Chali 2na – Lock Shit Down video featuring Talib Kweli from the new album Fish Outta Water

Chali 2na of Jurassic 5 – Lock Shit Down featuring Talib Kweli

Reflection Eternal – Back Again video from the new Reflection Eternal album

Mos Def and Talib Kweli reunite as Black Star

Actor and rapper, Mos Def will reunite with Talib Kweli as the hip-hop super group, Black Star, for one night of two, intimate performances at the NOKIA Theatre in Times Square.

Mos Def has most recently appeared in the 2008 film Cadillac Records, which also starred Adrien Brody, Beyonce Knowles and Gabrielle Union. Mos Def is also preparing to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of his album, “Black On Both Sides,” this coming June.

Kweli is a partner in Blacksmith Music, and, coming this summer, Kweli has a new group in the works featuring RES and Graph (Idle Warship).

Blacksmith Music presents this very special hip-hop reunion in accordance with LiveNDirect Entertainment. LiveNDirect is a boutique entertainment company based in Brooklyn, which has presented performers such as Eminem, Wale, U-N-I, Kid Cudi, 50 Cent, Company Flow and Outkast in the New York City area for more than 10 years.

Corey Smyth, CEO of Blacksmith, manages such acts as Pete Rock, Jean Grae and Talib Kweli, and also works very closely with Dave Chappelle. Peter Oasis, head of LiveNDirect and Urban Booker and Consultant for AEG Live in New York City, manages Roxy Cottontail, Remixer/DJ Benzi and indie rock group, Living Days. Smyth and Oasis have been a collaborative force in the New York City music and nightlife scenes for 15 years, and are excited to produce a show at The Nokia Theatre.

“It is very exciting to be working with Corey again,” Oasis says. “We are thrilled to be teaming up to produce a large-scale event in Times Square.” Smyth is also looking forward to the project, as he says, “Collaborating with Peter Oasis is always fun, and doing a Black Star reunion show in New York is a no brainer.”

Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 27 at noon for both performances.

HI-TEK AND TALIB KWELI TO REUNITE FOR PERFORMANCES IN NEW YORK AND AUSTIN Reflection Eternal album slated for late 2009 release

It’s been nearly a decade since hip-hop wordsmith Talib Kweli and producer-impresario Hi-Tek released their critically acclaimed Train of Thought under the moniker Reflection Eternal to much fanfare.

On March 10-11, the duo will reunite for a rare performance at New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club as a part of Another Side Series presents Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek, Reflection Eternal produced by Jill Newman. Details below:

WHO: Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek) and other special guests

WHAT: Another Side Series presents Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek, Reflection Eternal produced by Jill Newman

WHEN: TUESDAY, March 10th – WEDNESDAY, May 11th @ 6pm

WHERE: The Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St., New York, NY 10012

COST: $30 @ table / $20 @ bar; additionally there is a $5.00 food and/or beverage minimum

Additionally, the two will be headlining a showcase at this year’s South by Southwest Festival in Austin, TX for a special performance at the Outdoor Stage of the Scoot Inn.

WHO: Reflection Eternal
WHAT: Performing at SXSW’s “Blacksmith Showcase”

WHEN: THURSDAY, March 19th @ 1am
WHERE: The Scoot Inn – Outdoor stage, 1308 E. 4th St., Austin, TX 78702

Having established their success with individual careers, Hi-Tek and Talib Kweli recently announced that they are busy working on their long-awaited follow-up album Reflection Eternal due out later this year. With their previous effort lauded for its uplifting and prolific messages, Kweli’s impressive delivery and Hi-Tek’s legendary production skills have made this project one of the most anticipated hip-hop albums to drop in 2009.

Music Video featuring music producer, journalist, and MC John Forte and Blacksmith Entertainment’s MC/CEO, Talib Kweli. Recorded soon after John’s release from Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution December 22, 2008.

Novel – I Am video featuring Ben Folds, Talib Kweli and Spree Wilson from the album, The Audiobiography

Directed By Philip Sportel.

LOUD.com brings you an EXCLUSIVE new video from Talib Kweli “The Perfect Beat” featuring KRS-ONE from the album Eardrum

Talib Kweli, David Banner, Little Brother and B.O.B. Merge Rhymes and Live Instrumentation on the 2nd year of the Groundbreaking National Hip Hop Live! Tour

HIP HOP LIVE!, the groundbreaking national tour presented by Flow TV, (www.flow.tv) and produced by The Agency Group, is proud to announce the sophomore version of their critically acclaimed annual outing. Beginning September 28th at Cane’s in San Diego and making its way east to end at the Nokia Theater in Times Square, NYC on October 25th, Hip Hop Live! brings you Hip Hop notables Talib Kweli, David Banner, Little Brother and B.O.B (who split duties as the tour’s opener). Each of the acts will take the stage backed by heralded 10-Piece live band Rhythm Roots All Stars for unique versions of the songs they have made mainstays.

The 19 city run will make history again featuring the cultural straight shooting of visionary Talib Kweli, moving forward full steam off his incredibly successful and acclaimed Ear Drum LP; David Banner riding the success of his chart topping smash single “Get Like Me” off his new album The Greatest Story Ever Told; Little Brother, fresh off a wave of high profile festival appearances, bring a top-notch, high energy live show; B.O.B., much hyped guitar wielding ATL rapper and producer, rounds out the dynamic line up. Also, look for special guest appearances in various cities along the tour.

The Rhythm Roots All Stars are a collective of the industries best musicians, who have performed/recorded with such notables as Black Eyed Peas, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Outkast, and the list goes on.

Last year’s Hip Hop Live! Tour featured Ghostface Killah, Rakim and Brother Ali, all backed by the All Stars, and was a huge success, selling out nearly all of the 18 shows.

“Hip Hop Live! proved that hip-hop lives”, XXL Magazine

THE DATES:

(w/ Little Brother)

Sun-Sep-28 San Diego, CA @ Canes
Tue-Sep-30 Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues
Thu-Oct-02 San Francisco, CA @ Grand Ballroom
Fri-Oct-03 Portland, OR @ Roseland
Sat-Oct-04 Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theater
Sun-Oct-05 Seattle, WA @ Showbox Sodu
Wed-Oct-08 Boulder, CO @ Fox Theater
Fri-Oct-10 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
Mon-Oct-13 Bloomington, IN @ Bluebird

(w/ B.O.B.)

Sat-Oct-18 Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre
Sun-Oct-19 Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
Mon-Oct-20 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Thu-Oct-23 Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
Fri-Oct-24 Boston, MA @ Showcase Live!
Sat-Oct-25 New York, NY @ Nokia Theatre

*more dates to be announced!

(Mad) Skillz – So Far So Good video featuring Talib Kweli / So Sick video from The Million Dollar Backpack