I remember going to the 2003 Sprite Liquid Mix Tour and seeing Talib Kweli perform for the first time. He performed a bunch of songs off Quality and the Reflection Eternal album. What blew me away the most was a freestyle he performed where he started rhyming about what the audience was wearing. Although, this wasn’t my first encounter with Kweli’s music, that was the moment I knew he was something special. He did that freestyle flawlessly. Since then he’s released multiple albums, he’s been the voice for the voiceless, and has become one of the greatest MCs to ever bless a microphone.

I had the opportunity to interview Kweli before the 20th Anniversary of the Black Star album and we discussed his latest projects, Royce da 5’9, and the new Black Star project. Major Ups to Talib Kweli for taking time out to make this happen. Peep the interview below.

(Stroy) What influenced you to start rhyming?

(Talib Kweli) Growing up in NYC influenced me to participate in Hip Hop. I was writing poetry and plays when I was really young and that influenced me to rhyme. My mother would take me to museums and libraries so I was around literature and poetry at an early age.

In the track “State of Grace (Gravitas album), you say a line, “She grew up loving Hip Hop, now all her daughter has is Love and Hip Hop”. What are your thoughts on music that is being pushed out to the masses?

I mean since the inception of the music industry and the music business, songs that sell sex and violence or things are that mainstream usually receive more of a push in America’s music industry because most people listen to music for escapism. Many people don’t listen to music for consciousness or to be challenged. One of the challenges for the artist that make that kind of music is how to make it entertaining enough so that people want to hear it. I think that is what makes conscious music stand the test of time because the conscious artist has to push through the nonsense.

What are you currently listening to right now? I just copped that new Royce album and it’s amazing. What does Talib Kweli the MC listen to?

I’m blessed to do this music for a living but at the same time I don’t have a lot of time to listen to new music because I’m always making new music for me and my crew. Royce’s album makes my radar not because his he’s affecting the mainstream culture with his new brilliant album but because I’m part of a fraternity of people who listen to real music. I agree with you his latest album is fantastic. As a matter of fact his output over the last couple of years has been super on fire, super focused and super on point.

Royce’s album is fantastic. As a matter of fact his output over the last couple of years has been super on fire, super focused and super on point. -Talib Kweli

You dropped two albums in 2017. You had Radio Silence and The Seven.

I’m just trying to keep up with Royce!

Ha! When I first heard you were dropping the an album with Styles P that caught me off guard. I didn’t see that coming. How did that come about?

That collabo isn’t what people wanted, it’s what they needed. If you look at our history. we had done like five or six songs together. We had a pair of songs with Statik Selektah, every time we were on a track it felt right. It was something we spoke about over the years. We eventually went on tour together and that lead to the album. It was the years of working together that gave it a great sound.

You then followed up with “Radio Silence”, “She’s My Hero” is my favorite track. I had no idea that was a true story until I saw your soundcloud. Have you been in contact with Bresha Meadows since her release?

I have. If you check out my instagram there’s a photo of me and her mom on there. They live in the Cleveland area and they came to the show. It was beautiful to meet the young sister. 

Are there any artists that you’ve never worked with that you would like to collab with?

Preemo…Bjork is another artist I’d like to work with.

Have you ever worked with Maxwell?

I haven’t but that would be interesting as a Brooklyn dude.

So the 20th Black Star Anniversary show is next month, will we see another Black Star album?

We’ve talked about it but we haven’t worked on it as of yet. I don’t want to put a date on it yet.

Going back, When you made this album with Mos Def, did you know the impact this album would have once it was complete?

I did not. I didn’t realize the impact until after it dropped. It impacted the culture quickly but I didn’t go into it thinking that was going to happen.

What advice would you give anyone who is creating music?

That’s hard for me because the industry changes and fluctuates so much that the way that people become famous and the way people make music from the computers they use that a younger successful artist would be in a better position to tell you how. If you’re an artist whose been grinding for years and your over thirty or over forty I might be able to give that person advice. You might have an artist who puts his music on soundcloud and gets millions of views. I don’t get millions of view like that. I wouldn’t be able to instruct a younger artist how to do it. What I can say is that if you stick to your guns, deal with the community, and you speak from your heart, you’ll increase your chances of longevity.

Kweli, thank you for taking time out to make this happen. We will see you in Brooklyn on July 14th. Bless.

Ya Boy Stroy.

Here are my Top 50 Kweli Tracks in no particular order. Enjoy.