THE QUALITY OF TALIB

Talib Kweli, taking Hip Hop to another level

Words by Albert "Mac" McCluster III

Many within American society have asked....what is Hip Hop?
The answer to that question presented himself in the flesh at
Toledo's Headliners. Talib Kweli, he and Mos Def comprise the
Hip Hop wunder-duo "Black Star".

I've loved Talib ever since his debut, and that love only grew when
I got the Black Star album. He was great on the Spitkickers Tour, and
I couldn't wait to get the Reflection joint... I loved that when it
finally came out, and I still contest that to be one of the top 20
CDs in my collection(we'll argue over that list in a later article).

Talib performed for the packed house like he was at home....performing
with Toledo artists as if he grew up in the central city with them. He
showed what Hip Hop is really about....family, friendship, love for your
neighborhood, flowing lyrics and appreciation of musical versaltility.

Local area Hip Hop acts MC Habitat, Dramatique and Ben Flowz opened the
set as breakdancers from the Ra Crew performed adjacent to the stage
throughout the night.

Diversity and eclectic taste is what makes Talib such a consumate live
performer...able to draw the audience in and hold them. After the set
ended with a packed stage of fans, all shouting "Talib!Talib!Talib!", I
got a chance to talk with him.

Was up Talib?

TK: Chillin', chillin'...enjoying the road and the peeps.

You have definitely raised the bar as far as mc skills...always
spittin' knowledge rhymes. What were your goals on "Quality"?

TK: The main focus is to show the eternal reflection of hiphop music
and hiphop culture. I not only wanted to showcase lyrical skills but
also continue to drop knowledge on the hiphop community. I'm looking
to elevate through my music, and through my music I educate.

Your first 12" release for Rawkus Records was in 1997, your highly
acclaimed partnerships with Mos Def ( Black Star) and Hi-Tek
(Reflection Eternal)and your name is been synonymous with high-grade,
progressive music. Have you set a standard for Neo-Soul/Hip Hop?

TK: I'm not looking to set a standard...but, I believe I have offered
a challenge to others with my work. I teamed with Bilal for "Waitin'
For The DJ"...we were looking for a vibe on that particular cut...
not neccessarily a standard. I believe that Hip Hop has many different
levels...I am just attempting to get MY version to the surface of this
big mesh of music.

Quality features collaborations with some of the music industry’s most
in-demand artists and producers. Tell me who all you worked with on
this CD.

TK: Oh, I got mad love on the album...let me think, Kanye West, from
Jay-Z’s camp, he contributed three slammin' tracks ("Get By”, "Guerilla
Monsoon Rap", and "Good To You") while Jay Dee, who has wrote for Janet
Jackson and Common...he teams with Vinia Mojica, Res and a Rawkus
newcomer, a cat called Novel on two more ("Where Do We Go" and “Stand
To The Side”). Pharaohe Monch, and Black Thought hooked a Native Tongue
inspired supertrack on "Guerilla Monsoon Rap". I have soooo much love
on this album...i don't want to forget anyone...I got additional
production from Megahertz, DJ Quik, Ayatollah, and DJ Scratch.

Good looking out and thanks for taking the time with me for this
interview, Talib.

TK: Always a pleasure...

Talib's album "Quality" is exactly that...QUALITY, it has become
his standard. This is the third time in less than a year that I have
been lucky enough to see him perform. The brotha has been putting in
much work...running with Common, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Gang Starr and
there's a rumor that he and Mos Def are bouncing back and forth in the
studio for a new Black Star joint.

Daily Hip Hop Music News