Throughout his decade-plus career, Talib Kweli has had several disputes with his labels. The Brooklyn, New York emcee had previously voiced his displeasure with Rawkus Records in later years, with whom he released four albums between 1998 and 2004. This year, Kweli also called out Babygrande Records for recent tactics in releasing an album of unreleased material. This past week, Talib has also voiced his displeasure with Warner Brothers Records, where he released 2007’s Eardrum and this year’s sophomore Reflection Eternal outing, Revolutions Per Minute.
JumpOffTV captured footage from Kweli’s Gutter Rainbows listening party. The album, which will release next month, is a return to independent releases for the popular emcee. Speaking about the contrast between his 2010 release and 2011’s, Kweli explained, “The difference between Gutter Rainbows and [Revolutions Per Minute] is that somebody might actually work on putting [Gutter Rainbows] out, in the proper way.” Voicing criticism against Warner Brothers/Asylum, Kweli continued, “As opposed to Reflection Eternal, which, if you don’t got the Reflection Eternal album, [produced] by Hi-Tek, Revolutions Per Minute, I’m personally very proud of this album…go out and get that, but it went under the radar. I don’t think the record company did a good job of connecting that album with my fan-base.”
The Janauary 25, 2011 Javotti Media/3D release (with physical CD/vinyl handled by Duck Down Records) will reportedly return Kweli to a lane he’s used to. “Part of my motivation for Gutter Rainbows was to put myself back into the marketplace in a way that I want to do it, ’cause they didn’t even associate my name with the Reflection Eternal album, which was a huge mistake.”
Man this guy really sucks. Do we really need another bitch ass whining rapper who obviously can’t sell because he sucks. Face it, all his fans won’t even buy his CDs. They’ll bootleg it. Even the ones that do cop it, they’ll never play it to their friends or girlfriends because chicks don’t like this smart ass nerd rap. They want GUCCI! Gucci Mane is what real Hip Hop is.
It’s Gucci Time!
you just made yourself sound real ignorant. You shouldn’t talk anymore at all my brother.
cosign jordan, that’s the same line lame ngga#5553 would say on a subject of this matter. He’s a good artist and should sell atlease decently
this guy doesn’t have a girl friend
Warner Brothers SUCKS.
They fucked over Murs, Kweli and Ill Bill.
But what has Kweli ever done for Jean Grae? Strong Arm Steady?
David Banner & 9th Wonder: Death Of A Pop Star (December 21, 2010)
GO GET IT. SOULFUL HIP-HOP CLASSIC!!!!!
“SUPPORT THE TRUTH, SUPPORT REAL INDY HIP-HOP”!!!
@SuperGucciRap you are funny as shit. For real. I agree 100% that Kweli’s shit is too intellectual for most people. The real heads will cop it, but there are not a lot of us. The underground hayday was RAWKUS. Underground artists will never have the support that they had with that label. And because of bootlegging will never do the pre-Napster numbers that RAWKUS did. Didn’t Pharoahe Monch go platinum? Shit was crazy. They all still deserve that type of fame but if Eminem used to do 10million (MMLP) and now he is doin 3million (RECOVERY) and Talib+Hi-Tek did 150,000 (TrainOfThought), now they are doin 50,000 (RPM). Talib gotta get it in other ways. Tours, digital, merchandise, features, more iTunes shit, whatever. Its out there, labels are just not doing it anymore.
SAY WORD.
what? an artist not happy with their major label? i’m shocked
Kweli is mad talented. Sometimes his music suffers because he picks tracks for the beat but hooks and harmony ain’t so cool but he rap his ass off. Having said that, with as much talent as he has, why can’t a label seem to work with him to his satisfaction? It always turns out with him bitching like Ochocinco or some shit. Damn, kid, just fuckin’ rap. Get some good beats from all those cats you cool with rhyme and stop complaining. And finish the fucking Black Star album!
Kweli is mad talented. Sometimes his music suffers because he picks tracks for the beat but hooks and harmony ain’t so cool but he rap his ass off. Having said that, with as much talent as he has, why can’t a label seem to work with him to his satisfaction? It always turns out with him bitching like Ochocinco or some shit. Damn, kid, just fuckin’ rap. Get some good beats from all those cats you cool with rhyme and stop complaining. And finish the damned Black Star album!
I am pretty sure Dru Ha will work hard to promote this well for Duck Down but i doubt he has that much of a Budget. I sure will cop it and he´ll better swing his A** back over to Europe! Saw him in Mannheim with his new Band in 2009, he knows he get´s a lotta love over here. So Talib, when will we see you again ???
Gutter Rainbows is gonna be SICK, Kweli is top 10 right now nd his album gonna be top 5 for 2011…… Gucci isnt even rap, that short bus shorty cant sell for shit nd you never see him on top 10 lists. Because hes garbage!!!! Everyone gotta be out there coppin this when it drops, #GutterRainbows
Some of yall who comment make wonder why I continue to associate myself with Ignorant ppl.
Most of yall Know Wassup. Talib is the truth. There are some who would be content not to see Hip Hop as a legitimate art form.
They would rather niggas be back on the block with know voice to the World.
I truley believe that.
http://www.soundclick.com/showtimeny
Out of this World Coming 2011
Why do people continue to feed the SuperGucci troll??
SMH
On topic tho, Kweli has a point because When Warner was droppin that album they should have accentuated the fact that Talib is in the group, being that Taib Kweli’s name is more well known then the Group reflection eternal, when that album was coming out, the promo should have stated “Talib Kweli & Hi Tek are Reflection Eternal” or summin like that
I always clown on artists who cry about labels, but in this instance, dude is right on the money, WB should slap themselves
I’m assuming that you are SuperGucciRap.
Talib Kweli too intellectual? I guess I listen to a whole lot of underground and abstract hip-hop, but I dont consider him to be “too intellectual” because he doesnt use abc and nursery rhymeschemes and most of the women I go out with enjoy Kweli, unless they’re just plastic Wayne groupies who serve as nothing but objects of my sexual pleasure. I dont listen to Kweli much but he’s ai’ght.
Kweli right.
RPM has been a top 3 album for me this year (unexpectedly), I love it. Strangers – w/ Bun B is one of my fav tracks of 2010. Kweli is always on point. Looking forward Gutter Rainbows big time.
All the little boys on here saying Kweli ain’t shit need to start their reseach and development by listening to “Get By”.
I’m so sick of rappers whining about promotion. Stop making excuses. Taleb Kwali’s self-professed claim to fame is that he is not a mainstream rapper; this bitching about lack of promotion is all a part of the act. So which is it…are the Taleb Kwali(s) and the underground rappers creatively unrestrained talents, or are they victims? I’m confused.
Im always critical of the mainstream radio rappers but I gotta call you out on this one Talib. You have become a cry baby as of lately and I totally agree with VCP on this. On behalf of all the backpackers everywhere, make music. Bottom line. Who doesn’t complain about promotion? MF Doom, J-Live, Hieroglyphics, 9th Wonder(Little Brother does).
I remember I went into Best Buy to buy that album, the album, “Revolutions Per Minute” & they didn’t even have it.