Interview by Albert "Mac" McCluster III

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THE QUALITY OF TALIB
Talib Kweli, taking Hip Hop to another level

Talib Kweli has had many acclaimed recordings and achievements, no album exemplifies Kweli's tremendous ability better than his new album "Quality". The disc is a compelling sign of his artistic and personal maturation.

The difference in Talib's sound isn't a change in style but rather an emcee evolving. Quality will definitely be a notable album. Some people are questioning the production when they compare it to "Train of Thought", but Talib's lyrics are always on point and tend to outshine any and every beat he will spit on.

One Sunday I was just flipping through the millions of cable channels and I happened to catch a glimpse of the video for "Waiting For The DJ". The video which was airing on MTV2 is simplification in itself....featuring Talib and various Hip Hop/Neo-soul artists and it rolled with the groove and the feel of the song.

The video made me want to find the new album, and I was more than excited to find out when it would be released. I've loved Talib ever since his debut, and that love only grew when I got the Black Star album. He was great on the Spitkickers Tour, and I couldn't wait to get the Reflection joint... I loved that when it finally came out, and I still contest that to be one of the top 20 CDs in my collection (we'll argue over that list in a later article).

This new joint though is as great as all his other work. I like the general vibe of the 1st released single "Waitin for the DJ," and his contribution to the "Brown Sugar" soundtrack is hot as always.

Talib's new album "Quality" is exactly that...Quality, it has become his standard. I got to talk with Talib about the new album and his goings on since our last talk waaay back in March 2000, when he toured with Erykah Badu and Musiq (Soulchild).

This time he was on tour in Detroit...running with Common, Gang Starr and Floetry...the young man turned the show out
Was up Talib?
TK: Chillin', chillin'...enjoying the road and the peeps.

You have definitely raised the bar as far as mc skills...always spittin' knowledge rhymes. What were your goals on this album?
TK: The main focus is to show the eternal reflection of hiphop music and hiphop culture. 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.

Your first 12" release for Rawkus Records was in 1997, you've highly acclaimed partnerships with Mos Def ( Black Star) and Hi-Tek (Reflection Eternal)and your name is been synonymous with high-grade, progressive music. Have you set a standard for Neo-Soul/Hip Hop?
TK: I'm not looking to set a standard...but, I believe I have offered a challenge to others with my work. I teamed with Bilal for "Waitin' For The DJ"...we were looking for a vibe on that particular cut...not neccessarily a standard. I believe that Hip Hop has many differentlevels...I am just attempting to get MY version to the surface of this big mesh of music.

Quality features collaborations with some of the music industry's most in-demand artists and producers. Tell me who all you worked with on this CD.
TK: Oh, I got mad love on the album...let me think, Kanye West, from Jay-Z's camp, he contributed three slammin' tracks ("Get By", "Guerilla Monsoon Rap", and "Good To You") while Jay Dee, who has wrote for Janet Jackson and Common...he teams with Vinia Mojica, Res and a Rawkus newcomer, a cat called Novel on two more ("Where Do We Go" and "Stand To The Side"). Pharaohe Monch, and Black Thought hooked a Native Tongue inspired supertrack on "Guerilla Monsoon Rap". I have soooo much love on this album...i don't want to forget anyone...I got additional production from Megahertz, DJ Quik, Ayatollah, and DJ Scratch.

For those who are looking...wil Hi-Tek be on tour with you?
TK: Right now...he's handling business on his solo projects...right now...we have no "real" tour plans chiseled in stone.

When can we look to see you in Europe?
TK: That's a good question...I love Europe...so, i know I will be over there probabaly by late spring-summer 2003. But, I'm definitely doing a European tour.

Good looking out and thanks for taking the time with me for this interview, Talib.
TK: Always a pleasure...

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