world's most talented and accomplished hip-hop artists. Whether working with Mos Def as one half of Black Star, partnering with the producer Hi-Tek for Reflection Eternal, releasing landmark solo material, or collaborating with Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Just Blaze, J Dilla, or Madlib, Kweli commands attention by delivering top-tier lyricism, crafting captivating stories, and showing the ability to rhyme over virtually any type of instrumental.
In 2011, Kweli founded Javotti Media, "a platform for independent thinkers and doers." Kweli hopes to make Javotti Media into a media powerhouse that releases music, films, and books.
Kweli is the author of Vibrate Higher: A Rap Story.