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
Truthfully I wanna rhyme like common senseNext best thing I do a record with common sense
I have a luxury of people coming to see me whether I play for the crowd or not. I don't take that lightly.
You see somebody rapping and you're like, "Nah, my cousin can do that." You're spoiled by the experience. Overseas, it's still something that people can appreciate.
Hopefully, we learn to appreciate hip-hop here so that it doesn't go the way of jazz.
I don't feel comfortable making empty music.
Even an independent label is looking for a hit, they're not looking for a record that's not gonna do well.
I look at the deejay thing as something - I'm good at it because I have my own music. I have enough rhythm to blend at this point.
When you shine bright, some won't enjoy the shadow you cast.
When I look at the arc of my career, my focus is on lyricism, right? I own that.
As far as being on a major label, some labels get it and get what they have to do, and some labels don't. I don't think the label I'm on necessarily gets it, but I think over time they're gonna have to.
I'm at a loss for words. But even my loss is amplified.
If you look at my career, doing albums with Norah Jones, Justin Timberlake, Gucci Mane and Lil Wayne or KRS-One and Jean Grae, I can't be pigeonholed.
Once you're signed to a label you compromise.
But you have to be creative on how you sell yourself and market yourself.