T.K. Blue, also known by Talib Kibwe was born in New York City to a Trinidadian mother, and a Jamaican father. T.K. T.K. began playing the trumpet at age 8 and continued to play music until he was 18. His interest in academic and athletic pursuits changed after two years. While playing the flute, he returned to High School and continued his musical studies. After taking lessons from Billy Mitchell (the legendary tenor saxophonist of Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie), he decided to pursue music as a profession. He received a full academic scholarship at New York University where he started playing soprano.