Talib Kweli @ The Jazz Cafe

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Talib Kweli, TALIB KWELI, was coming to the Jazz Cafe to do an intimate gig. Not a tribute act, not a DJ set, a full live gig.

One half of Black Star, who created along with Hi-Tek, in my opinion, the best hip-hop album of the ‘90’s. (Yup, I said it. My article, my opinion - although I’m sure it’ll spark quite the debate in the Wordplay WhatsApp group, haha!) And the man who has collaborated with everyone from Kanye to Roy Ayers, Pharaoh Monch, Anderson .Paak, Common, MF DOOM, Mac Miller etc etc but is equally talented when he creates alone.

Everyone loves to work with him because of the sheer quality he brings to everything he touches and last Friday was no exception. Confident and engaged from the moment he touched the stage, he was chatting with the crowd and spudding fans (including me, never washing that hand again), using the whole length of the platform making sure everyone was included.

He did tracks classic and new, solo work and collaborations where he filled in flawlessly for the missing party. The sound was great and his voice was clear.

I’d spotted a pretty fly looking entourage waiting in the wings while he’d been performing and lo and behold halfway through he brings out the Sugarhill Gang as his special guests. The place went crazy. They performed their classics with energy and style. They had so much funk in them it was like being transported back to the ‘70’s.

Kweli performed for about another half hour then it was time to say a reluctant goodbye, via an impressive encore (or adult peek-a-boo as Instagram would have it). It was an exhilarating night and in Kweli’s own words ‘one of the best of my hip-hop life’. It was a privilege to have been there.

Get the new Black Star album now from Bandcamp 

Check the Jazz Cafe insta and website for up coming gigs.

Words & Pictures: Kate Vice