As one of the most influential and well-respected artists in hip-hop, Talib Kweli has used the attention he's garnered to make music that will enlighten listeners as well as entertain them. With his first solo release (following group efforts with Mos Def and DJ Hi-Tek, respectively), Quality, he has continued his desire to teach us all a thing or two. The Daily Cardinal caught up with the socially conscious emcee to discuss industry politics, Bill O'Reilly and the mass media's coverage of the war in Iraq.
What are your most and least favorite things about touring?
Going to different cities and meeting new and interesting people. And performing, of course, on stage and making that connection with the fans. And the least favorite thing is missing my family.
Do you prefer to write rhymes for a beat or find a beat to match your rhymes?
I prefer to write rhymes to the beat.
On Mosaic Thump, De La Soul warns emcees to never use weed as a ghostwriter. Do lyrics count if they're written under the influence?
Of course lyrics count. Lyrics count no matter how they're written.
You've said before that you plan on making another Blackstarr album and another Reflection Eternal album. For all the hungry fans out there, is there a timetable for either of these projects?
Nah. For the hungry fans, they need to remember that you can't put a timetable on music because it's something that's creative. It's not something that's concrete and not an exact science. So, as long as it takes is as long as it takes. And then once you got that then you got, on top of the creative sides of the music, you got the politics of the record industry whereas if the timing isn't right, if there's too many people coming out in that quarter, or if the marketing isn't right, if your setup isn't right it may not come out so you can't really put a timetable on it. Unless you see a date and it's like a month before that date or two weeks before that date, you can't really count on it coming out then.
Some stuff of yours that was really slept on was the stuff that you and Mos did with The Creators. Are you ever going to work with them again?
Um, sure. I mean, you know, I like the Creators, I like everything they put out. I really do.
What else is on the horizon for you?
Just touring. I'm on the Electric Circus Tour with Common right now. I'm about to go on the Campus Invasion Tour with Fabulous. Then the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour with Outkast. I'm just going to be touring. I'm going to be working on a new album, but right now I'm going to be touring supporting the Quality album.
On Quality, you seem to shy away from the battle rhymes more than ever. Is this a sign of your growing maturity or are you just making the extra effort to educate as well as entertain?
I think it's just a sign of growth. It's like you fight and you scrap to get to someplace. Before, I was at a place where the whole thing was proving to people that I could do it. Showing that I could work your mind and shit. So I could just do it for a living. Now I'm doing it for a living, but if I continue to battle in the same way that I was battling in my lyrics before, it's like there's nothing in that at this point because I've proved that I can do that. So now it's worth it to me to try to make songs that relate to peoples' lives in their everyday lives. 'Cause those are things that stand the test of time. I got to keep my swords sharp, you know what I'm saying? I got to do songs every once in while that are just lyrics, just spittin' and just battling. I got to freestyle at the shows and all that. But, as far as making an album, I definitely want to focus more on making songs that stand the test of time. But, still making hip-hop songs, you know?
With the great producers that you have worked with it isn't necessary, but, have you ever considered making beats for yourself?
I thought about it. I agree, I work with some great producers. And for me to get to their level I would have to take 10, 15 years just to get even close to their level. And I figure if I got that time I might as well learn how to play an instrument. Do something that I can be better than them at. (laughs)
How do you respond to all of those Bill O'Reilly-type people out there who stereotype hip-hop as violence, drugs and sex?
I mean, American culture is violence, drugs and sex. You're blind if you don't see that. Their opinion means nothing to me. I know about the power that they hold over the American public and everything. But, it's not like the American public or the mainstream culture has ever embraced hip-hop for what it is. They embrace hip-hop because it makes money. The only reason that it's even relevant to Bill O'Reilly is because it makes money. But, you know, it's like if you really love the culture you realize that his opinion holds no weight because he does not participate in this culture. The only people whose opinion holds weight are people who participate in it because then they know what they're talking about. He obviously doesn't know what he's talking about.
Now that the war is on it seems like our mass media has become more like a propaganda machine. How do you feel about their coverage of the war?
I don't think it has become more of a propaganda machine at all. I think the whole time it's been prepping us for this. And if George Bush had it his way he would have done this a year ago. But if he did that the people would have thrown him out the White House immediately. The media is a peace tool for the government and the corporations because this is a war for oil and this is a war that is based on corporate interests. The media is a peace tool that they use to rock the people to sleep.
The Supreme Court is getting ready to see the case for affirmative action. If they strike it down, how do you think that will affect minorities and our society in general?
It just means that rich women will pay for abortions and poor people will go to jail and die. That's basically what that means.
Anything else that you want to add to your fans in Madison?
I look forward to coming. I've never performed there so it should be really, really fun.
Yeah, the Roots came here awhile ago and it seemed like they were really feeling the crowd.
That's cool, I've heard a lot of good things about Madison and with the whole conference out there and everything. I've been through there but I've never performed there.
