Growing up in Lakeview, Long Island, Talib Kibwe, otherwise known as TK Blue was born to Caribbean parents from Jamaica and Trinidad respectively. Whereas nobody else in his family plays an instrument, he learned a lot in his youth, starting on the trumpet at age 8.
"I got exposed to the Caribbean musical heritage as well as some jazz. My mom loved Horace Silver and Louis Armstrong. And whilst there is not a huge jazz scene in Long Island, NYC was 45 mins away. It should be noted though that I grew up down the street from saxonist Billy Mitchell and tap dancer Conrad "Little Buck" Buckner. I met Eddie Jefferson through "Little Buck" and all three of these artists helped shape my musical growth."