Talib Kweli’s Twitter account has been the subject of scrutiny or praise (depending on who you ask) for some time. While many onlookers may conclude he’s simply trying to rile people up, Kweli says he has a valid reason for engaging with the so-called trolls, deeming it an almost necessary evil. The former Black Star MC, who just released his collaborative album The Seven with Styles P, believes we don’t have the “luxury” to not address the toxic comments from strangers online anymore.
“In 2017, when people are spending their whole lives online, we cannot ignore bigotry on an online space,” Kweli tells HipHopDX. “Acting as if it’s harmless is an asinine concept. When online trolls, who put out fake news or fake information, and quite possibly affected the election where Trump could win because of it, that tells me we can’t ignore it. That tells me we’re not in a position to say, ‘Oh that’s just a troll, it’s harmless. It’s not real.’”
In light of events like the Manchester bombing or the stabbing death of a Portland, Oregon man allegedly trying to defend two Muslim girls, the Brooklyn Hip Hop vet is asking the right questions intentionally, giving racist people the space to actually unmask themselves.
“I have questions designed to expose their mentality,” he explains. “I say, ‘Tell me why … explain yourself.’ I ask them questions I know they can’t answer and the more they try to explain a racist statement … the only thing you can really say is ‘Ok I fucked up,’ but when you try to explain it, the more racist you’re going to become. That’s what triggers them — having to explain their bullshit. Then often, they get more and more racist to the point where they start threatening people.”
Kweli has also been accused of “making racism happen” as recently as last week, which to anyone with a basic knowledge of American history is something virtually impossible.
“It starts off with them saying, ‘Hey I’m not racist’ and they’re mad they got called a white boy,” he says. “It ends with them saying, ‘Fuck all niggas, I am going to come to your house and kill you. That’s how it goes a lot. You just have to ask questions. They’ll get to the heart of the matter.
“Someone told me last week, ‘Your tweets make people want to be racist,'” he adds. “But I’m laughing all the time. People assume because my tweets stress people out that I’m stressed out. I’m over here having a great time.”
In 2014, Kweli was asked to appear on CNN to discuss the Ferguson, Missouri riots with host Don Lemon, but the two ended up getting in a heated discussion after Kweli said he thought media was doing a “horrible job” with coverage. It almost ended with Kweli walking off set, but they were able to come to a peaceful resolution and shook hands as they parted. The appearance made it clear Kweli is passionate about voicing his beliefs no matter what — and that includes online.
Last year, when he was asked about his thoughts on actress Zoe Saldana playing Nina Simone in the biopic about the late singer’s life, Nina, he (once again) didn’t shy away from giving his opinion, especially to those who were ranting about Saldana donning “black face” to play the role, proving he’s never afraid to go against the grain, even when Twitter is ganging up on him.
“A black person can’t wear black face idiot,” he tweeted.
As the creator behind weighty songs such as “Get By,” “The Proud” and “Hostile Gospel,” the outspoken MC is not going to turn a blind eye to the abusive and aggressive nature of some of the tweets floating out there in cyberspace — no matter who they come from. While he says he comes from “an era where people would punch you in the face in real life,” he will stand in solidarity with those who feel they are being cyberbullied.
“I have a hard time wrapping my head around cyberbullying being a real threat, but I’ve never had that personally affect my life, so I don’t question it,” he says. “You talk about cyberbullying? Ok, I guess so, but that sounds insensitive, but then if I say a troll is saying he’s going to kill my family and drape a confederate flag over my grave, I’m supposed to ignore that? You’re telling me to ignore these white supremacists when they’re a direct threat to my life? Nah.”
It’s a shame. Dude is a racist pretentious piece of shit himself from what i’ve seen, he should get in the lab and make a goddamn album instead of this fuckery on twitter and droppin trash after trash. I guess he got too time and money on his hands.
He did just make an album you idiot.
I didn’t say he didn’t. I said it was trash fool.
Hahahaha you think The Seven with Styles P is trash? What kind of “Hip Hop” do you listen to? XXXTentacion and Lil Yachty? Or did you just miss that one?
He’s made much better. He’s also gotta stop trying to make NIKO IS happen.
Talib Kweli is one of my favorite artists, hands down. I’ve loved most every album he’s done from Black Star to Quality to Gutter Rainbows to The Seven. The fact that he calls out and trolls racists and sexists makes him even better!
I don’t mind if Talib Kweli admits he racist(in which I don’t think he is) in my opinion all African Americans should start being racist towards CRAKKKERS and should do the same damage as whites do to the people of color around the globe. Those who are hating on Talib Kweli are sensitive and also refusing to realize that whites are African Americans enemy but won’t accept it because they still have the mentality that being surrounded with whites can make them acceptable in which is still not working and never will.
You are a moron.
This proves what kind of influence he has. Nothing but hate and negativity.
all I read was, herp a derp ba derp herp a derp…. you should educate yourself on reality
Him going off on Twitter makes him looks just as bad as the trolls. Rule of the internet, don’t feed the trolls. Its especially bad when he’s telling women how to be women because he’s a feminist.
If you read the article, addressing trolls become necessary when they take their harmful, toxix rhetoric to real life and start stabbing people on trains.
To Kweli, anybody that says anything against his opinion is a troll. You can never have a decent chat/debate with him unless you’re kissing is backside or agreeing with his tweets.
That dude wound up being a mentally ill dude who supported and hated everyone from Trump to Hillary to Bernie. Not a good case to use for why Talib acts like a dick on Twitter.
Kweli is a washed up clown and the 90s was a looong time ago. fuck outta here.
Lol. Someone bitter about their failed rap career? Hahaha Kweli still making BANK and The Seven is ? Fuck outta here
Kweli really has nothing to do and thinks he has all the answers. I once asked the dude on twitter to put in more work to music than arguing with people on twitter errday. His response was very childish for a person of his calibre. I lost all respect that day.
I’m as black and as african as one can be (born and raised in Benin), but Talib Kwelis is an idiot…. and yes, he is often racist towards white people.
Dude is a racist hatemonger. Theres no way around it.
How?
Combating trolling with trolling is not the way to get a message across. I love Talib as an emcee and an artist but he’s wrong here. All he does is bring himself down to their level.
Twaweeeb Kwaweeee. Hipster race baiting stuttering hypocrite piece of shit racist. That’s the actual headline HHDX. You’re welcome.
Talib Kweli is an idiot about it. If you oppose anything he has to say or point out a fault in his logic, he automatically jumps to calling you a racist or a sympathizer. There’s blog posts about it lol.
Yes there absolutely is he’s a punk ass bitch he talk ALOT of shit for a dude you can’t google for free ?