Rapper Quotes by Talib Kweli

Hip-hop is a vehicle.

— Talib Kweli

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

— Talib Kweli

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

— Talib Kweli

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

— Talib Kweli

If lyrics sold then truth be told/I'd probably be just as rich and famous as Jay-Z.

— Talib Kweli

Just because someone has great content doesn't mean you like them as a rapper.

— Talib Kweli

Before Eminem, the idea that there would be a white rapper that anybody would really check for was fantastic or amazing or…

— Talib Kweli

Hopefully, we learn to appreciate hip-hop here so that it doesn't go the way of jazz.

— Talib Kweli

I'd like to work with Outkast, I'd like to work with RZA, I'd like to work with Timbaland, York, a whole bunch…

— Talib Kweli

I started rapping because I wanted people to hear what I have to say, I want as many people to hear me…

— Talib Kweli

Being called a conscious rapper is quite a compliment. It's a great thing to be. But as an artist, my nature is…

— Talib Kweli

You see somebody rapping and you're like, "Nah, my cousin can do that." You're spoiled by the experience. Overseas, it's still something…

— Talib Kweli

A true artist does not depend on radio for success. A true fan does not let radio determine what they support

— Talib Kweli

But there's so many things in life like women, like children, like God and family that transcends the world of hip-hop.

— 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…

— Talib Kweli

It doesn't get any more underground, conscious or indie than Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, but because they got a couple of really big…

— Talib Kweli

By the time you get into other kinds of music - R&B, country, or whatever - it becomes something that's romantic. It…

— Talib Kweli

You'll be fooled if you only get your hip-hop from the mainstream, you know. The things that move people are not just…

— Talib Kweli

I not only wanted to showcase lyrical skills but also continue to drop knowledge on the hiphop community. Im looking to elevate…

— Talib Kweli

Hip hop is at its essence a folk music, because it speaks the language that people are still speaking at ground zero,…

— Talib Kweli

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

So I think hip-hop is moving and is going to continue to move in the direction of rappers just being honest with…

— Talib Kweli

If I focus on being an activist and my job is to be a rapper, I'm not going to be as good…

— Talib Kweli

The way I feel about Crunk Feminists. Here you have a bunch of bloggers who are not even quoting any feminists' works…

— Talib Kweli

I see that happening with hip hop purists now. Where you have an artist like a Kendrick [Lamar] or a Drake, who…

— Talib Kweli

There just needs to be a gay rapper who's better than everybody. That's when that question will no longer be able to…

— Talib Kweli

I call these rappers baby seals, cause they club you to death. I could call them Navy SEALs, cause they government feds.

— Talib Kweli

I think hip-hop is no more misogynistic than America is as a society. I just think hip-hop is a lot more brash,…

— Talib Kweli

Hip hop has always been, for us, for artists who are pure to the craft - any place overseas, whether it's Australia,…

— Talib Kweli

I feel like people mislead themselves when they tell themselves they're into me because of the lyrics. From my vantage point, people…

— Talib Kweli

These niggaz ain't thugs, the real thugs is the government. Don't matter if you Independent, Democrat or Republican, Niggaz politickin' the street,…

— Talib Kweli

Homosexuality in hip-hop is an extension of homosexuality in the black community. The black community is very, very conservative when it comes…

— Talib Kweli

What's more condescending and corny than someone telling you how much more money they have than you and telling you basically, 'I…

— Talib Kweli

People didn't really take white rappers seriously until Eminem, because he was better than everybody. Like female emcees, you need to be…

— Talib Kweli

There just needs to be a gay rapper. He doesn't have to be flamboyant, just a rapper who identifies as gay -…

— Talib Kweli

Nowadays rap artists coming half-hearted, Commercial like pop, or underground like black markets. Where were you the day hip-hop died? Is it…

— Talib Kweli

The materialism, the brashness, the misogyny - everything in hip-hop is amplified. Misogyny is a good example of something that is completely…

— Talib Kweli

With Prisoner of Conscience, the focus was - I've worked with Madlib, High Tech, Kanye West, J Dilla. I feel like I've…

— Talib Kweli

To be honest, that whole exchange with Crunk Feminist actually made me write the song because I realize there's a lot of…

— Talib Kweli

The beautiful thing about hip-hop is it's like an audio collage. You can take any form of music and do it in…

— Talib Kweli