Biography of Talib Kweli

Brooklyn native Talib Kweli became one of the hottest MCs in underground rap with his recordings for the New York-based Rawkus label. While still just a teenager, Kweli met DJ Hi-Tek (b. Tony Cottrell) on a trip to Cincinnati in 1994, and the two hit it off. Hi-Tek served as the DJ for the Cincinnati rap group Mood, and Kweli contributed several verses to their 1997 debut Doom. Impressed by each other's work, Kweli and Hi-Tek formed a recording partnership under the name Reflection Eternal, frequently taking the bus back and forth between their respective hometowns to work together. All the hard work and travel paid off when the duo signed to Rawkus and released the acclaimed single "Fortified Live." Next, Kweli hooked up with labelmate Mos Def to form Black Star; after several well-received singles, the duo recorded a full-length album, known variously as Black Star or Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star. Released in 1998, the album attracted glowing notices from critics who anointed Def and Kweli as the heirs to the Native Tongues throne. Black Star went on hiatus in favor of hotly anticipated solo projects from both members (Def's Black on Both Sides was released to rapturous reviews in 1999). In late 2000, Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek issued their full-length debut, which was titled Reflection Eternal but credited to both individually. ~ Steve Huey

Biography of Soulive

Brothers Alan and Neal Evans, on drums and Hammond B-3 organ, respectively, form two-thirds of the soul/groove trio Soulive. Rounding out the group is Eric Krasno on guitar. The band was formed in the late '90s when all three members were under 25 years old. However, each already had a substantial background in the "jam band" scene. Alan and Neal are former members of Moon Boot Lover, and Alan also played with the Greyboy Allstars. Krasno founded the super-funky Lettuce, a wildly popular Boston-based band.Though originally from Vermont, Soulive is essentially Boston-based as well. The band toured with and opened for a number of notables (including John Scofield, Maceo Parker, Los Lobos, Derek Trucks, and Robben Ford) before headlining their own shows and releasing their introductory EP, Get Down, in 1999. Their debut full-length release, Turn It Out, followed the next year. Doin' Something, featuring John Scofield, was issued in March 2001.Soulive is all about danceable, organ-driven instrumental groove-jazz. Their success is a result of fusing the soul-jazz of the past with a modern hip-hop feel. Krasno's spidery yet very direct guitar lines recall Grant Green. The rhythmic concepts employed date back to those learned from artists such as James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and Sly Stone.Their first release was a self-pressed EP entitled Get Down! The band's full-length debut, Turn It Out (featuring John Scofield), was released on the Velour label in 2000. That release generated such a buzz that they were promptly picked up by Blue Note, which released Doin' Something in early 2001. About a year later, Next was released, followed by Soulive in 2003. Breakout appeared from Concord in 2005, while a series of individual concerts were made available on Instant Live Records in 2004 and 2006, followed by No Place Like Soul on Stax in 2007. ~ Ann Wickstrom