Talib Kweli [ tickets ]'s musical career made its first inroads through his
collaborations with DJ Hi-Tek in 1997 and Mos Def [ tickets ] in 1998. By 2004, he was booked to support the Beastie Boys [ tickets ] on tour, and appearances on MTV's "Wild 'N Out" and Comedy Central's "Chappelle's Show" followed.

In 2006, he made his parents--both professors--proud by teaming up with Mos Def to purchase Nkiru, a historic Brooklyn-based African American-owned bookstore, and converting it into The Nkiru Center for Education and Culture.

The artist's latest release, "Eardrum," features production from Kanye West [ tickets ], Madlib [ tickets ], Will.I.Am [ tickets ], and old friend DJ Hi-Tek, with guests appearances by Norah Jones [ tickets ] and UGK [ tickets ].

LiveDaily's Tim Mosenfelder attended "KMEL Summer Jam 2005" in Mountain View, CA, and took some shots of Kweli in action.