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Even an independent label is looking for a hit, they're not looking for a record that's not gonna do well.
Talib Kweli Black Star -
I can't control what people think. I'm not trying to manipulate people's thoughts or sentiments. I write all the time. You have to experience life, make observations, and ask questions. It's machine-like how things are run now in hip-hop, and my ambitions are different.
Yasiin Bey Black Star
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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 Black Star -
You have to learn how to harness technology so you can use it for positive stuff without being disconnected from nature.
Talib Kweli Black Star -
I don't rap like nobody, I don't try to sound like nobody.
Yasiin Bey Black Star -
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 Black Star -
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 Black Star -
The way I see it, if people truly love my music, they will support me in some way down the road.
Talib Kweli Black Star
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But it becomes disrespectful when the artist's process is not respected.
Talib Kweli Black Star -
I don't go into any album with pressing issues. I just try to write songs.
Talib Kweli Black Star -
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 Black Star -
Persistance, dedication Consistent, motivation, resistance to stagnation of information, distribute it free to the entire population No hesitation, makin it public No privitazation from corporations
Talib Kweli Black Star -
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 Black Star -
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 Black Star
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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 Black Star -
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 Black Star -
The responsibility of an artist is to be honest with themselves.
Talib Kweli Black Star -
Creating crime rates to fill the new prisons they build Over money and religion theres more blood that spills Like the wounds of slaves in cotton fields that never heal Whats the deal?
Talib Kweli Black Star -
But even creeps deserve to live someplace halfway decent.
Yasiin Bey Black Star -
And you know, art as commerce, doesn't really make too much sense, they don't go together.
Talib Kweli Black Star
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I think hip hop is a dance music that's rebellious by nature.
Talib Kweli Black Star -
Hi-Tek is on three or four songs on the new record.
Talib Kweli Black Star -
I seen her on the ave, spotted her more than once. Ass so fat that you could see it from the front.
Yasiin Bey Black Star -
I don't mind being black. I'm black out loud. It's more than the people that they are, it's the condition that they represent.
Yasiin Bey Black Star