Quotes By Talib Kweli

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.

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.

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

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

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

Woman are complex creatures.

I don't feel comfortable making empty music.

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.

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

I think music sharing of any kind is great.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

I will never do a record without some sense of responsibility.

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.

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

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.

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

Once you're signed to a label you compromise.

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

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

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.

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

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.

Hip-hop is a vehicle.

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.

I think its man's nature to go to war and fight.