Talib Kweli signs Jean Grae to his label, Blacksmith Music

The King of Complaining About Fans is joining forces with the Queen of Complaining About Fans on a new record label that will produce bland music, fail, then complain about the fans.

Comments

[dj mirateck]

i thought talib was signed to kanye's good label? i guess not.

who's next? mia is the new jean grae, who was the new ms. dynamite who was the new...

[Joey Pinkney]

Damn Hashim, that post was cold ... succinct ... and funny! I haven't heard much of Jean Grae, but Talib is kind of like Method Man to me: a gift from God lyrically, but boring for some odd reason.

[Luis]

Okay, maybe Talib's recent releases have been a little uninspiring, but you can't knock the fact that he's put out some awesome stuff, even if it was a few years ago.

As for Jean Grae, I just don't know why you don't feel her. I copped This Week and love it. Not that I'm saying you don't have your reasons, but I'm curious what they are.

Also, in response to dj mirateck, MIA is hardly the new Jean Grae. In the sense that she's also an up-and-coming female artist in the hip-hop genre, I guess I can see it, but she's not an MC in the way Grae is.

[Scholar]

Wow--I also have to respectfully disagree with some of the sentiments expressed about Ms. Grae. As far as female MCs are concerned, she's just about the only one who isn't spitting dumb shit about tits and ass to sell records. She actually treats hip-hop like an art form, rather than a commodity. Artists in this industry who try to bring some thoughtfulness and introspection into the game aren't appreciated nearly as much as idiots who can't speak on anything but cars, gold teeth and guns. Shit---I'd be frustrated and sick of that, too.

And no offense, but Jean isn't anything like MIA or Ms. Dynamite---and she certainly isn't the missing link between the two. The fact that they all have ovaries is one of the few connections that I see.

Just my little two cents...peace

[Joey Pinkney]

Hashim, my post won't post again...

Looks like Jean Grae got some loyal fans, unlike Talib. So what Hashim said about him must be true to some degree.

Things that make you go, hm.

[Luis]

I'd still consider myself a Talib fan, Pinkney. I'm just saying that, despite being a fan, I can understand why some (a lot of?) people think his latest stuff is bland.

Regarding the initial post, though, why be so pessimistic? Worst case scenario they put out mediocre albums which no one's forcing you to buy. On the other hand, this could mean nothing but good for their music. Time will tell.

[dame]

inside ATL story again:

Talib has been known to mock his ability to attract "conscious" women based on his image.

Not that he instantly becomes an ignornant, imaginary gun totin, drug dealing on wax, waste: But, I was less and less inclined to check for him, just knowing it's not even heartfelt. Like joke's on y'all if you turn to Talib for your views on revolution.

ha!

[Dan]

Hashim--

Really funny, duke.

It also appears that criticizing one aspect of an artist's personality means you "don't feel them."

Read, people. Think, people.

D

[Luis]

He said they will produce "bland music." You can't say you don't feel them much more clearly than that.

[dave park]

i don't think either makes "bland" music. kweli's last album i concede was a bit boring but i still thought it was ok. jean's last album i thought was the opposite of bland, i find her style exciting and very different from the other female rappers out there.

[Hashim]

I'm more saying that once an indie artist tries to reach for the mainstream audience their music usually becomes bland. Jean isn't bland, but getting signed to a major label might do that to her.

[Mala Commune]

last album did have a few good songs on it, but his only really worthwhile mention in the last few years has been quality, the guys still quite dope though, i blame it on his average verse (if you can call it that) on the otherwise dope get 'em high off of college dropout

and if anything murs is the king of complaining about his fans

[IssaTheGreat]

Good look Kweli. I don't think I ever heard Kweli complain about the fans, but if so he needs to. All you haters who say the music is wack or boring, you are probably wack and boring. As soon as someone tries to enlighten you idiots, their music is wack but you sit and listen to Young Jeezy and Dipset all day. Thats Riight! Jean Grae is the best female emcees out today. I challenge any of you idiots to name someone better.

[¡Basta!]

Issa, there's no need for that. Talib Kweli is a great lyricist with a lot to say but somewhere in between his live shows and the recording booth he loses his energy. I've seen him live a couple times and his energy is on and his flow is incredible, but somehow his records have become increasingly bland. It feels like he's lost the vibrance in the booth he used to have in the Black Star / Reflection Eternal days. Jean Grae is an equally talented lyricist, but she's known for mouthing off at fans and will do so in concert and in print. It's just not a good way to maintain the kind of dedicated fanbase indie artists need to survive. See? It's not all right or wrong, there's room to give pros and cons. Think about it.