Talib Kweli Says It Doesn’t Get Any More Underground Than Macklemore
Talib Kweli sat down for an interview with Mother Jones recently
that touched on a variety of topics, including stop-and-frisk, feminism and
homosexuality in hip-hop. Towards the end of the conversation, he also gave
big props to a fellow artist and future tour partner: Macklemore.
Responding to a question about progressive hip-hop finding a place in the mainstream,
Kweli was quick to cite the VMA-winning “Same Love” rapper. “There
are conscious elements all through pop music,” explained Kweli. “Macklemore,
Ryan Lewis are the best example; they made a completely conscious, underground
hip-hop, indie album. It doesn’t get any more underground, conscious or
indie than Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, but because they got a couple of really big
pop hits, actually some of the biggest pop hits that hip-hop has ever seen,
people are missing that part of their story. People are not counting that blessing.”
The interview also found Kweli speaking about hip-hop’s growing acceptance
of homosexuality. While acknowledging that homophobia still persists, Kweli
sounded hopeful about the future.
“There just needs to be a gay rapper,” said the Prisoner Of Conscious
rapper. “He doesn’t have to be flamboyant, just a rapper who identifies
as gay—who’s better than everybody. Unfortunately hip-hop is so
competitive that in order for fringe groups to get in, you gotta be better than
whoever’s the best. So before Eminem, the idea that there would be a white
rapper that anybody would really check for was fantastic or amazing or impossible.”
Read
Full Interview
"