Talib Kweli on The Music Industry, Kanye West, and New Album

From his favorite MC’s of the ‘new era’ to his thoughts on Kanye West to what we can expect from his new album, Talib Kweli offers his thoughts on all. Some of his favorite new MCs include J. Cole, Jay Electronica, Wale, Mickey Factz, and Wiz Khalifa. Kweli explains what drew him to Kanye West when he was a new artist, and his thoughts on the heavy criticism waged against him now. “Kanye just had this passion. He decided in his mind he was the best, and he manifested it and made it happen.” On the heavy Kanye criticism he says “I think the same people who level so much criticism at an artist like Kanye West are going to be upset when he’s gone. I think he’s a very important cultural figure and musician. His presence helps me out, it helps Mos Def out, it helps Lupe Fiasco, and if it helps all these artists, it helps hip hop, so if you’re down for hip hop you’re down for Kanye West.” Kweli’s album Gutter Rainbows drops January 25th in a digital only format.