Talib Kweli Quotes

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Talib Kweli

Profession : Musician

Birth : October 3, 1975

Skip the religion and politics, head straight to the compassion. Everything else is a distraction.

Talib Kweli

I think once you're in the public eye, whether you're a boss, a teacher or whatever you do, that you're automatically in the position of role model. You have people looking up to you, so whether you choose to accept it or not is a different question.

Talib Kweli

You have to know when to be arrogant. You have to when to be humble. You have to know when to be hard and you have to know when to be soft.

Talib Kweli

Hip-hop is a vehicle.

Talib Kweli

That's what hip-hop is: It's sociology and English put to a beat, you know.

Talib Kweli

If I'm performing with a DJ, it's all on me to draw the energy. I like the camaraderie of a band.

Talib Kweli

We're in an illusion about what our role is in world politics and foreign affairs, and our policies are killing and destroying and doing a lot of things that we are not aware of.

Talib Kweli

Before Eminem, the idea that there would be a white rapper that anybody would really check for was fantastic or amazing or impossible.

Talib Kweli

A lot of these people, these program directors, just like anybody else in the world, even though they're supposed to be leaders in the world, they're followers. They follow what they think someone else is doing, instead of trying to blaze a trail.

Talib Kweli

Ain't nobody making music to not be heard and the easiest way to be heard is to be on the radio, but you should never compromise who you are, your values or your morals.

Talib Kweli

And you know, art as commerce, doesn't really make too much sense, they don't go together.

Talib Kweli

As far as being on a major label, some labels get it and get what they have to do, and some labels don't. I don't think the label I'm on necessarily gets it, but I think over time they're gonna have to.

Talib Kweli

But it becomes disrespectful when the artist's process is not respected.

Talib Kweli

But you have to be creative on how you sell yourself and market yourself.

Talib Kweli

Even an independent label is looking for a hit, they're not looking for a record that's not gonna do well.

Talib Kweli

Hi-Tek is on three or four songs on the new record.

Talib Kweli

Hip-hop isn't as complex as a woman is.

Talib Kweli

I don't feel comfortable making empty music.

Talib Kweli

I met Mos Def around that time but I didn't hook up with him until I was about 17 or 18.

Talib Kweli

I not only wanted to showcase lyrical skills but also continue to drop knowledge on the hiphop community. I'm looking to elevate through my music, and through my music I educate.

Talib Kweli