Talib Kweli Archives - FUXWITHIT

#tbt – Blackstar – Respiration ft. Common

Colin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 03:04:57 +0000

“Escuchela…la ciudad respirando” the opening sample of Blackstar’s ‘Repiration’ translates to “Listen to it, the city breathing”. A perfect sample for a track that so perfectly captures the feeling of city life. Mos deliver the first verse giving listeners a strong visual of NYC laced with political commentary and intelligent metaphors, “The shiny Apple is bruised but sweet and if you choose to eat, you could lose your teeth, many crews retreat.” Kweli follows things up with a verse littered with quotables surrounding the perils of street life. A perfect depiction of personal struggles overlayed with the physical landscape. “Look in the skies for God, what you see besides the smog, is broken dreams flying away on the wings of the obscene.” Common closes things out taking us on a trip to Chicago that touches on everything from burying close friends, to riding the bus to feel closer to the city and finding it hard to imagine his homie having never left the city. Soak this in and take trip into the cold streets. Happy 17th anniversary to Blackstar’s Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star.

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Talib Kweli Drops a Surprise Album

Kash — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 23:04:49 +0000

Surprise! Literally out of nowhere rhyme slayer Talib Kweli dropped a free album with a few friends. The 11 track freebie features rappers like Styles P and Ab-Soul with production from Kaytranada and Alchemist. Fuck The Money is really Kweli flexing skill and showcasing some of his Javotti Media homies. Upon first listen, its clear that Kweli hasn’t missed a step and is still one of the baddest lyricists out and he clearly doesn’t give a fuck about the money considering the price tag. Listen to it below and download it here.

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Big Wild flips Griz & Talib Kweli. Yeah it’s Massive.

Colin — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 16:49:34 +0000

Big Wild is steadily working to become the king of Summer grooves. Last year he held summer down with ‘La Brisa’ and ‘Hey Mami’ and just a few months back dropped the majestic original ‘Aftergold’. Keeping that momentum going the gifted producer returns with a massive remix of Griz ft. Talib Kweli’s ‘For The Love’. The rework takes a more upbeat direction that’s bouncy, funky, and irresistibly catchy. Like sunshine on a Summer’s day you won’t want it to end. Stream below.

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Listen to the original:

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#tbt – Mos Def & Talib Kweli – Definition

FUXWITHIT — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 00:49:19 +0000

1, 2 ,3…It’s Mos Def and Talib Kweliiiii

That’s right folks, this week on our #tbt feature we bring you Black Star – ‘Definition’.

Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star was released in August, 1998. Who knew these guys were so close back in the day (like Bethlehem and Nazareth). Both Mos Def and Talib Kweli hail from Brooklyn, NY, and the Black Star album is about life in that borough of NYC. ‘Definition’ is one of the hottest tracks off the album. Hi-Tek produced this track, amongst others on the album. Beat goes hard and gets your head banging from start to finish. ‘Definition’ is about life in Brooklyn and Mos/Kweli’s response to how hip-hop has a fascination with murder. They also show their props to their former hip-hop counterparts (Tupac and Biggie).

Favourite line: “Shining like an asterisk for all those at the gathering” – Mos Def … like an asterisk! Imagine Rihanna stumbled upon that one first…

****SHINE BRIGHT LIKE AN ASTERISK****

Anyways, cheers to the best alliance in hip-hop, Mos Def and Talib Kweli (Y-O).

– Iain (@iainganderson) – Guest Writer

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Javotti Media Presents: The Cathedral

Colin — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 04:09:11 +0000

Legendary emcee Talib Kweli not only prides himself on his amazing skills as an artist but also for his ear for upcoming talent. Considering the fact that Kweli was an early supporter of many of the new school greats (Kanye West, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar) in 2012 he founded his own label, Javotti Media, with the goal of helping to break new artists. Cathedral is a fresh mixtape from the camp and features a ton of up and coming artists including NIKO IS, Corey Mo, K’Valentine & more. If you’re not into the new artists don’t worry Kweli blesses the tape with his presence throughout and it features heavyweights such as Pharoahe Monch, Big K.R.I.T., and Curren$y. Full stream below.

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Talib Kweli – Gravitas – Album Review

FUXWITHIT — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 18:54:27 +0000

Talib Kweli gave fans an early Christmas gift dropping Gravitas on December 15th. With his sixth studio release, Kweli proves he is still one of the most talented MC’s out. The album starts out strong with ‘Inner Monologue’ where he discuses the current state of the industry while dropping sharp battle rhymes. It features a sample from author Neil Gaiman discussing how typical distribution channels for all art forms are breaking down and being reinvented. This is quite fitting considering Gravitas was released exclusively through his newly launched #KweliClub website. The album features 11 tracks.

On ‘Demonology’ Kweli gets some assistance from Gary Clarke Jr. and Big K.R.I.T. The guitar work from the former and ominous vocal samples provide a perfect backdrop for Kweli to chronicles his battle with demons. ‘State of Grace’ examines the current state of hip-hop and gives you look into struggle the of female fan who feels she’s losing touch with her love of hip-hop. “The artist she trusted/Just broke her heart, so misogynistic and disgusting/She tried not to judge him/In her heart she still loved him/And the way that he lusting a part of his suffering”. These bars provide a brief a snapshot of her struggle.

‘Violations’ sees Talib Kweli trading bars with Raekwon. This is one of my favourite songs off the album and is sure to have any long time hip-hop fan feeling nostalgic. Talib Kweli’s intelligent rhymes and Rae’s grittiness compliment each other perfectly. On ‘Rare Portraits’ he paints a picture of his career and reminds listeners of his achievements: “I’m out and on tour with the greatest, A Tribe Called Quest/ And the De La’s, opened for Jay Z and Nas, who else could say this?”

“New Leaders (ft. UnderAcheivers) has an uplifting feel with Kweli claiming he has a enough followers, he’s looking for some new Leaders. It features the UnderAcheivers who’s verses pale in comparison to the skill Kweli. On ‘The Wormhole’ Kweli addresses the hip-hop communities fascination with the Illuminati. He drops knowledge on the subject while dismissing theories about rapper being members. ‘What’s Real’ is solid track which features a slowed up beat and assistance from RES on the hook.

“Art Imitates Life” is a huge standout. Anytime Blackthought and Kweli get together you know it’s going to be something special. This song does not disappoint. It also features Rah Digga (haven’t heard her since Break Fool!) and ALBe. The album closes on a tender note. ‘Lover’s Peak’ is more of an interlude then a song, but it’s nothing short of beautiful. It flows perfectly into the album’s closer, ‘Colors of You (ft. Mike Posner)’ a perfectly put together love song.

Saying a Talib Kweli album is great lyrically is like saying a Quentin Tarintino movie is violent. We’ve all come to expect it, but that doesn’t mean we appreciate it any less. If you’re a true hip-hop fan this album is a must listen. 4/5.

We Fuxwithit.

–@ClassyVlassy

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