Talib Kweli

Is Killer Mike Is the Best Rapper Alive in 2013?

Editor: Tef Poe is an artist from St. Louis city. Through powerful imagery and complicated honesty, he has earned a reputation as one of the best rappers telling the story of St. Louis, which is about much more than one place. Poe has been featured in music publications such as XXL and Urb Magazine. ... More >>

106 & Park's Freestyle Friday Champ Tef Poe Releases New Song: Listen

[Update 2/1/13: Tef Poe just won Freestyle Friday again! In addition, since this post was originally published Tef released his latest mixtape, The Hero Killer (produced by DJ Trackstar) on January 21 in anticipation of the upcoming album Cheer For The Villain. He also took home the awards for Best ... More >>

The Ten Best Shows In St. Louis This Weekend: December 21 to 23

So yeah, in case you missed it: Hello, I will be your new music editor starting January 7. I now completely believe that the world is going to end this weekend, because the fact that I got myself a full-time job that I don't hate is frankly too good to be true. Actually, wouldn't it be funny if I ... More >>

Talib Kweli

7 p.m. Saturday, December 22. Old Rock House, 1200 South Seventh Street.

Out Every Night: The Best Shows From December 17 to 23

Plenty of excellent shows this week; particularly as we enter the weekend -- local releases galore. We'll get into that in more detail on the weekend post though. Supposedly, the world is ending this weekend as well. I know what you are thinking, and I don't really buy it either, but then again the ... More >>

Timmy Stallone is the St. Louis Rap Rookie of the Year

Editor: Tef Poe is an artist from St. Louis City. Through powerful imagery and complicated honesty, he has earned a reputation as one of the best rappers telling the story of St. Louis, which is about much more than one place. Poe has been featured in music publications such as XXL and Urb Magazine. ... More >>

Talib Kweli, Bloc Party, They Might Be Giants and More: New Show Announcements

Here again: every newly announced show for the week! On page one you'll find a quick list of shows that particularly caught our attention, followed by embedded YouTube videos; there, you can check out some of the artists you may not be familiar with. Page two contains our complete listing of new sho ... More >>

50-Plus St. Louis Hip-Hop Artists You Should Know

Editor: Tef Poe is an artist from St. Louis City. Through powerful imagery and complicated honesty, he has earned a reputation as one of the best rappers telling the story of St. Louis, which is about much more than one place. Poe has been featured in music publications such as XXL and Urb Magazine. ... More >>

The Vijay Iyer Trio combines math, diplomacy and dancing

It's a Man's World

Black Milk at the Gramophone, 3/11/12: Review

Black Milk | J. Pinder | A.Dd The Gramophone March 11, 2012 One of the Motor City's finest underground emcees, Black Milk, made a stop in the Grove last night, bringing with him an impressive lineup of hip-hop acts from across the country for his Claps and Slaps tour. Unfortunately, hardly anybody ... More >>

Idle Warship at 2720 Cherokee: Review

Idle Warship | SoundClash 2720 Cherokee February 15, 2012 Since setting up shop in the burgeoning Cherokee Street Art District in 2009, 2720 has made a name for itself in the national club scene as one of the top venues for street-inspired dance music. Last night's performance with Talib Kweli in ... More >>

Shabazz Palaces, Idle Warship Lead This Week's Show Announcements

Shabazz Palaces is genius. 2011's Black Up made instant waves as the left-field "hip-hop" release of the year; the spare, esoteric beats percolate under Ishmael Butler's outré flows, and the fine folks at the Luminary have booked them on April 24. Idle Warship, made up of Talib Kweli and soul songs ... More >>

Ten Musicians Who Support Occupy Wall Street

Adbusters​"Occupy Wall Street" started out as a 1,000-person mid-September protest in a New York City park against, among other things, financial disparity and corporate influence. Since that time that protest has grown into a nationwide movement, spurring on the creation of "Occupy" spinoffs ... More >>

Midwest Rapper Frankie Flowers Turns Struggles Into Stories

Frankie Flowers has a story to tell. ​In January 2008, Frankie Flowers could either put the little money he had toward rent or studio time. He had moved down to Los Angeles from his hometown Milwaukee a few months before to pursue his hip-hop career. He lived with his uncle, who worked at Univ ... More >>

Talib Kweli at Pop's, 4/19/11: Review

Photo by Jon Gitchoff​ Talib Kweli/Fred the Godson/Dusty Wallets/Earthworms Pop's Nightclub and Concert Venue Tuesday, April 19 Not to be discouraged by the lightning, hail and winds that tore through the area last night, fans of alternative hip-hop ventured out to see one of the genre's pre ... More >>

Talib Kweli/Fred the Godson/Earthworms

Doors at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 19. Pop’s, 401 Monsanto Avenue, Sauget, Illinois.

Show Announcements: Week of March 10

image viaFlo is coming to town! After two years in the indie darling hopper, the flame-haired songstress and her band Florence The Machine has catapulted to mainstream recognition, thanks to a Best New Artist nom and perfomances at the Oscars and Grammys.​Apop Records *Holy Sheet, March 16 * ... More >>

Talib Kweli Coming to Pop's

Talib Kweli, the emcee who's collaborated with HI-Tek, Mos Def and MadLib, will be coming to Pop's on Tuesday, April 19. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 day of show and are on sale March 11 at 5 p.m. Kweli's fourth solo album, Gutter Rainbows, came out last fall. "Never Been in Love"

Last Collector Standing: Kate Eddens on Working at Thrill Jockey and Vintage Vinyl, and Her Musical Education (and Evolution)

Jon Scorfina​As major record labels have struggled to adjust to the new digital landscape, independent labels have thrived by sticking to the tried and true demand for vinyl. We caught up with Kate Eddens, a former employee of both Thrill Jockey records and Vintage Vinyl, at her south city hom ... More >>

2010 Music Showcase: 1 night, 50+ bands, 5 bucks this Saturday on Wash. Ave.

Bradd Young steps back into the spotlight as a solo artist

The Best of 2009 in Music

Rock the Bells Hip-Hop Tour Stopping in Columbia

Over the last few years, the Rock the Bells tour has grown from a series of one-off shows into a full-scale touring entity -- although its aim (to showcase the best, most innovative hip-hop artists) hasn't changed.On Monday, August 24, the tour will stop at the Blue Note in Columbia. Performing will ... More >>

RFT Music Awards Nominees & Showcase Performers

Fifth Anniversary of the One Dollar Mix, DJ Trackstar's Debut CD, All Tonight at the Gramophone

Nas/Talib Kweli/ Jay Electronica

8 p.m. Wednesday, September 3. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Boulevard

Exclusive MP3: Kidz in the Hall featuring Nato Caliph, Talib Kweli, Bun B, "Work To Do" (remix)

Download Trackstar's Boogie Bang 13 Here

2008 Bonnaroo Lineup Announced: Metallica, Pearl Jam, Sigur Ros, Jack Johnson, Death Cab for Cutie, more

AA Bondy reinvents himself as an indie-folk artist

Face the Nation

We find out what rocked across the country in 2007.

Free St. Louis Hip-Hop Mixes to Download

Young Emcee

Kids don't listen to what teacher's putting down? Gabe Moskoff, a.k.a. DJ Trackstar, wants to reach them through rap.

The Roots / Talib Kweli / the Pharcyde

Doors at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 27. The Pageant (6161 Delmar Boulevard).

Spray-On Soul

Getting Up is a flawed but fascinating ode to graffiti 's early years.

Sounds Around Town

Week of May 12, 2004

Talib Kweli and MF Doom

Sunday, May 16; Mississippi Nights

Fade to Black

Jay-Z signs off with The Black Album

Soeur Thing

Les Nubians take one big step forward for humankind

The Roots

Phrenology (MCA)

Christian Science Monitor

Unorthodox rapper Jonathan Getzschman keeps his ear to pop culture

Embarrassment of Riches

At the top of our growing pile of local CDs is one from Doze Mary Pool, a new band with extravagant, soaring guitar pop, dreamy/dramatic vocal melodies and swooshy arrangements

Hi-Tek

Hi-Teknology (Rawkus)

Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek

Reflection Eternal: Train of Thought; Rawkus

Lyricist Lounge Tour featuring Mos Def

Thursday, Oct. 5; Firehouse

Dilated Peoples, Jurassic 5 and Talib Kweli

Thursday, May 4; Galaxy

De La Soul, Pharoahe Monch and Biz Markie

Monday, Dec. 13; Club Monastery

HIP-HOP FROM THE TOP

Underground rap comes up from The Basement, DJ Needles' program on The Beat (100.3 FM)

Meet the Beat

Hip-hop's here. Deal with it. Check the local MCs and DJs moving up from the underground.