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Talib Kweli - Individual Movements
Interview by: Quinton Hatfield
 Having the respect and recognition as being a dope lyricist to come in hip-hop Talib Kweli is back to give the conscious fans of hip-hop another round. After quite some time after the release of his last album “The Beautiful Struggle” Talib this time around wants you to know he’s a musician with the sounds he picked for the new album “EarDrum”. After making some huge power moves lately “Eardrum” will release on Talib’s new label inked with Warner Bros by the name Blacksmith Records. As most rappers are starting their own individual movements in the industry these days Blacksmith Records is something to be on the look-out for as Talib Kweli has the newly recruits of Strong Arm Steady and a raw spitting female MC known as Jean Grae.
 “Eardrum” it was pushed back time and time again, but now it’s finally coming. Talib is a talented MC and for an artist on his level it had to be no problem getting the best production ever. From Pete Rock all the way to Kanye West “Eardrum” might be something the ears could love after all, especially if you love hip-hop. While the controversial talk if hip-hop is really dead or not continues to remain Talib Kweli has his own views about it and how Nas resurrected it by giving his album the title “Hip-Hop is Dead”. Is hip-hop balanced enough, what are the future plans for Blacksmith, how he feels about Jean Grae and Strong Arm Steady, MF Doom and his mask, the new album “Eardrum” Talib talks about it all with Nobodysmiling.com’s Q Tha Question.
Nobodysmiling.com : First thing I want to ask is how it feels to be CEO of Blacksmith Records?
Talib Kweli : It feels good, it’s a challenge but anything worth having is a challenge.
Nobodysmiling.com : Can you explain the whole process of getting Blacksmith linked to Warner Bros?
Talib Kweli : I was on a different label and I wasn’t happy on that label. At this point in my career I needed to make sure I had control over my output, but also use my experience to bring other artists into the fold like Strong Arm Steady and Jean Grae.
Nobodysmiling.com : Where does the name Blacksmith come from?
Talib Kweli : Blacksmith is the name of Corey Smith’s management company that I been managed by for years. We called the record company Blacksmith because I wanted to maintain the name recognition instead of starting something completely new.
Nobodysmiling.com : With the Blacksmith movement what type of things are your trying to do with Jean Grae and MF Doom?
Talib Kweli : MF Doom is not signed to us, but Strong Arm Steady is. It’s not necessarily what were tryna do with them, it’s what their tryna do with us. Strong Arm Steady and Jean Grae are both acts that you would’ve been hearing about rather they were signed to Blacksmith or not. They already have their own movement going on so it’s a matter of tying in on the movement together under this Blacksmith banner so that we can present a stronger unit. The artists that I make music with are the Vanguard of the business, we the ones that make pure music that really catches people’s hearts. I just wanted to get the business correct so that we have the maximum exposure.
Nobodysmiling.com : What you like most dealing with a female MC like Jean Grae?
Talib Kweli : Well the thing I like about Jean Grae is that she raps circles around dudes whether their female or male. Her being a female is only relevant, because of the form of the music she makes and the way she can touch her topics. She can use her feminine powers to connect with music in ways that men can never do. In a male dominated hip-hop business Jean just shines through, because she out does them. She doesn’t rap good for being a female rapper she raps good for being a MC.
Nobodysmiling.com : So you think she’s gonna represent good for the ladies out there?
Talib Kweli : Aw she’s gonna represent just for hip-hop and the ladies a part of hip-hop. If you love hip-hop music ain’t no way you can front on Jean Grae. I’ve seen a lot of talk and blogs talking about how wack female MC’s are and they only wrote some bullshit like that because they never heard of Jean Grae.
Nobodysmiling.com : No doubt I’m definitely looking forward to Jean Grae.
Talib Kweli : Alright!
Nobodysmiling.com : One question I’ve always wanted to ask you Talib is they say the commercial hip-hop makes the most money so why you choose to take the conscious route?
Talib Kweli : I didn’t choose to take this route this is what I do. I can’t front I’m not good at it, I just can’t do it by trying to pretend something I’m not. I speak about what I know so it’s like this rap chose me more than anything.
Nobodysmiling.com : A lot of MC’s say the best hip-hop comes from the underground do you agree?
Talib Kweli : Yeah I think that’s no question. I think they have a lot more on the line and a lot more passion behind it. There are people who come into hip-hop music, because it’s a big money-maker to make money. The industry is changing so those artists are not being signed as quickly as they used to be, because people are starting to see through that façade. A lot of people are just involved in it for the shine and to be on the stage with the flashing lights. The earning part of hip-hop is very respected in the business, but the art is not as respected.
Nobodysmiling.com : Talib being the dope MC that you are and having a lot of respect for veterans in the game how you feel when people say hip-hop is dead?
Talib Kweli : Hip-hop is obviously not dead I think that Nas named his album think “Hip-Hop is Dead”, because he was stoking to fire up the conversation. Nas is a pure MC I don’t he really meant that. I think that if you concentrate on the radio and TV yeah, but if you pay attention to the whole thing it’s not. I think he was trying to start the conversation more than anything and he did it. After he named his album that you had everyone from underground artists to mainstream artists make a response. You had Young Jeezy, Franchize Boys making records and you had underground artist make records talking about no it ain’t. KRS-ONE has a great record out called “Hip-Hop is Alive” so by him naming his album “Hip-Hop is Dead” he sort of resurrected it.
Nobodysmiling.com : Do you think it’s possible we can get a Nas and Talib Kweli collaboration?
Talib Kweli : I would love that I’m working on that right now.
Nobodysmiling.com : What you think hip-hop needs right now then?
Talib Kweli : It’s got what it needs, it needs me, Jean Grae, and Strong Arm Steady. It needs Blacksmith to wave that flag and were here.
Nobodysmiling.com : But a lot of people do say hip-hop is not balanced enough right now.
Talib Kweli : Nah I disagree with that. If you only turn on the radio and listen to what the radio gives you then your not doing your job. If you say you love hip-hop, but yet you only listen to your urban hip-hop station yeah I can see how you come to that conclusion. Nah that’s a poor excuse, there’s the internet, satellite radio, it’s a thousand ways you can get access to music you just can’t be lazy. If you are God bless you that means you don’t really care about it like that music is just backround noise. To me music is way more than backround noise it’s a natural resource. It’s how I live my life so I just can’t listen to what they give you. That’s why people love cable and that’s why network TV is suffering. With cable you can pick and choose things that suit you as opposed dealing with whatever is on the network and that’s where hip-hop is at.
Nobodysmiling.com : Besides all this hip-hop is dead talk tell me about this new album “Eardrum”, because I’m looking forward to it?
Talib Kweli : You should be it’s a great album. It’s got production from the best in the business from Will I am to Pete Rock from Madlib to Kanye West from Hi-Tek to DJ Khalil. It’s got Norah Jones, Kanye West rapping on it, Jean Grae, UGK, Musiq Soulchild, and I’m real excited about it.
Nobodysmiling.com : Working with Hi-Tek that’s your man and all why you think ya’ll go the good chemistry that ya’ll have?
Talib Kweli : I think Hi-Tek makes very musical beats that have that thump. It just have that knock and he’s very based in musical ideas. That’s how I approach my music with it real heavy and consciousness saying something accordingly. I still strive to make it sound good and feel good when it hits your ear. I think that’s where our two styles come together at.
Nobodysmiling.com : Can you explain the meaning behind “EarDrum”?
Talib Kweli : Yeah I just want people to concentrate on the sounds that’s why I named the album “Eardrum” how to be able to get to your ear. I’m respected as a lyricist and people know that I have good lyrics, but I personally feel I’m a great musician as well. I want people to see me as more than a lyricist so the beats I picked for the album all concentrated on the sound.
Nobodysmiling.com : Where would Talib Kweli rank himself among the best lyricist in the game?
Talib Kweli : Number one, but I’m bias. Every rapper should think that their the best rapper out if you don’t think you’re the best you should sit the fuck down somewhere.
Nobodysmiling.com : [Laughs], I see Talib has a lot of confidence.
Talib Kweli : You got to, this business is based on confidence and how you present yourself. Every rapper should think that, all that “I’m humble I’m not tryna be the best MC” go someplace else.
Nobodysmiling.com : Now you know the cat MF Doom he’s a dope producer, but I want to ask you what you think of him wearing that mask don’t you think that’s sickening?
Talib Kweli : Do I think that’s sickening?
Nobodysmiling.com : In a good way.
Talib Kweli : Oh in a good way [laughs], I mean he probably gets hot. I’m for the dude so I seen how seriously he takes the mask thing man. Doom has a lot of personal history, the mask is an artistic way for him to become somebody else. At the end of the day that’s all every artist wants to do is play out a different part of their personality and the mask is a great way to do that.
Nobodysmiling.com : I think it’s hot, because it’s something different.
Talib Kweli : Yeah it is, it’s sharp.
Nobodysmiling.com : Talib why you think fans should go out and cop this “Eardrum”?
Talib Kweli : Because they ain’t gonna hear a better piece of hip-hop music coming out this year. They definitely gonna cop “Finding Forever” Common’s new album. It’s like we all supporting each other and the fans that claim to wan this music they got to support it. They gotta support me, they gotta support Common, Kanye when he comes out, definitely Jean Grae and Strong Arm Steady as well. I’m one piece of a movement and “Eardrum” will be that one piece of movement that’s a very important piece.
Nobodysmiling.com : So I see the conscious hip-hop is coming strong?
Talib Kweli : I mean you gotta come aggressive with the conscious, ni**as come aggressive with the nonsense so you gotta balance it out.
Nobodysmiling.com : Alright Talib I appreciate the interview you have anything to say to readers of Nobodysmiling.com?
Talib Kweli : Check out for “Eardrum” and check out the album cover at www.talibkweli.com.
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