Talib Kweli’s latest project, Prisoner of Conscious, may, in fact be reflective of his stance towards being typecast as a particular artist.
“I don’t consider myself as a prisoner of anything,” explained Kweli in an interview with VladTV. “Clearly, I do songs with Nelly,” he added, laughing.
However, Kweli is aware of attempts to label an categorize him. “Clearly, other people in this business, whether it be consumers or fans, or more importantly, the labels or the media, have the need to label me and package me as a conscious artist.”
“I’m not special. They don’t just do it for me. Everybody get a label applied to them,” conceded Kwe, before adding, “But it’s a matter of how much you live up to that label, and how much you accept whatever label someone else has given to you.”
“The conscious rapper label correctly applies to me, because I am a conscious rapper,” he explained. “…But this industry has demonized the term ‘consciousness,’ and has demonized the idea of positive message and music that can move people in a different direction other than debauchery.”
Kweli explained that he embraces the challenge of making positive music, but that the label placed upon him is limiting nonetheless. “That’s why I fight against that label. That’s why I fight against being put in that box, because the people who strive to put me in that box… are limiting the audience that can hear my music.”
Watch the interview below:
RELATED: Talib Kweli Clarifies Statements On Rick Ross & Lil Wayne
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U mad niggas ima do this for ever every day of my life till this site closes UHUHUHUHUHUHUHUH
get a life MF
U on some real shit dawg
Just start rapping about guns n bitches n hoes and they’ll stop calling you conscious.. whining ass nigga. You made your whole career on making positive music which is GOOD, but stop complaining about it. Starting to sound like bitch ass Lupe..
http://soundcloud.com/emil-nutron/the-beat-maniac-mix
One Full Hour Of Dope Ass Banging Beats All Produced By Your Man Emil NuTron
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If u don’t want people to associate your work with the word ‘conscious’, then y u put that word in the title of your album?
I just don’t get it…
ja rule will knock this lil nigga unconscious
#RuleTalk
this why i dont like this do anymore now that title is in a box when the term itself defines being outside the box. just say you wanna make wack shit too and you like other mainstream artist when they come out uses gimmicks for gain you did the same thing at rawkus with the real mc and pro culture label. now you wanna do what you all ways wanted to do which is hammer time and puffy music. less john robinson,j-live,asheru and more nelly,2chainz,lilwayne. just cause they demonize it to keep the agenda means their right and you have to switch over unless thats in you in the first place but if you were a conscious you could know that im just sayin tho. niggas always got excuses to sellout
he’s signed to MCA records. That should be enough indication as to who has say in his business decisions…
Word to the father
alien looking bug eyed wack nigga with horrible voice and flow. Drake shits on this niggas whole carreer of irrelevence
“Irrelevant Rapper” would label him better.
Used to like him, now he gets on my nerves. Boy stop!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ktawH1-X84
If you want to worry about labels then worry about why most people think you’re wack. Learn to rhyme on beat.
uhuuhuhuhuhuhh
uhhuhuhh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T8E09aAOIc
bevis n butt head
bevis n butt head:
zxsss4:
He has a big point I agree.
now at the wiz george lopez new album titled “beat it my name is zack now” with songs titled ‘lets stand in stores really long and talk to indians ” and “well u have to talk like monsters to fool people. at the wizz
Talib = BUM RAPPER period
fuck outta here
THE FUCK IS YOU SAYING????
this nigga is reaching for attention too much ive heard about enough of this nigga. His music isnt all that great either he should stop trying to force himself to relevence because we all know that he will never be relevent
his music is some of the greatest shit ever
You are stupid az hell..
There are too many trolls on this site.
Just shut up already.
Nigga just too deep 4 simple azz niggaz like YOU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLIbtbd32jI
ja rule will make him unconscious
shushes mother fuckers coming out the bushes. chaseing son of a dicks with chainsaws swinging.throwing em on the mother fucker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCGNTO0qaVc
Real shit what he said….Hell just look at all the fake wannabe E-Thugs on threads like this…Everybody wants to be hard or talk shit but when it comes down to some positive shit that gets put in a box or sometimes labeled “soft.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI-KjVLS6Uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SCtyEOJy0A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W1tG-m4NSU
this nigga looks like hes 60. he done!
Hes done a lot more than ull ever do wit ur life
Nigga be looking like a Hornet with them Shades on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyWVf-mVVSQ
You motherfuckers minds are too minuscule to comprehend what’s being said.Grow the the fuck up kiddies!!!!!
nobody is more conscious den Drake