Extracted from the AOR Vault: 2003

Does the title Beautiful Struggle refer to Hip Hop, or life in general?

Talib Kweli: Life in general but in the context of a Hip Hop album.

Do you figure out the title before you work on the album?

Talib Kweli: Sometimes you do, but this particular album I didn’t. This album I did a few songs and the songs determined what I would call it.

What was the difference in making Black Star, Reflection Eternal, Quality and now Beautiful Struggle?

Talib Kweli: The difference is that I let the songs dictate where I was going, instead of trying to create certain types of songs.

How does the process differ between solo albums and being in a group?

Talib Kweli: Of course there’s less compromise. Not really because the solo albums are just as much, but you have other members to deal with in the group albums.

Who are some of the guest appearances on this album?

Talib Kweli: Jean Grae, Mary J Blige, Faith Evans, Common, Anthony Hamilton. I think that’s it.

Do you ever have any problems with labels telling you how to make your music or dictating apperances?

Talib Kweli: Not so much appearances, but I have problem with labels not really understanding the music that I make.

Was it easier this time since “Quality” got such a good response?

Talib Kweli: It was way harder. I’m in the position where the record label doesn’t understand what I do. They understand that without them putting in any work I’ll sell a certain amount of records, and they know I’ll put in a certain amount of work to guarantee that I’ll sell. That’s how they look at me and they don’t take what I do seriously.

How do you think the videos factored into the success of “Quality?“

Talib Kweli: Every album I’ve put out I’ve had at least two videos made. The videos for me have not determined my career, but the shows and the respect from the people and fans. They’ve really supported me. At this point I know I can’t depend on the music industry, especially my particular record label to support what I do. So I have to depend on my own efforts and the fans who have always been down for me.

Is it a goal to take your success further or see what happens?

Talib Kweli: It’s definitely a goal to take it further. I try to take it further with every song, every concert and so on.

Both of your parents were teachers. Did you have any particular career in mind before Hip Hop, or anything you’d like to explore after?

Talib Kweli: I’d like to build schools in black neighborhoods, like good quality schools.

How did your parents feel when you decided to pursue Hip Hop as a career?

Talib Kweli: They were very supportive. They didn’t understand what I was doing, but they understood that I had to do it, for me.

A version of Beautiful Struggle was leaked a few months back, how close was that to the final version and how do you feel about it leaking?

Talib Kweli: There’s a few songs on that version, but no one’s heard anything on the album. Everything that was leaked was un-mixed and un-mastered. That’s my only complaint and the only thing that saddens me, that people heard unfinished music. That’s the part that made me feel violated, that someone would do that. Especially claiming to be a fan of mine. If I present something to the world and you decide to steal it, then that’s your own thing to deal with. But at least let me present it first, let me finish it before you steal it.

So it’s like someone releasing your notes rather than the final product.

Talib Kweli: Right. That’s the main difference. There are at least five or six songs, well let me say at least four or five songs that people haven’t heard any of at all, along with the songs they haven’t heard mixed and mastered.

When you hear that the music has been leaked, does it make you want to change it?

Talib Kweli: At first I wanted to just go hard and put the whole shit out. The label didn’t want to do it, but the label wanted me to create new songs. I wasn’t down with it at first, but I’m glad I got to create new songs in the long run. It’s just a learning process. More than it being something to complain about, it’s become more of a challenge to make the product better. I appreciate the challenge, that’s the positive way of looking at it.

A lot of artists have complaints about Rawkus but you were fortunate enough not to be put on the backburner, would you say your time there was positive or negative?

Talib Kweli: I would say the guys at Rawkus as people, they loved what they did. They were passionate about it. I think in any business relationship, if you’re not really looking through the eyes of the artists, you don’t really understand. Sometimes you make moves that the artists can’t understand. It’s like people have different responsibilities and jobs. You can’t expect people to go above and beyond and look at the world through your eyes. I appreciate what they gave to me, and what they gave to the world in music. I wasn’t always not on the backburner. But I did what I had to do to put myself in the forefront. That’s what I think it is. I think everyone else did the same thing. You have someone like El-P who was very upset about the situation at Rawkus and became the new Rawkus. He did what he had to do too.

It’s obvious you have a lot of respect among your peers, whether it’s Jay-Z or Kanye West. Can you explain how those relationships have help you grow as an artist?

Talib Kweli: It keeps me on my toes. Before it was Jay-Z and Kanye it was Mos Def and Hi-Tek. Along with Jay-Z and Kanye West, I think Mos Def and Hi-Tek are the best people doing it. To be in either company keeps me on my toes.

Do you think it would have been better to drop solo albums before Black Star so people wouldn’t always be focusing on the reunion?

Talib Kweli: Nah, I think it’s great that people want the reunion.

So is it in the works?

Talib Kweli: I wouldn’t go so far to say it’s in the works, but I’d never say it’s not going to happen. It’s definitely going to happen.

A lot of people were feeling the Black Star performance on Chappelle’s Show, how did that come about?

Talib Kweli: Really, there wasn’t a lot of energy put into that. We were hanging out at Soundcheck and they came through with a camera. It took like five minutes. The response to that kinda bugs me out a little bit. It was really low-tech.

Aside from Hip Hop and music in general, what influences you? Books, movies, art?

Talib Kweli: I’d say movies.

Do you have any tour plans set to go with Beautiful Struggle?

Talib Kweli: I’m touring with the Beastie Boys, in a couple of weeks. It’ll be mostly west coast