Talib Kweli
 

I'm listening to Talib Kweli's "Quality" album again. I know we don't officially recruit and all that but can we send this brotha an invitation to join Alpha? Just listen to "Get By" and "The Proud". I'm sayin', the words this brotha are serious, and he's the kind of artist that gives hip-hop a GOOD name. Peace

Does anyone have any further suggestions for some positive hip-hop? I already listen to Mos Def, Public Enemny, Talib Kweli, and Dead Prez. Any other suggestions? Thanks. Peace
-Talib

I saw him open for Erykah Badu a couple of years ago. He has truly come a long way. Real positive brother...

I saw Talib Kweli in concert at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia during the weekend of my birtday! He is amazing.


Some suggestions for enlightenment06:

Common (especially his earlier stuff)
Gil Scott-Heron (I love Whitey On The Moon & The Revolution Will Not Be Televised)
The Roots
DLS
KRS-One
Kaos (not sure about the spelling)
some old Nas stuff
Black Eyed Peas (I like their new single)
Jurassic 5

I'll be back when I have thought of some more

ETA: I loooove dead.prez. They have got to be one of the most underrated groups around.

If you enjoy poetry and spoken word, I would suggest:
Taylor Mali (esp. What Do Teacher's Make)
Stacyanne Chin
J. Ivy (He performed an amazing piece on Def Poetry Jam called "I Need To Write", check it out)
The Last Poets
Jessica Care Moore
Saul Williams (a genius)
a spoken word piece called "When Hip-Hop Was Fun"


If you use any file sharing programs, I would you download that last piece and everything else.


Peace!


soulfulremix

Guess who's back
 

Quick comment.....
Can Dead Prez be considered positive? I mean the latest album has the message "Revolutionary but Gangsta' " where they have taken militancy to mean violence. In the tradition of militancy, violence was a defensive not an offensive tactic (Check the 'net for Bayard Rustin and Malcolm X debates). They seem to think that we should use violence as an offensive strategy, what do you guys think?
Blackwatch!!!!!!

Hey Blackwatch! Haven't seen you in a minute.

soulfulremix: thanks for the suggestions. I either have CD's buy or have heard everyone you menitoned except for DLS. Thanks again. Peace

Re: Guess who's back
 

Um, I think overall they can be considered positive, because their message is about Black self-love.

black self love?
 

When you hear the message of dead prez, I don't really hear much self love. I hear a lot of pain, and hatred for the system, and criticism of black bourguoise, but I would think that self love would be demonstrated with a proposal for a specific, empowering plan of action articulated pragmatically with optimism and and a vision for a better way of life. With their advocacy of violence as an offensive plan of action and the calling out of certain "upper class" Blacks to contribute to a yet to be clearly articulated cause, I think that on some level, they may be doing more harm than good in that they place legitimate calls for revolution in the same catagory as some type of gang warfare context with the message "revolutionary but gangsta". I find it hard to see how a revolutionary can be gangsta' when the gangsta' mentality is exactly what the system wants out of black people. The gangsta' image is one of wanton hedonism and nihilism, two atributes that will almost certainly kill any revolution as well as the people that possess them.
Blackwatch!!!!!!

blackwatch strikes again.....

nice having you back, frat.

Kweli always has a great message. you said you listen to Mos Def, so most likely youve heard of Blackstar (Mos and Talib together) Check out the whole Rawkus clique. Shabaam Sahdeeq is good. Krs-1 does a lot of posi hip hop. Shabaam Sahdeeq. If you can find it check out the song Tree Never Grown, it has a bunch of different emcees on it and its about Amadou Dillaou (sp?)

All the real popular posi hop hop has been named pretty much, so Im gonna drop some real underground stuff on you, and give you some good songs. I promise you havent heard this stuff before....but be warned...some of this is kinda abstract, and some of the emcees are white so its not as political as Kweli gets sometimes talking about black heritage and stuff but all of its pretty positive and its all dope. I live for underground hip hop

Sage Francis
-Rewrite
-Makeshift Patriot
-Spoken Word #1
-Strange Famous
-Im Afraid

Aesop Rock
-Daylight
-Nightlight
-Flashflood
-No Regrets

Atmosphere
-Bleed Slow
-Song About a Friend
-Caved In

Zion I
-All Tha Way
-Let It Flow
-Silly Puddy

Grouch
-Simple Man
-Rap Is Senseless
-Youre Not The One

Living Legends
-Angels With Dirty Faces
-Loose Cannon


EDIT and someone mentioned saul williams before.....GREAT spoken words. Sage Francis gives some really ill spoken words as well, and check out Brother Ali

Re: black self love?
 

And about Dead Prez. yes I would consider them positive. Being militant has nothing to do with it except shows how serious they are about their cause. Malcom X was considered credible, and he worked for a positive future. Dead Prez is outspoken and not scared to say what they think and what they feel, no matter who it may offend. There is a lot positive about them. They dont drink, or smoke (ciggerattes). They are vegan. Its refreshing to see hip hop used for something political rather than just money

You hear a message of pain and hatred for the system because thats what their message is....a call to arms. Yes the system may want a gangsta mentality out of the black man, but the point that Dead Prez is trying to make sometimes when they talk about guns and violence is that they dont care what the system does and doesnt want anymore- they would be willing to do whatever to end the suffering and mistreatment that still goes on today but that is covered up. Even I agree with you that there would be better ways to go about things but I respect that this is how they feel, and that they feel so strongly about it.

However, you have to keep in mind that they are a group, on a label. They would not be able to survive simply as a hip hop group with a message about perserving black culture. Im sure they have executives and stuff saying do this and do that, we need to make this album sell as well....just part of working for a label, you cant be 100% free

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check them out

Edited to add: How can I find out more about these artists?

go to ughh.com and listen to random artists you dont know about and just search the web and stuff and go to hip hop messageboards and talk to heads and just try different stuff