Talib Kweli Quotes

Powerful Talib Kweli for Daily Growth

About Talib Kweli

Talib Kweli Greene, born on October 3, 1975, in Brooklyn, New York, is an influential American rapper, activist, and philanthropist who has made significant contributions to the hip-hop genre with his socially conscious lyrics and unique storytelling style. Raised by a single mother, Kweli's passion for music was ignited by his grandmother, who introduced him to artists like Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, and Bob Marley. Influenced by the vibrant New York City hip-hop scene of the 90s, he began rapping under the moniker Talib Kweli (Swahili for "traveler of knowledge"). In 1998, he formed the duo Black Star with Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def). Their debut album, "Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star," was critically acclaimed and is considered a classic in conscious hip-hop. The duo disbanded in 2003, but their music continues to influence a generation of artists. Kweli embarked on a successful solo career with albums like "Quality" (2005), "Eardrum" (2007), and "Gravity" (2011). His music often addresses social issues, politics, race, and the African diaspora. He's collaborated with artists such as Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Norah Jones, and U2. Beyond his musical career, Kweli is actively involved in various philanthropic endeavors, including the Skillz REC Center, a community center that offers music production classes to at-risk youth in Brooklyn. He's also co-founded OKP (Opsounds Knowledge Pioneers), a collective dedicated to promoting independent music and culture. Kweli continues to push boundaries and inspire through his art, activism, and dedication to community empowerment. His enduring influence on hip-hop and society at large is a testament to his talent, passion, and commitment to knowledge and progress.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The struggle for peace and justice never ends."

This quote by Talib Kweli underscores the ongoing nature of societal progress, emphasizing that striving for peace and justice is a continuous process. It suggests that these ideals are not static achievements, but rather ongoing pursuits in which every individual and community has a role to play. The struggle continues as long as there remains inequality, conflict, or injustice anywhere in the world. It's a call to action for everyone to stay committed to creating a more peaceful and just society, understanding that the journey may be lifelong but ultimately leads toward progress and positive change.

"Real Hip Hop is about having a voice that speaks truth to power."

This quote by Talib Kweli suggests that authentic Hip Hop music serves as a platform for voicing truth, particularly in addressing powerful entities or institutions. It implies that Hip Hop artists use their art form as a means of social commentary, advocacy, and resistance against injustice or oppression. The "truth" they speak could be about various societal issues such as inequality, racism, poverty, or political corruption, calling attention to these problems and striving for positive change.

"I'm just trying to do good in this world with my art."

Talib Kweli, through this quote, expresses his artistic purpose as a means to contribute positively to the world. He asserts that his music, or "art," serves as a vehicle for him to carry out good deeds. This statement underscores the power of art and creativity in shaping society and inspiring positive change.

"Change is not something that we wish for. We make change happen."

This quote emphasizes the proactive nature of bringing about change. It suggests that instead of passively desiring change, we should actively work towards making it happen. The quote encourages personal responsibility and action in driving forward progress, rather than waiting for circumstances to change on their own.

"The beauty of art is it has the power to unite people."

This quote by Talib Kweli emphasizes the powerful, unifying nature of art. By bringing together diverse individuals through shared experiences, emotions, and perspectives, art transcends cultural, racial, and social boundaries. It serves as a universal language that connects people, fostering understanding, empathy, and harmony among humanity. Art's ability to speak to our hearts, minds, and souls allows us to relate to one another in ways we might not otherwise encounter. Ultimately, art unites us by reminding us of our commonalities and the human experience that connects us all.

I think hip hop is a dance music that's rebellious by nature.

- Talib Kweli

Think, I Think, Rebellious, Hip

There just needs to be a gay rapper. He doesn't have to be flamboyant, just a rapper who identifies as gay - who's better than everybody. Unfortunately hip-hop is so competitive that in order for fringe groups to get in, you gotta be better than whoever's the best.

- Talib Kweli

Best, Everybody, Fringe, Flamboyant

My musical influence is really from my father. He was a DJ in college. My parents met at New York University. So he listened to, you know, Motown, and he listened to Bob Dylan. He listened to Grateful Dead and Rolling Stones, but he also listened to reggae music. And he collected vinyl.

- Talib Kweli

College, DJ, University, Grateful Dead

I don't go into any album with pressing issues. I just try to write songs.

- Talib Kweli

Go, Album, Songs, Pressing

If you look at my career, doing albums with Norah Jones, Justin Timberlake, Gucci Mane and Lil Wayne or KRS-One and Jean Grae, I can't be pigeonholed.

- Talib Kweli

Career, Doing, Albums, Jean

You know, I've learned a lot from every person I've collaborated with, from Madlib to Jean Grae and Hi-Tek, to Mos to DJ Quik, to even somebody like Jermaine Dupri. I've taken something important away from every experience.

- Talib Kweli

DJ, Away, Collaborated, Jean

I'm a fan of Bjork, a fan of Premier, you know, those are the first two names that come to my mind. You know, I've learned a lot from every person I've collaborated with, from Madlib to Jean Grae and Hi-Tek, to Mos to DJ Quik, to even somebody like Jermaine Dupri. I've taken something important away from every experience.

- Talib Kweli

DJ, Away, Collaborated, Jean

You gotta eat right, you gotta have healthy habits, you know, and balance out your decadence with a healthy lifestyle during the day.

- Talib Kweli

Habits, Gotta, Decadence, Healthy Lifestyle

If I focus on being an activist and my job is to be a rapper, I'm not going to be as good of a rapper. I need to focus on hip-hop and focus on making the music, so that when the activists come to me and they need my voice to create a platform, then I've got enough people listening to me. Not because I'm conscious, but because I'm dope.

- Talib Kweli

Good, Focus, Voice, Rapper

Being called 'conscious' is a great thing to be, but it's the connotations and preconceived notions that come with the buying audience about what conscious music can be.

- Talib Kweli

Audience, Come, About, Preconceived

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

Boss, Role, I Think, Public Eye

It doesn't get any more underground, conscious or indie than Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, but because they got a couple of really big pop hits, actually some of the biggest pop hits that hip-hop has ever seen, people are missing that part of their story. People are not counting that blessing.

- Talib Kweli

Big, Indie, Ryan, Lewis

When I look at the arc of my career, my focus is on lyricism, right? I own that.

- Talib Kweli

Focus, Career, Own, Arc

The way I see it, if people truly love my music, they will support me in some way down the road.

- Talib Kweli

Love, Will, Some, Down The Road

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

Doing, Anybody, Directors, Blaze

What is Norah Jones' style? Is it just the albums that we've heard? She has a rock group where she plays guitar in, downtown in New York, so do we really know her style?

- Talib Kweli

New, Albums, Plays, None

There's a lot of activism that doesn't deal with empowerment, and you have to empower yourself in order to be relevant to any type of struggle.

- Talib Kweli

Empower, Deal, Type, Struggle

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

Politics, Doing, Role, Foreign Affairs

What's more condescending and corny than someone telling you how much more money they have than you and telling you basically, 'I don't care about poor people,' which is a large part of what you hear of corporate hip-hop on the radio.

- Talib Kweli

Part, Telling, About, Condescending

You know, there's a lot of activism that doesn't deal with empowerment, and you have to empower yourself in order to be relevant to any type of struggle.

- Talib Kweli

Empower, Deal, Type, Struggle

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

- Talib Kweli

Politics, Head, Straight, Everything Else

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

- Talib Kweli

Independent, Hit, Even, Independent Label

You have to learn how to harness technology so you can use it for positive stuff without being disconnected from nature.

- Talib Kweli

Nature, Learn, Use, Disconnected

Young kids should be doing music that has shock value. They'll grow out of it.

- Talib Kweli

Music, Grow, Doing, Young Kids

The beautiful thing about hip-hop is it's like an audio collage. You can take any form of music and do it in a hip-hop way and it'll be a hip-hop song. That's the only music you can do that with.

- Talib Kweli

Song, Like, Collage, Beautiful Thing

Honestly, you have to take care of yourself. That's probably something I have learned on the road.

- Talib Kweli

Something, Honestly, Learned, I Have Learned

I like collaboration because, first of all, I'm good at writing lyrics. I don't know how to make beats. I don't play instruments. I'm not a good singer. So even when you see a solo album of mine, it's still a collaboration.

- Talib Kweli

Good, Play, Singer, Lyrics

I think all those artists are artists who are appreciated because you believe their words and you appreciate their honesty in their music. If you don't appreciate the honesty in the music, the beat can be fly as hell but you'll never give an emcee props.

- Talib Kweli

Believe, Hell, I Think, Emcee

I think hip-hop is no more misogynistic than America is as a society. I just think hip-hop is a lot more brash, a lot more bold, a lot more loquacious. There are a lot more words that go into a hip-hop song than go into a regular song.

- Talib Kweli

Song, Think, I Think, Regular

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

- Talib Kweli

Beat, English, Sociology, Hip-Hop

Homosexuality in hip-hop is an extension of homosexuality in the black community. The black community is very, very conservative when it comes to homosexuality, and I don't mean conservative in the good way, like we're saving money. I mean very intolerant.

- Talib Kweli

Homosexuality, Very, Hip-Hop

You'll be fooled if you only get your hip-hop from the mainstream, you know. The things that move people are not just found in the mainstream cultures. And when we talk about hip-hop in general, hip-hop's basically preoccupied with life.

- Talib Kweli

Move, About, Preoccupied, Hip-Hop

Hip-hop is a vehicle.

- Talib Kweli

Vehicle, Hip-Hop

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

- Talib Kweli

Woman, Complex, Hip-Hop

So I think hip-hop is moving and is going to continue to move in the direction of rappers just being honest with themselves, whether you're talking about Common and Mos Def or Nas and 50 cent.

- Talib Kweli

I Think, About, Cent, Hip-Hop

The materialism, the brashness, the misogyny - everything in hip-hop is amplified. Misogyny is a good example of something that is completely amplified in hip-hop. I do think there is more than enough of a balance, though, for fans who are willing to search it out.

- Talib Kweli

Think, Good Example, Though, Hip-Hop

I tour whether I have album out or not. I tour more than any other hip-hop artist.

- Talib Kweli

Artist, Other, Whether, Hip-Hop

I think the line is where you're in the studio, you're creating. That belongs to you as an artist. Nothing should taint that. I shouldn't be thinking about what the fans want, I shouldn't be thinking about what the radio wants, what the label wants, what your manager wants, a song for the chicks, a song for the street.

- Talib Kweli

Artist, I Think, Studio, Chicks

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

- Talib Kweli

Process, Artist, Respected

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

Drop, Through, Also, Educate

My personal take on politics is I deal with social situations and cultural situations in my music and in my life. I have said on record many times that I haven't voted. I'm not the type of person who says, 'I'm never going to vote.' I think it's clear to me that our system has failed us.

- Talib Kweli

Politics, My Life, Deal, Vote

I take certain steps to make sure I'm relevant artistically. I always have new music and a reason to be on the road. I'm not just playing 'Get By' over and over. I have 12 albums.

- Talib Kweli

New, Always, Over, New Music

When I'm in the studio, I'm strictly thinking about the beats, the rhymes and the song. The decision I make once the songs are created, and there's a barcode put on the package, and I'm out there in the street selling it, those decisions as a businessman are different than the creative decisions you make.

- Talib Kweli

Studio, About, Rhymes, Strictly

Things are fluid in this world, and if you don't remain fluid, you get lost in the sauce.

- Talib Kweli

Lost, World, Remain, Fluid

I am not a prisoner of conscious, but people try to make me one sometimes. It is both a gift and a curse. It's a high honour but can create limitations - I have to be fluid.

- Talib Kweli

Gift, Honour, Prisoner, Fluid

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

DJ, Like, Performing, Energy

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

Values, Morals, Making, Easiest Way

Being called a conscious rapper is quite a compliment. It's a great thing to be. But as an artist, my nature is to not be in a box.

- Talib Kweli

Nature, Artist, Box, Rapper

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

Amazing, White, Would, Rapper

I started rapping because I wanted people to hear what I have to say, I want as many people to hear me as possible, and I do everything in my power to make that pop.

- Talib Kweli

Want, Say, Started, Rapping

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

Some, Over, Major Label, As Far As

As an artist, I have to be a leader of my fans, not, like, follow them. Because if I chose to follow them, you know, they could do it. You know, it's me who's doing it.

- Talib Kweli

Leader, Doing, Artist, Chose

I think music sharing of any kind is great.

- Talib Kweli

Music, Think, I Think, Sharing

You make knowledge relevant to life and you make it important for children to learn things that will really relate to things going on in their lives, and not abstract.

- Talib Kweli

Learn, Will, Lives, Abstract

The responsibility of an artist is to be honest with themselves.

- Talib Kweli

Responsibility, Artist, To Be Honest

The only way for me to be an artist is to be honest in my craft. If I veer from that, I'm not giving the investors what they want. Sometimes it's my job as an artist to know what I want to do, even when the fans tell me different.

- Talib Kweli

Artist, Sometimes, Tell, To Be Honest

There's consciousness in my music, and my music comes from a conscious place. And when people say that, I certainly take it as a compliment. But my job, in terms of selling my music, is to be universal and to try to get it to everybody.

- Talib Kweli

Say, Everybody, Certainly, Universal

The problem with our role is Americans live in a world of illusion.

- Talib Kweli

World, Problem, Role, The Problem With

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

Humble, Be Humble, Arrogant, Soft

Artists look at the environment, and the best artists correctly diagnose the problem. I'm not saying artists can't be leaders, but that's not the job of art, to lead. Bob Marley, Nina Simone, Harry Belafonte - there are artists all through history who have become leaders, but that was already in them, nothing to do with their art.

- Talib Kweli

Best, Through, Harry, Nina

I think that I am seeing the Internet and seeing technology take and seeing how the work I do through music directly affects people's lives better than any politician I've ever met.

- Talib Kweli

Think, Through, I Think, Directly

Once you're signed to a label you compromise.

- Talib Kweli

Label, Once, Signed, Compromise

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

- Talib Kweli

Him, Around, About, None

People consider Black Star a great album, and I think it's a classic album. But the fact is, both me and Mos Def have made better albums since Black Star.

- Talib Kweli

Think, I Think, Albums, None

There are staples to my show. I have to be conscious about switching things up because I know people who saw me last year will say, 'He did that last time.' But if certain things work, they work.

- Talib Kweli

Year, Switching, Last Year, Conscious

My fondest memories were watching the Beastie Boys get prepped to come on stage. They had a lot of antics and they play a lot of basketball... then they were giving out cameras to the crowd, and performing from the bleachers. The most important thing I learned was that you control your crowd, not the other way around.

- Talib Kweli

Play, Crowd, Other, Cameras

I don't think that early hip hop stood out to be a social critique. A lot of fans of mine think that hip hop's ultimate responsibility is to critique social structures.

- Talib Kweli

Think, Social, Mine, Structures

When Occupy Wall Street happened, I took my money out of Citibank. I already had problems with all the banks - Citibank, Bank of America - but I was kind of just too lazy to take my money out until I saw how Citibank responded to Occupy Wall Street.

- Talib Kweli

Lazy, Had, Occupy, Wall

Well if somebody's giving me a script, I'll consider it. But it's not something I'm chasing.

- Talib Kweli

Me, Well, Chasing, Script

I remember looking back on a photo of me... wearing a suit that was, like, two sizes too big for me. I think a lot of guys don't know what fits.

- Talib Kweli

Think, Big, I Remember, Fits

I'm not an artist that has a big, huge radio record that's going to be on BET.

- Talib Kweli

Artist, Big, Going, Bet

My kids are the most inspiring thing that pushes me. It used to be because they were born, and I had to take care of them. Now it's because my son raps, and he's better than me. So now I gotta keep up with him, you know what I'm saying?

- Talib Kweli

Used, Had, Pushes, Inspiring

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

- Talib Kweli

Art, Go, Sense, Commerce

Woman are complex creatures.

- Talib Kweli

Woman, Creatures, Complex

I'm not looking to set a standard... but, I believe I have offered a challenge to others with my work.

- Talib Kweli

Work, Standard, Set, Offered

I'm at a loss for words. But even my loss is amplified.

- Talib Kweli

Words, Loss, Even, Amplified

People can be inspired the way I've been inspired by music.

- Talib Kweli

Music, People, Been, Inspired

So I just had to step up how I was doing it and the moment that I stepped up and the moment I focused all my energy on that is when things started to happen. So there's a direct relationship between my inspiration and my output.

- Talib Kweli

Doing, Happen, Stepped, Inspiration

War is not civilized.

- Talib Kweli

War, Civilized

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

- Talib Kweli

Yourself, How, Market, Sell

I don't feel comfortable making empty music.

- Talib Kweli

Music, Comfortable, Making, Empty

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