ISSUE #26 MMUSICMAG.COM SPOTLIGHT ian S nna A TALIB KWELI Proving labels can’t confine or define him on his latest project TALIB KWELI HAS A WELL-EARNED Fiona, Seu Jorge and Abby Dobson. Kweli reputation for being a smart, socially and offered them a long leash. “I found tracks politically aware lyricist. But with Prisoner that went with them. I had the collaborators of Conscious, his fifth solo album, Kweli in mind, and I let people pick out tracks,” is hoping to show he’s in touch with his says Kweli. “Kendrick and Curren$y, they emotional side. “Just calling the album both chose ‘Push Thru.’ Seu Jorge and Prisoner of Conscious,” says the rapper. I sat in the studio for hours before he “I don’t see myself as a prisoner of chose ‘Favela Love.’” conscience, so I set out to make an album Prisoner of Conscious is Kweli’s Issue #26 that proved that.” second album through his own label, Javotti, Prisoner of Conscious is replete with named for his grandmother. Calling the shots M MUSIC & MUSICIANS insight fans have come to expect, but also on his own projects has altered how Kweli MAGAZINE reflects an effort to tap more personal executes his albums. “I’m able to bring the sentiments. “I made the album less political. record in under budget,” he says. “I’m able But some fans may not like to hear that,” he to be more in control of how it’s out there.” says. “Hopefully that’ll change when they More than anything, Kweli sees his hear what I did.” More than just shifting the latest album as a chance to break free focus of his lyrics, Kweli also took a new of certain labels that have been used to approach to songwriting. “My focus has interpret his music. “I think despite my best always been the lyrics first. But this time efforts I have been pigeonholed,” he says. I put the music first. I’ve worked with great “Most of the media outlets and industry types musicians—Kanye West, J Dilla, Madlib. But who really don’t know my albums just deal for this album, I stayed less in the confines with perception.” But he doesn’t feel the new of traditional hip-hop beats and picked tracks record is a radical departure from his earlier that musically take it other places.” work. “I’m on my 15th album. If you put it Kweli, 37, went into the studio with a list all together and listen to all the songs, you of collaborators in mind, including hip-hop can’t just say I’m a conscious rapper who artists Busta Rhymes, Kendrick Lamar and only is known for one thing. I’ve done it all.” Nelly, as well as singers including Melanie –Amanda Farah 20 M mag 26_cs6.indd 20 4/10/13 8:38 PM.