Rapper Talib Kweli began alongside Mos Def and Hi-Tek but when the duos parted ways, Kweli focused on an album of his own. The Brooklyn native grew in popularity in the early 2000s for his lyrical skills as well as his collaborations with Jay-Z and Kanye West, leading to 2004's The Beautiful Struggle. Kweli has released a total of nine albums and continues to be a staple in the hip-hop community.