Publishers Weekly
11/30/2020
Hip-hop musician Kweli recounts his rise through the music industry and shares his thoughts on current events in this outspoken and enthusiastic memoir. Kweli shares his upbringing as a “supernerd” from a middle-class Brooklyn family who went to boarding school and later incorporated Afro-centric philosophy into his “Black consciousness” hip-hop style. He narrates his rise as a whirl of deals and tours, collaborations with celebrities including Jay-Z and Dave Chappelle, recording sessions, and confrontations with industry execs who mismarketed his music and business managers who neglected his finances. Kweli is effusive about most of the musicians he knows, and waxes mystically about the “vibe”—a blend of social scene and creative ferment—at the metaphysical heart of musical collaboration. (“A vibe cannot be re-created; it can only be appreciated for what it is.”) On nonmusic matters, he revisits his activism at the Ferguson, Mo., protests after the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown, chastises President Trump and Kanye West for promoting white supremacy, battles tirelessly with racists on Twitter, and weighs in on his privilege (“As a straight American male, I was born into at least three oppressor groups”). The tone leans toward the hyperbolic at times, but the prose remains strong throughout. Kweli’s fans are in for a treat. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
"A plain-spoken striver’s tale that affectingly charts Kweli’s rise." —Allison Stewart, THE WASHINGTON POST
"Vibrate Higher: A Rap Story shows how hip-hop inspires alternative education. With a music career spanning over two decades, Kweli has never swayed from themes of Black Freedom" —Darryl Robertson, USA TODAY
"This memoir confirms what [Kweli's] work has communicated for years, demonstrating the sharp, nimble mind of an insatiable cultural omnivore... Whether discussing how he used to cut school to hone his rapping skills in Washington Square Park or recounting how he took his maternal grandmother, “the Obama Mama,” as his guest to the White House, Kweli turns back the pages of hip-hop history for music fans and has something to offer readers unfamiliar with his work. By the end of the book, even that latter group will appreciate the author’s standing as one of the most respected emcees in hip-hop." —KIRKUS REVIEWS
"[An] outspoken and enthusiastic memoir. Kweli shares his upbringing as a “supernerd” from a middle-class Brooklyn family who went to boarding school and later incorporated Afro-centric philosophy into his “Black consciousness” hip-hop style. He narrates his rise as a whirl of deals and tours...Kweli is effusive about most of the musicians he knows, and waxes mystically about the “vibe”—a blend of social scene and creative ferment—at the metaphysical heart of musical collaboration." —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“Talib Kweli is one of the most important voices and minds of our generation. His work across the board always makes me think on a higher level and see things in a new way, and all the while it’s done with quality and excellence. This book is an excursion into the minds of one our great ones." —COMMON
"Talib Kweli is a hip hop mirror ball, distributing light everywhere. For years, he's seen things, heard things—worldwide. It bodes the reader well to journey his mind and experiences in this book." —CHUCK D
"Thank you my dear brother Talib for these birth/family memories and your artistic/poetic Now words reminding us that we are indebted to your generation of poets/rappers for continuing the Trinity of Black language/music/and activism. Your brilliant life of poetry reminds us that A Luta Continua." —SISTER SONIA SANCHEZ
Library Journal
01/01/2021
Rapper, activist, and entrepreneur Kweli, a vital and culturally engaged artist who has been writing and recording for more than 20 years, has penned a compelling memoir of his life in hip-hop. His lyrics and personal drive are a direct result of his childhood connection to Black cultural nationalism and his social awareness, as embodied by his parents, both teachers, to whose work this book is a quiet testament. Kweli recounts his family's history in New York and their experiences and struggles during the 1960s and 1970s, then covers his career and personal life, including collaborations with Mos Def, Common, Kanye West, and other artists, and discusses his involvement in protests in Ferguson, MO, after the murder of Michael Brown. Kweli also explores his influences in this detailed and conversational work, conveying the focus and effort with which he has approached his career and life. VERDICT Music lovers, both fans of Kweli and those less familiar with him, will be gratified by this evocative story of how he has drawn from experiences to craft his art.—Peter Thornell, Hingham P.L., MA
Kirkus Reviews
2020-10-27
The life and opinions of a hip-hop legend.
“The truth is that most rappers are supernerds,” writes Kweli early on. “While we live at the top of the nerd food chain, we are, without a doubt, nerds who are good with words.” This memoir confirms what his work has communicated for years, demonstrating the sharp, nimble mind of an insatiable cultural omnivore. Unfortunately, there are instances in which he undercuts his obvious intelligence with self-satisfaction, and he slides easily into lecture mode, regularly interrupting his story to inform readers of his political views in ways that don’t always keep the narrative moving. “While I was thirty-nine,” he writes, “I could feel this newfound attitude approaching. I began to question myself less and others more. In most of the rooms I find myself in, I am often the most experienced….I speak not so much from a place of knowledge but from a place of wisdom. And it feels good. Damn good.” Even readers who share the author’s politics will find their presentation intrusive on what is otherwise such a compelling retrospective of an impressive life. Whether discussing how he used to cut school to hone his rapping skills in Washington Square Park or recounting how he took his maternal grandmother, “the Obama Mama,” as his guest to the White House, Kweli turns back the pages of hip-hop history for music fans and has something to offer readers unfamiliar with his work. By the end of the book, even that latter group will appreciate the author’s standing as one of the most respected emcees in hip-hop. This book has been in the works for a long time. Some may wish that Kweli—who is busy with recording, touring, podcast hosting, activism, and prolific tweeting—left himself more time to polish another classic.
A valuable memoir featuring surprisingly average social commentary—thankfully, more of the former.
