Book tickets: Talib Kweli at Sound Control

Blowing up as part of the Rawkus explosion in the 1990s (and surviving its later dissipation) but remaining just as relevant today, Talib Kweli’s perhaps best known to most as one half of Black Star with partner Mos Def plus his follow up work with producer Hi Tek under the name Reflection Eternal. The fact he’s one of the most well respected in the game was made concrete by Jay Z on Moment of Clarity from 2003’s Black Album: ‘If skills sold, truth be told/I’d probably be, lyrically, Talib Kweli’. He’s the definition of a socially conscious rapper, using his position to raise awareness of issues he believes may otherwise be sidelined – most recently the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri – encouraging people to step out from behind their computers to stand up and be counted. Catch one of rap’s most significant this Wednesday, with support from Manchester hip hop stalwarts More Bounce and In The Loop.

Wed 26 Nov, Sound Control, 1 New Wakefield Street, M1 5N9, 7.30pm, £20 www.seetickets.com