Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greeneis an American hip hop recording artist, entrepreneur, and social activist. He is the son of professional educators. In 2011, Kweli founded Javotti Media, which is self-defined as "a platform for independent thinkers and doers". Kweli earned recognition early on through his work with fellow Brooklyn artist, Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, when they formed the group Black Star. Kweli's career continued with solo success including collaborations with famed producers Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Pharrell...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionMusician
Date of Birth3 October 1975
CountryUnited States of America
I think hip-hop is no more misogynistic than America is as a society. I just think hip-hop is a lot more brash, a lot more bold, a lot more loquacious. There are a lot more words that go into a hip-hop song than go into a regular song.
When I'm in the studio, I'm strictly thinking about the beats, the rhymes and the song. The decision I make once the songs are created, and there's a barcode put on the package, and I'm out there in the street selling it, those decisions as a businessman are different than the creative decisions you make.
There's consciousness in my music, and my music comes from a conscious place. And when people say that, I certainly take it as a compliment. But my job, in terms of selling my music, is to be universal and to try to get it to everybody.
Before Eminem, the idea that there would be a white rapper that anybody would really check for was fantastic or amazing or impossible.
People can be inspired the way I've been inspired by music.
My personal take on politics is I deal with social situations and cultural situations in my music and in my life. I have said on record many times that I haven't voted. I'm not the type of person who says, 'I'm never going to vote.' I think it's clear to me that our system has failed us.
When Occupy Wall Street happened, I took my money out of Citibank. I already had problems with all the banks - Citibank, Bank of America - but I was kind of just too lazy to take my money out until I saw how Citibank responded to Occupy Wall Street.
I ignored your aura but it grabbed me by the hand, like the moon pulled the tide, and the tide pulled the sand.
Hip-hop isn't as complex as a woman is.
Skip the religion and politics, head straight to the compassion. Everything else is a distraction.
If you ain't using all the talents God provided you with For the betterment of Man, understand, You ain't nothing but a waste.
Do the math: You never settle for less than the whole if you knew the half.
You gotta get back to your essence, Use your gifts and share your presence, Don't count your dollars 'til you count your blessings.
I look at the deejay thing as a tier thing. If I'm not going to compete on that level, I'm just going to do it as a hobby.