The Beautiful Struggle
The Beautiful Struggle is the second studio album by American rapper Talib Kweli. The album was released on September 28, 2004, by Rawkus Records and Geffen Records. It features guest appearances from Common, Faith Evans, Anthony Hamilton, Mary J. Blige, and John Legend.
The album was produced by Kanye West, the Neptunes, Supa Dave West, Just Blaze, and Hi-Tek. The first single, "I Try" featuring Mary J. Blige, was fairly popular as a music video, followed by the second single, "Never Been in Love".
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.Sample Credits
- "Around My Way" contains replayed elements of "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by the Police.
Personnel
- Mark Batson – piano, keyboards
- Steve Baughman – mixing
- Elizabeth "Yummy" Bingham – additional vocals
- Mary J. Blige – featured artist
- Tom Brick – mastering
- David Brown – engineer
- Charlemagne – producer
- Andrew Coleman – engineer
- Common – featured artist
- Dave Dar – engineer, mixing, co-executive producer
- Dion – additional vocals
- Faith Evans – featured artist, additional vocals
- Brian Garten – engineer
- Anthony Hamilton – featured artist
- Hi-Tek – producer and engineer
- Chad Hugo – producer
- Jun Ishizeki – assistant engineer
- Glen Jeffries – guitar
- Just Blaze – producer
- Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton – mixing
- J.R. – producer, additional keyboards
- Krondon – additional vocals
- Talib Kweli – main artist, executive producer
- John Legend – featured artist
- Alan Mason – vocal engineer for Mary J. Blige
- Midi Mafia – producers
- Tiffany Mynon – additional vocals
- Jamia Simone Nash – additional vocals
- Olivia Charnae Nash – additional vocals
- Axel Niehaus – mixing
- Bob Power – mixing
- Res – featured artist, additional vocals
- Justin Shturtz – assistant engineer
- Corey Smyth – executive producer
- Spacey T – guitar
- Phil Tan – mixing
- Alex Thomas – additional vocals
- Antwan "Amadeus" Thompson – producer
- Tone Mason – producer
- Kanye West – producer
- Supa Dave West – producer
- Pharrell Williams – producer and additional vocals
- Dave Young – additional vocals
- Anthony Zeller – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
Chart positions