Rhap Session: Talib Kweli

On the state of hip-hop
With the type of music I do and the type of fans I have, you could imagine I hear [complaints] all the time. People send me letters over MySpace about how upset they are at the state of the game. It’s like, “Really? It bothers you that much?” It don’t bother me that much. And I think it doesn’t bother me that much because of the life I lead. I think if I was working 9 to 5 and wasn’t really caught up on who the newest, latest, hottest underground rapper was and all I had was some local hip-hop station in my town, and they’re playing strip-club music I can’t really relate to, maybe I’d be depressed. But I travel the world, performing on stages and getting a lot of love and adulation from people who love my music. I’ve never had a platinum album but I got a label deal. I’m rolling with Jean Grae and Strong Arm Steady, every night with Common and Mos Def and Wu-Tang Clan and Nas and Cypress Hill. So for me, it’s like, “Really? Is it that upsetting?” Why don’t we concentrate on what’s good? There’s so much good out there.

On the Internet and leaks
The hip-hop community now is on the Internet, as opposed to when I was coming up, you had to go to Washington Square Park and buy 12”s and just sit there and listen to it. Now, it’s like whatever. You could go on the Internet. My issues that I had with the leak [of The Beautiful Struggle], I still have those same issues. And the saddest part for me is I thought I was very clear with what my issues are, but people like the sensationalism. They don’t like clarity. If you read anything of what I wrote back then, I was very clear that I have no issue with people file sharing or sending songs and this and that because I would be stupid to have an issue with that. The problem I have is someone who calls himself a fan to have such low respect for what I do. My album was scheduled for a September release and it was leaked in February, so obviously I wasn’t finished with it. So, now, you have people judging something that’s half done. And that, for me as an artist, that’s like the worst sh*t ever. If I’m finished with the record and it’s mixed and I presented it and you decide to steal it and share it with your friends, that’s your own karma to deal with. At least steal something that I finished working on.

On his record label, Blacksmith Records
[It’s there] to create that flag that kids can wave. And if you like this type of music, you like artists being free and more progressive, there’s a lifestyle and a culture for you to participate in. Too often, the aggressive music doesn’t create a culture to celebrate that music. Everyone likes the Roots, everyone likes Common, everyone likes Jean Grae, but these kids are too jaded or just think they’re too hip or too cool for school. There’s nothing wrong with being a fan. A lot of my fans hit me, like, “I’m not a fan.” What the f*ck do you mean you’re not a fan? What’s wrong with being a fan? I’m a fan. I’m a fan of Public Enemy. If I see Chuck D, I’m going up to him and saying, “I’m a fan.” Why does it make you feel like less of a man or like a groupie to be a fan? 'Cause Young Jeezy fans, they’re wearing Young Jeezy snowman T-shirts and coming to the show. But my fans want to complain, like, “Why is it that you don’t get mainstream radio play?” It’s 'cause we have to create that movement. It’s not just on the fans. It’s on me as well. I have to become that leader. If I’m going to stay on the label, I’ve got to be that CEO. And I gotta create that movement. I can’t just expect that movement to happen.