05/18/07 - Rap's high road

robby84 · 05-18-2007, 10:28 AM

By JIM FARBER
DAILY NEWS MUSIC CRITIC

Friday, May 18th 2007

Hip-hop star Talib Kweli holds two opposing views in what's normallly seen as a one-side-or-the-other smackdown over rap lyrics.

"On the one hand," he says, "the people who complain the loudest are the ones who pay the least attention to hip hop. So I couldn't care less. On the other, it's great for me because it makes my music more relevant to the mainstream conversation."

In fact, Kweli's raps could function as exhibit A in a case against those who claim modern rap only debases and degrades. For more than a decade, Kweli's dense and undulating rhymes have kept the emphasis on erudition over exploitation. Along with stars like Kanye West, Common and Mos Def, Kweli stands among the most respected so-called conscious rappers of today. Tonight at 11 he'll bring that verbal derring-do to a headline performance at the Highline Ballroom.

Taking rap's high road hasn't exactly been a commercial breeze. The Brooklyn-born rapper has earned more kudos than bling in his career. In a famous rhyme off Jay-Z's 2003 "Black Album," Jay made it plain: "If skills sold/truth be told/I'd probably be/lyrically/Talib Kweli."

The verbalist, who was born Talib Greene, started his career in the late '90s, along with Hi-Tek and Mos Def in the storied group Black Star. They and their label (Rawkus) harkened back to a wave of progressive N.Y. acts, like Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul, while simultaneously forging their own counter to the prevailing gangsta trend.

Mos Def soon went solo, leaving Kweli and Hi-Tek to soldier on. By 2002, Kweli (the son of two college professors) was performing solo on the aptly named CD "Quality." His next work, "The Beautiful Struggle," matched his most commercial music to words that never lost their intellectual rigor. When Kweli felt his label, Geffen, didn't promote his music properly, he decamped for the indie imprint Koch, which issued "Right About Now." He felt no better about their treatment.

Consequently, the rapper released his most recent work, "Liberation," free over the Internet.

"It was more about getting the songs to the fans who would appreciate it than about me making money," he explains.

Maybe he can make some of that up with his upcoming work, "Ear Drum," out July 24. It puts him back on a major label, Warner Bros.

While the current mood may bring more attention to his latest uplifting rap, Kweli hardly sees commercial success as an end-all goal. "If you follow the ups and downs of the music business, you're just a victim of its trends," says Kweli. "My idea of success is different."

For him, it's in the music.

jfarber@nydailynews.com

source:

El Scorpio · 05-18-2007, 11:08 AM

"On the one hand," he says, "the people who complain the loudest are the ones who pay the least attention to hip hop....

that's true! like that stupid Christian activist dude dissing 50 for his "satanistic actions" (you know like saying bitch, talking about guns and stuff....) & all the controversy 'cos of curse words, none of these ppl even listen to hip-hop!

GMNRecordsCT3 · 05-18-2007, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Scorpio

"On the one hand," he says, "the people who complain the loudest are the ones who pay the least attention to hip hop...

co---tothefullest---sign

Jack Frost · 05-18-2007, 11:52 AM

propz. he sayin a lot of truth.

Henry_bone · 05-18-2007, 01:08 PM

props...................................

05-18-2007, 10:28 AM	#1
robby84 Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Queenz Bred, livin life in Y.O. Posts: 8,583 Repped: 3,247 Repped 13,916 Times in 1,127 Posts Neg Reps: 12 Neg Repped at 8 Times in 8 Posts	05/18/07 - Rap's high road 05/18/07 - Rap's high road By JIM FARBER DAILY NEWS MUSIC CRITIC Friday, May 18th 2007 Hip-hop star Talib Kweli holds two opposing views in what's normallly seen as a one-side-or-the-other smackdown over rap lyrics. "On the one hand," he says, "the people who complain the loudest are the ones who pay the least attention to hip hop. So I couldn't care less. On the other, it's great for me because it makes my music more relevant to the mainstream conversation." In fact, Kweli's raps could function as exhibit A in a case against those who claim modern rap only debases and degrades. For more than a decade, Kweli's dense and undulating rhymes have kept the emphasis on erudition over exploitation. Along with stars like Kanye West, Common and Mos Def, Kweli stands among the most respected so-called conscious rappers of today. Tonight at 11 he'll bring that verbal derring-do to a headline performance at the Highline Ballroom. Taking rap's high road hasn't exactly been a commercial breeze. The Brooklyn-born rapper has earned more kudos than bling in his career. In a famous rhyme off Jay-Z's 2003 "Black Album," Jay made it plain: "If skills sold/truth be told/I'd probably be/lyrically/Talib Kweli." The verbalist, who was born Talib Greene, started his career in the late '90s, along with Hi-Tek and Mos Def in the storied group Black Star. They and their label (Rawkus) harkened back to a wave of progressive N.Y. acts, like Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul, while simultaneously forging their own counter to the prevailing gangsta trend. Mos Def soon went solo, leaving Kweli and Hi-Tek to soldier on. By 2002, Kweli (the son of two college professors) was performing solo on the aptly named CD "Quality." His next work, "The Beautiful Struggle," matched his most commercial music to words that never lost their intellectual rigor. When Kweli felt his label, Geffen, didn't promote his music properly, he decamped for the indie imprint Koch, which issued "Right About Now." He felt no better about their treatment. Consequently, the rapper released his most recent work, "Liberation," free over the Internet. "It was more about getting the songs to the fans who would appreciate it than about me making money," he explains. Maybe he can make some of that up with his upcoming work, "Ear Drum," out July 24. It puts him back on a major label, Warner Bros. While the current mood may bring more attention to his latest uplifting rap, Kweli hardly sees commercial success as an end-all goal. "If you follow the ups and downs of the music business, you're just a victim of its trends," says Kweli. "My idea of success is different." For him, it's in the music. jfarber@nydailynews.com source: __________________ Most loved/Hated Moderator "Stop Bitchin" - Robby

05-18-2007, 11:52 AM	#4
Jack Frost Natural Born Killah Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Philippines Posts: 2,144 Repped: 145 Repped 125 Times in 51 Posts Neg Reps: 3 Neg Repped at 10 Times in 7 Posts	propz. he sayin a lot of truth. __________________ Shady, Aftermath & G unit all day. fuck the haters!

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05-18-2007, 11:08 AM	#2
El Scorpio Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Switzerland (but from UK) Posts: 8,922 Repped: 1,350 Repped 867 Times in 279 Posts Neg Reps: 2 Neg Repped at 3 Times in 3 Posts	"On the one hand," he says, "the people who complain the loudest are the ones who pay the least attention to hip hop.... that's true! like that stupid Christian activist dude dissing 50 for his "satanistic actions" (you know like saying bitch, talking about guns and stuff....) & all the controversy 'cos of curse words, none of these ppl even listen to hip-hop!

05-18-2007, 01:08 PM	#5
Henry_bone G Unit Soldier Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 883 Repped: 465 Repped 112 Times in 30 Posts Neg Reps: 2 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	props...................................