SANTA MONICA, CA. (Geffen Records) -
Talib Kweli tried.
Talib Kweli succeeded. Now, his latest video "
I Try" has ascended to "Buzzworthy" status on MTV, MTV2 and mtv.com. The first single from his new album, 'I Try' is an incredibly powerful piano-driven track featuring
Mary J. Blige and with production by Kanye West. The clip, which also features Blige, was directed by Steve Murashige (Incubus, Sugar Ray, Lost Prophets, Rage Against The Machine) and tells a moving tale of a young boy facing a world of struggle, adversity, and fear. The "
I Try" video is also in rotation at mtvU, MTV Jams, FUSE, VH1 Soul and BET. In addition, a 30-minute concert special from the Mix Show Power Summit featuring
Talib Kweli along with
Mos Def and Common, is set to air October 31 on MTV2.
Talib's sophomore solo album, The Beautiful Struggle, recently debuted at #14 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart and has garnered national critical acclaim.
"Indeed, Struggle is - no contest - the rap album of the year."
-People (4 stars)
"Kweli cements his place as one of hip-hop's most inventive lyricists. '
-USA Today (4 stars)
"An inspired mix of consciousness-raising politics and taut battle rhymes."
-Entertainment Weekly
"One of the most insightful albums of the year."
-GQ Magazine
Talib is currently wrapping his U.S. tour which includes headlining dates, a special performance with Mos Def, and supporting dates with the Beastie Boys. Talib Kweli's next stop will be Europe, where he'll do a few dates with
Kanye West before re-teaming with the
Beastie Boys for the European leg of their tour.
Following are Talib Kweli's remaining U.S. tour dates:
October 29 Cincinnati, OH Cintas Center (headlining)
October 30 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory (co-headlining with Mos Def)
November 1 Urbana, IL The Canopy (headlining)
November 2 Grand Rapids, MI The Intersection (headlining)
November 3 Madison, WI Alliant Energy Center (w/ Beastie Boys)
November 4 Chicago, IL United Center (w/ Beastie Boys)November 5 Detroit, MI Cobo Arena (w/ Beastie Boys)
November 7 Montreal, QC Bell Centre (w/ Beastie Boys)
November 8 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre (w/ Beastie Boys)
November 10 Ottawa, ON Corel Centre (w/ Beastie Boys)
November12 Nassau, NY Nassau Coliseum (w/ Beastie Boys)
November 13 Baltimore, MD Sonar (headlining)
November 14 Charlotte, NC Neighborhood Theater (headlining)
November 16 New Brunswick, NJ Rutgers University (headlining)
November 18 Washington DC 9:30 Club (headlining)
November 20 Stanford, CA Memorial Auditorium (headlining)
For more info on tour dates, and to watch his new video, check out the Official Site of Talib Kweli.