If skills sold, Talib Kweli would have been one of the most commercially successful rappers of his time. As it was, however, the earnest MC became one of the most critically successful rappers of his time, which dawned in the late '90s when he rapped alongside Mos Def and DJ Hi-Tek as part of the group Black Star. He later continued on his own solo output releasing three critically acclaimed solo albums, the most recent featuring guests like Norah Jones, UGK, Justin Timberlake, and Strong Arm Steady. The latter helps open his show at Emo's on Wednesday.