Talib Kweli Greene, born on October 3, 1975, in Brooklyn, New York, is an American rapper known for his insightful and socially conscious lyrics. He grew up in a household that valued education, with his mother, Brenda Greene, being an English professor and his father an administrator at Adelphi University.

His younger brother, Jamal Greene, is a professor of constitutional law at Columbia Law School. His early exposure to Afrocentric rappers like De La Soul influenced his musical direction.

His career began in 1997 with his debut on the album "Doom" by the group Mood. He later formed the duo Black Star with fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def, releasing the critically acclaimed album "Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star" in 1998.

This album, produced by Hi-Tek, marked a renaissance of conscious hip hop. Kweli continued to collaborate with Hi-Tek under the name Reflection Eternal, releasing the album "Train of Thought" in 2000.

As a solo artist, Talib Kweli has worked with notable producers and artists such as Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Pharrell Williams. His solo albums include "Quality" (2002), which features the hit single "Get By," and "The Beautiful Struggle" (2004). In 2011, he founded his own record label, Javotti Media, which aims to be a platform for independent thinkers and doers.

Some of his best songs include "Get By," "The Blast," "Hot Thing," and "Never Been in Love." His work has earned him several award nominations, including a BET Hip Hop Award in 2014 for his song "State of Grace" and nominations for MTVU Woodie Awards and Soul Train Awards.