Talib Kweli

Talib Kweli Joins Occupy Wall Street Protest

07 Oct 2011 14:16:51 EDT

Rapper did a cappella performance of unreleased song, 'Distractions,' at protest.
By Adam Murphy

Talib Kweli lent his leadership and lyricism to the Occupy Wall Street protesters Thursday night in New York's Zuccotti Park. Nearly three weeks into their occupation, the movement has gained strength in numbers.

Kweli is no stranger to taking up social and political causes, but these protests have a firm grasp on his attention. "There's no other place in New York City to be," Kweli said. "People are taking their destiny in their own hands. This is one of the most American, if not the most American, things that I've ever seen.

"When I see things like Occupy Wall Street, I just try to align myself with things that make sense," he continued. "Shame on me if I know something and don't spread it, you know? If I know, it becomes my responsibility to spread the information."

Hundreds of protesters gathered in silence around the pulpit where Kweli stood, rapping a cappella without the aid of a mic. The audience hung on his every syllable as he performed an as-yet-unreleased song, "Distractions," a cutting indictment of American complacency in the face of important issues.

"People are out here from all walks of life, all colors, all classes, people that have jobs, don't have jobs," said Res, Kweli's Idle Warship collaborator. "People just want to get the word out and say, 'Look, we're sick of this, we need a change, and what you guys are doing in the White House is not hitting it.' " Following the performance, Kweli used the protesters' human PA system (the speaker says a few words which are then repeated by the audience) to thank the activists for their dedication.

"They want to know what the end game is?" Kweli asked. "This is the end game."

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Talib Kweli Talks Gutter Rainbows: 'The Music Industry Doesn't Exist'

03 Feb 2011 19:02:54 EST

'We're not really witnessing the demise: We're at the wake,' MC says.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway

The music industry is changing, and Talib Kweli wants to be at the forefront of the evolution: For his latest release, Gutter Rainbows, which arrived earlier this week in a digital-only format, the rapper decided to avoid producing physical CDs.

According to Kweli, the traditional music-business models are dying, and it's time to find new ones. "I was being nice. We're not really witnessing the demise: We're at the wake," he told MTV News. "The music industry doesn't exist. What we have is a series of businessmen who make smart decisions and a series of businesswomen who make smart decisions. But the industry as a whole, when you have records that are being played 3,000 times on radio but you can't sell albums? So, for the disconnect to be that huge, that means it's over."

The veteran MC, however, has built a loyal following with a string of releases, including standout solo LPs like Quality, projects with producer Hi-Tek and his coveted collaboration project with Mos Def, Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star. That following, though, can be rather demanding, the Brooklyn wordsmith said.

"I have a certain aspect of my fan base who are mad because I'm putting out Gutter Rainbows — which is a small release — not on a CD," he said. "But it's over. I know people wanna go open it up and look at the credits, I'm that type."

Instead, Kweli will later issue a physical CD-format release through Duck Down Records that will include an import edition and a special edition with all the extras. "You got to really want to get my CD," he said.

What do you think about Talib Kweli's digital-only release? Sound off below!

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Talib Kweli Likens Strong Arm Steady's Arms & Hammers To Dr. Dre Classic

01 Feb 2011 06:53:34 EST

'This is the best album coming out of the West Coast, in my opinion, since The Chronic,' Kweli tells Mixtape Daily.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Don't Sleep: Necessary Notables

Indie LP: Arms & Hammers

Headliner: Strong Arm Steady

Key Cameos: Talib Kweli, KRS-One, Marsha Ambrosius, Too Short and Kurupt

Essential Info: While everyone is waiting on whether Detox will or won't drop April 20, Brooklyn rapper-turned-CEO Talib Kweli has another suggestion for heads looking to fill their Cali rap fix: Strong Arm Steady's Arms & Hammers.

"I'mma go ahead and say this is the best album coming out of the West Coast, in my opinion, since The Chronic," Kweli told Mixtape Daily. "And people might be mad at me for that, because I'm not the West Coast, so I'm apologizing in advance if they think I don't know what I'm talking about. But I wouldn't say that if I truly didn't mean that."

The Blacksmith Records boss inked the three-man act to his label a few years ago, but he said he's not biased when it comes to their forthcoming project, due February 22. He pointed to the veteran collective's range as an example of their talents.

"They're not easily qualified or put in a box," he said. "Are they gangsta rap? People see Mitchy Slick doing his gangsta-rap thing. Are they underground rap people? They did the Stoney Jackson album with Madlib. People don't know their history."

For the set, they recruited producers like DJ Khalil, Nottz and Jellyroll, and the album features collaborations with KRS-One, among others.

According to Kweli, though, the three solo artists came together this time to make a project that was truly the sum of their talents.

"They're powerful artists in their own right, and they came together to make this great album," Kweli said.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Talib Kweli Recalls Kanye West's 'Humble And Arrogant' Early Days

27 Jan 2011 07:02:05 EST

'He would come to the shows and studio sessions and soak it up but ... at the same time be like, 'I'm the best rapper out,' ' Kweli tells MTV News.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway

On "Friends & Family" from Talib Kweli's new album Gutter Rainbows, the Brooklyn wordsmith travels down memory lane recalling years past. One of the friends who made it on the track was Kanye West.

The superstar rapper and producer worked on the Black Star MC's solo debut, 2002's Quality, and 'Ye is the same guy now as he was then, according to Kweli.

"When I first met Kanye, he was humble and arrogant at the same time, which means that he humbled himself to me, Mos Def and Common and wanted to sign to Rawkus," he told MTV News. "And he would come to the shows and studio sessions and soak it up. But he would soak it up and also at the same time be like, 'I'm the best rapper out. I'm the best-dressed rapper out.' Even back then, he would be [like], 'I'm the best-dressed rapper,' and he didn't even have a deal. You not even a rapper yet. How you the best-dressed rapper, you know?"

Kweli recalled hearing 'Ye's debut album before it was released and the track "Hey Mama," which eventually made its way on his sophomore effort, Late Registration.

"When he played me that, I was like, 'This is what hip-hop is supposed to sound like in the future,' " Kweli said.

The combination of the music's personal message, slang, positive nature and celebration of materialism moved him.

"It had the makings of everything," Kweli explained. "This is the complete hip-hop artist right here."

What do you think of Talib's early assessment of Kanye? Let us know in the comments!

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Kanye West, Talib Kweli And Consequence Jump On 'Chain Heavy'

13 Nov 2010 19:43:09 EST

Q-Tip crafts beat for latest G.O.O.D. Friday joint.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

After nixing a "Today" show concert, Kanye West flew to Dubai to hit the stage. Yet, amid the jet-setting and morning show-beefing, Yeezy didn't forget to gift fans with his latest G.O.O.D. Friday joint, Chain Heavy."

West turned to some of his longtime partners-in-rhyme for his newest effort, corralling Brooklyn MC Talib Kweli and G.O.O.D. Music spitter Consequence for the track.

Riding Q-Tip's woozy, loopy synth-and-piano-driven beat, 'Ye kicks things off with lyrics like, "My teeth already white/ Y'all gonna make me floss for nothing/ My teeth real diamonds, what's the cause of the fronting?" He follows up with references to the heft of his famously enormous, Egyptian-inspired gold chain, dropping bars like, "For every inch they cut the nose off the Sphinx/ I make my jeweler add a few more links."

West sets aside the bravado in his second verse to lay bare the struggle that informs some of his art.

"What color was the skin of the man who bared the cross?/ No matter how many lashes they couldn't beat it off," he spits. "I keep that gold book on a ottoman/ And wrote hooks about slaves that was slaughtered in the 1800s/ Y'all forget that I got called n----- on Twitter so many times, Yo I lived that."

Then Kweli enters, rattling off rapid-fire lyrics and switching up the complexity of his cadence as hespits bars like, "My chain heavy, stopping that traffic/ Coppers harass us, the DA attack us, want us in chains like B.A. Baracus."

Although renowned for the political and social musings of his content, Kweli takes a page from West's rhyme book, tossing out lines about his lyrical prowess.

"It ain't looking good for you if you a tourist here/ Sometimes our rhymes is on a frequency that only purists hear/ A couple rappers tried to beef with me, nobody scared/ N----- was so f------- corny that nobody cared," he rhymes with a chuckle."

Consequence begins his verse with the story of a former "ball and chain" who becomes a "chain smoker" and picks up some lame as a new boyfriend, who tries to step to the MC.

"So it's obvious that he don't know the chain of command/ 'Cause my chain commands, that kind of respect/ And it's so chunky that it's a pain in the neck/ But it came with a check," he spits. "I remember on Chaining Day/ It spoke for itself and this is what the chain would say/ Them chain snatchers are hoping that you ain't ready/ So don't get distracted keep your aim steady/ Or there'll be a chain reaction since my chains heavy."

Q-Tip hinted via Twitter that the resulting G.O.O.D. Friday beat is a toned-down version of his original vision.

"Believe me I had that sh-- sounding even crazier!!" the hip-hop Renaissance man tweeted. He added that more monster records featuring Yeezy and his "big brother" might be on the way.

" 'Ye and I got sh-- for Jay-Z that crushes," 'Tip added. "Hope y'all ready"

What do you think of Kanye West's "Chain Heavy"? Let us know in the comments!

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'Black August' Screening Draws Chris Rock, Talib Kweli, More

27 Aug 2010 20:48:13 EDT

Veteran journalist Dream Hampton spotlights benefit concert for political prisoners.
By Jayson Rodriguez

NEW YORK — Chris Rock, Talib Kweli and Dead Prez's M-1 were among the attendees of veteran journalist Dream Hampton's screening Thursday night for her documentary "Black August: A Hip-Hop Benefit Concert."

The event, held at Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater, showcased the yearly tribute concert that has hosted performers such as Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Common, Dead Prez and David Banner in New York and South Africa.

In her film, Hampton features concert footage and interviews with a slew of activists.

The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement in Brooklyn powers the concerts each year, and in her doc, Hampton seeks to spotlight issues like police brutality and racial injustice. The concert series and the film seek to address awareness about political prisoners, including Mutulu Shakur, the stepfather of late rap star Tupac Shakur.

"I think the cause of political prisoners in the hip-hop community wouldn't be as relevant in the hip-hop community as it is if it wasn't for [the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement]," Kweli says in the film. "And it certainly has a long way to go from 10 years ago, and I think it's more relevant. The bridges that we build in South Africa and Cuba are important. Every year, the show is bigger and better and grander."

Hampton, who has written about hip-hop and culture for The Source and Vibe magazines, among other publications, has labored over the project for years and is finally set to release the project by the end of the year.

The event was sponsored by ImageNation and hosted by M-1.

Are you looking forward to the Black August film? Let us know in the comments!

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Reflection Eternal Flexed 'Acting Skills' In 'Midnight Hour' Video

25 May 2010 17:38:44 EDT

'It brought us out of what we normally do — the real hard hip-hop videos,' Hi-Tek says of clip with partner Talib Kweli.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway

When Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek first debuted as Reflection Eternal 10 years ago, the duo's most well-known visual stemmed from their breakout hit "The Blast." The video for that song found Kweli and Tek sitting on a park bench outside a housing project as they rapped in a rainstorm — the epitome of the underground hip-hop aesthetic at the time.

These days, the duo's creative process is far different. After individually pursuing musical projects in the ensuing decade, Reflection Eternal were ready to step out of their comfort zone when they came together again for their new album Revolutions Per Minute. The pair took a novel direction on the Alex Moors-directed clip for "Midnight Hour," a doo-wop inspired number.

"I think it's more conceptual. It brought us out of what we normally do — you know, the real hard hip-hop [videos]," Hi-Tek told MTV News of the video, which features Estelle. "It gave us a chance to get our acting skills on, to have fun with a video as opposed to being so serious about it. ... [Instead], we just had fun with the music."

"It's just a look, we were going for a certain vibe," Kweli added. "Graphically artistic."

The opening shot shows a record spinning before the camera pans up to reveal Estelle crooning the chorus into a 1950s-style microphone. Kweli and Hi-Tek are dressed sharply in conservative looks: a slim-fitting suit, tie and glasses for rapper Kweli, and a cardigan, bow tie and newsboy cap for the producer.

The video is mostly performance-based and centers on the three collaborators singing and dancing. According to Hi-Tek, the song was originally slated for Estelle's debut album. But when it didn't make it to the Brit singer's Shine, the track went unused for two years until finally landing on the hip-hop duo's Revolutions. Reuniting with Kweli for their sophomore set gave the song a new release opportunity.

"I was working on joints for her album, and I was working on my third [solo] album and we cut two records," Tek explained. "One for my album and [one for Estelle's], which we wanted to submit for the project, but it was too late for her album. It was sitting for two years, and I played it for Kweli, and he loved it. I didn't really think it was a record for our album, but we made it work. And it's a classic piece of music, so it should be heard rather than sitting in my crates."

What do you think about Reflection Eternal's "Midnight Hour" video? Let us know in the comments!

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Reflection Eternal Recaptured 'Natural Chemistry' On New Album

20 May 2010 21:22:55 EDT

Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek drop Revolutions Per Minute--10 years after debut LP.
By Steven Roberts

Reflection Eternal released their second studio album Revolutions Per Minute earlier this week — 10 years after the release of their first album, Train of Thought. The hip-hop duo made up of Talib Kweli and producer Hi-Tek made a blast in 2000 with their critically acclaimed debut, but failed to follow it up with another LP until now.

The pair recently released the video for their single "Midnight Hour," featuring Estelle, and they seem to have naturally evolved in the decade since they became a group to watch. But Hi-Tek admitted it was difficult recapturing their chemistry at first.

"Once we got it started, I think the initial thing was just actually getting that natural chemistry and not just doing it just because somebody wants us to do it," he said. "And once we got that real friend vibe back in the studio and kicking it on a natural level, I think everything just came together smooth."

Tek said Kweli's busy touring schedule made it hard to pin him down. He also said Kweli had to get used to working with just one producer again — a process that differs considerably from just grabbing a beat from a Kanye West or a Just Blaze.

"I don't have an issue with the waiting but I've done so many albums on my own that I've developed a certain way that I record," Kweli explained. "And I did have to switch it up. I'm used to getting the tracks and sitting with them and being able to record them and send them back and this and that. It's just a whole different process when you're working with one producer."

Reflection Eternal aren't too concerned, they said, with living up to the standards of their first project. In fact, Hi-Tek insisted that Revolutions is worthy of classic status, but ultimately, fans will have the last word.

"Afroman got a classic — 'Because I Got High,' everybody knows that song — but it's because of the machine and how it got behind it," Kweli said. "I feel like every song that we put on the new album is classic. We try to only put classic material, but you never know what the people are going to respond to or what the machine is going to push to make them respond," he added.

"I never knew," Hi-Tek said of the Afroman track. "I always felt like, 'Wow, they're doing a video to that track.' I just went and bought this record for a quarter, made a beat out of it and now it's on TV."

What did you think of Estelle's guest spot in the new Reflection Eternal video? Let us know in the comments!

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John Mayer Slammed By Rappers, Readers For Playboy Interview

11 Feb 2010 09:59:00 EST

'My man John Mayer must love the taste of his own foot,' Talib Kweli tweets.
By Gil Kaufman

Following his ill-advised comments in a Playboy magazine interview, in which he used the "N" word, John Mayer has drawn some fire from the hip-hop community.

On Wednesday, Mayer apologized for some of the comments he made in the interview, in which he talked freely about sex, former girlfriends Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Simpson, and — most controversially — made comments about black women and his lack of a " 'hood pass" that many have perceived as racist.

On his Twitter, the Roots' ?uestlove seemed to be in a thoughtfully forgiving mood about the outburst. "Hmmm. I'll give Mayer a benefit of the doubt (remember how people misinterpreted my photo?) and assume that was a punchline gone awry," he tweeted, referring to a photo of an apparently racist lunch menu at the NBC café that ?uest posted as a joke for Black History Month. But the drummer wasn't done with Mayer. He added, "LOL then again on 2nd read ... can't wait to see spin on this. I swear his #1 demographic is the white dude black women would do in a second."

But Talib Kweli rubbed it in a bit, writing on his Twitter page, "My man John Mayer must love the taste of his own foot."

Noreaga wasn't having it, from Mayer or the magazine, re-tweeting a comment that read, "Playboy set his ass up good on black history month!!!!" which followed a much more harshly worded comment from Nore himself: "Dear John Mayer, black women don't like u cause ur a a--hole."

Joell Ortiz tweeted, "John Mayer will get off the hook just like Asher Roth did. Throw money, a lame apology and some good PR at us and we forget. ... John Mayer should not open his mouth unless he is singing."

The flap has clearly taken its toll on the always loose-lipped Mayer, who reportedly broke down onstage Wednesday night during a show in Nashville, according to E! Online. Near the end of the concert, a choked up Mayer reportedly stopped playing and apologized yet again, telling the crowd, "I quit the media game. I'm out. I'm done. I just want to play my guitar." That apology came after Mayer, 32, had already issued several mea culpas via Twitter Wednesday afternoon, explaining in one, "Re: using the 'N word' in an interview: I am sorry that I used the word. And it's such a shame that I did because the point I was trying to make was in the exact opposite spirit of the word itself. It was arrogant of me to think I could intellectualize using it, because I realize that there's no intellectualizing a word that is so emotionally charged."

Many MTV readers were not buying it, with Simone commenting, "I don't think John Mayer is racist, however he is an a--hole." Marwa disagreed, writing, "Damn John Mayer; he is racist."

Michael was more willing to cut the singer some slack. "This was not racist," he wrote. "He has a big mouth and has no filter, that's pretty much it. Black folk, we're being too sensitive here. Hell, all of Americans, we're being too sensitive here."

Some readers said they were seriously offended and would not accept the apology. But some were willing to forgive him. Jhonny said simply, "Sounds sincere, accepted." ChooseCarefully went further, writing, "We've all said things we have regretted. I hope your apology is sincere with your 'Benetton heart' Mr. Mayer. As a beautiful black woman, let me just say, 'It's not our loss.' "

Ironically, this latest flap comes on the heels of a January Rolling Stone cover story, in which the "Daughters" singer made a series of crude comments about women's private parts. And in reference to his notoriously profane, sometimes offensive Twitter habit, he admitted, "I have these accidents, these mistakes, these self-inflicted wounds, and then I tear my head to shreds about it for days." But, after a few days of reflection, he said, he typically decides he can't just be quiet. "I don't want to detach. I don't want to go live in a gated community. So, I will continue to make these worldwide dignity mistakes as often as it takes to not make them anymore." What do you think of Mayer's apology? Do you buy it or should he just delete his Twitter feed and stop giving interviews for a while?

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Talib Kweli, Hi-Tek Mix New And Old On Reflection Eternal Mixtape

25 Jan 2010 07:00:00 EST

Kweli talks to Mixtape Daily about The Re:Union, which includes some of the duo's classic tracks.
By Shaheem Reid

This Week's Main Pick

Street Kings: Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek)

Holding It Down For: NYC and Ohio

Double Mixtape: The Re:Union

Real Spit: Nope. The NFL did not split these two up a few weeks ago. When Talib Kweli's and Hi-Tek's respective home teams — the New York Jets and the Cincinnati Bengals — went up against each other, the artists barely batted an eye. Talib is not much of football fan. Plus, he was spending a lot of time in the 'Nnati recording verses for Reflection Eternal's upcoming LP Revolutions Per Minute.

The first single, "Just Begun," which features Mos Def, J. Cole and Jay Electronica, is also on the duo's new mixtape The Re:Union.

" 'Just Begun,' that was a perfect example of having fun in the studio and getting able to get some of the greatest MCs of this time on my track," Kweli said. "I just did the track a couple of days before I was able to get all the guys on the track. That's classic right there. It proves to me that hip-hop is still there. The hunger is still there."

The new tape consists of new material, freestyles and some of the two hip-hoppers' greatest hits.

"We got history," Talib said of why he wanted to include catalog material. "When I listen to the mixtape, sometimes I forget how dope we are. It was important people did the knowledge. You might not know I'm on my seventh album or that Hi-Tek dropped three solo albums. People in the mainstream culture come up and say, 'Talib, where's your beard?' I haven't had a beard in 10 years."

Joints to Check For

» "Just Begun." "The record started, Hi-Tek had a sample idea," Talib explained. "A song he was working on in the studio. He flipped it. I was like, 'That's dope right there.' I had the verse, I was in the studio kicking it with Jay Electronica. I was like, 'You might need to get on this Reflection Eternal album.' I was talking on text to J. Cole, trying to get some ideas. Then I was like, it might be crazy if I got Jay Electronica and J. Cole on the same record. Two new dudes on the record with me, they killing it, doing they thing. So I was like, 'Nah.' I had to go get some support. So I called my man Mos.

"We had to go find Mos. I need some backup," he added with a laugh. "My verse is bragging and boasting, but it's also a lot of literary references, which people might know me for. Jay Electronica is talking about his journey from New Orleans to New York. J. Cole is trying to shine, talking about his connection to Roc Nation. He's got the girls. He's trying to shine, establish his place with these other lyricists. Mos' verse is super, super scientific and intelligent. Mos got flow for days. But if you don't know nothing about the world, you ain't ready for Mos Def's verse."

» "Get By" remix, featuring Mos Def, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes and Jay-Z. "Snoop was on that too. He did his own West Coast version," Talib said. "That's my biggest record culturally. It may not be my biggest-selling record, but it's definitely the record people know me for. Timing! People needed to hear that record in 2003 or whenever we dropped it. The combination of where I was at and where Kanye was at really spoke to people from all walks of life. From 50 Cent to DJ Quik to even Bobbito. It really touched people's lives. I'm blessed to be a part of that record. I give credit to the most high. I was a vessel to speak that."

» "Internet Connection." "It's a record we did for fun just in the studio," Talib explained. "We put it out last year just for fun. I don't think they got the context. [But] we put it out on a mixtape [and] people act like it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I'm getting a lot of response — 'I really like that record.' They didn't like when we dropped it by itself last year."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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