Arts + Entertainment

Rapper Talib Kweli to grace the Town Ballroom in May

Photo from the Talib Kweli Facebook page

blog by Ben Tsujimoto • April 11, 2012 @ 10:01am

Rap legend Talib Kweli will perform on May 31 at the Town Ballroom, local concert booking company Funtime Presents announced yesterday. Touring in support of Gutter Rainbows, released in January 2011, Kweli stops in Buffalo for the first time.

Tickets go on sale Friday and run for $24 in advance. They’ll be available at Tickets.com or by phone at Town Ballroom, (888) 223-6000. If you’d rather wait until the show draws closer, the price rises to $27.

Widely regarded as one of the best MCs in rap history, the 37-year-old Kweli is praised for educated, meaningful lyrics and his dedication to his craft. He’s received countless shout-outs in the hits of his peers; for example, Jay-Z rapped “lyrically/Talib Kweli” in “Moment of Clarity” off his Black Album.

Despite a rather extended delay, this spring’s Prisoner of Conscious record will mark Kweli’s 11th studio album and his sixth solo.

Kweli will be the first major hip-hop act in Buffalo this year, a fitting prelude to megastar Drake, who rolls in June 8 to Darien Lake. Rising star A$AP Rocky performed at the Town Ballroom in January, but he’s yet to reach the level of a rap legend or R&B phenom.