Luminary

Talib Kweli & Madlib Reunite On “Liberation 2” Ft. Mac Miller, Westside Gunn & More

by

Talib Kweli and Madlib created an undeniable classic when they joined forces on Liberation. The 9-song effort showcased Talib Kweli’s sharp lyricism over Madlib’s soulful, psychedelic production. It was a perfect pairing of collaborators, though its success didn’t necessarily spark an immediate urge to release a sequel. Fans waited for years, hoping to hear some sort of update from Kweli and Madlib.

In recent times, Talib Kweli and Madlib began working closely together again. It began with the release of the latest Black Star project, No Fear Of Time. Madlib held down the production on the entirety of Talib Kweli and Mos Def’s follow-up to their 1998 debut, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star. The reunion between Kweli and Mos Def alone was enough to leave backpackers salivating at the mouth. However, Madlib’s assistance in the production sealed the deal for those who waited over 20 years for Black Star to reunite. And then, they began plotting the release of Liberation 2 when they dropped, “Longevity.”

Talib Kweli & Madlib – Liberation 2

Though it’s been less than a year since Mos Def and Talib Kweli reunited for No Fear Of Time, Kweli is back less than a year later with the sequel to Liberation. He and Madlib team up for the 15-song endeavor, which they launched with the release of “After These Messages” ft. Amani. The project includes a posthumous appearance from Mac Miller, as well as features from Westside Gunn, Roc Marciano, Q-Tip, Pink Siifu, and more. 

“The materialism and debauchery that is stereotypically associated with hip-hop has lost some of its luster,” Kweli said of the project. “Madlib and I have been consistent in our messaging. Never has there been a better time for such honest, message-driven music that pays tribute to the sounds that came before us.” Unfortunately, Liberation 2 is exclusively available on the Luminary podcast network and there hasn’t been much mention of its release on DSPs yet. We’ll keep you posted on any more updates. 

Liberation 2 Tracklist

  1. Assata’s Code (feat. Diani)
  2. Best Year Ever
  3. Air Quotes (feat. Diani)
  4. Nat Turner (feat. Cassper Nyovest & Seun Kuti)
  5. One For Biz (feat. Wildchild & Q-Tip)
  6. Loop Digga’s Revenge (feat. Goapele)
  7. Ad Vice (feat. Diani & Pink Siifu)
  8. Wild Sweet Love (feat. Moonbyrd & jessica care moore)
  9. Wild Beauty (feat. Moonbyrd & Keenyn Omari)
  10. The Right to Love Us (with Mac Miller)
  11. After These Messages (feat. Amani)
  12. Richies Part Two (feat. Roc Marciano & Westside Gunn)
  13. Marathon Thru Babylon (feat. Meshell Ndegeocello)
  14. Something Special (feat. Roy Ayers)
  15. Assata’s Reprise (feat. Jamie Branch)

Talib Kweli And Madlib Reunite For ‘Liberation 2,’ A Sequel To Their Fan-Favorite 2007 Album

by

Talib Kweli and Madlib have announced that they are reuniting for a sequel to one of their most beloved projects. Liberation 2, due March 6, will be released through the Luminary podcast network, echoing the nontraditional release of the original in 2007.

The album is set to feature collaborations with Q-Tip, Roc Marciano, and Westside Gunn, along with a posthumous appearance from Mac Miller. In a statement accompanying the announcement, Kweli detailed the album’s decade-long recording process and its content:

“People today are taking stock of what is most important — family, health, wellness, love. The materialism and debauchery that is stereotypically associated with hip-hop has lost some of its luster. Madlib and I have been consistent in our messaging. Never has there been a better time for such honest, message-driven music that pays tribute to the sounds that came before us.”

In 2007, Kweli and Madlib teamed up to release Liberation, which was available as a free download from Stones Throw’s Rappcats website. The album was seen as a return to form for Kweli after 2004’s The Beautiful Struggle disappointed some listeners.

Madlib’s beats were seen as a perfect compliment to Kweli’s rhymes; the two have since collaborated a few more times, including most recently on Kweli and Yasiin Bey’s Black Star reunion album No Fear of Time, which was also released through Luminary. Madlib also recently released a critically acclaimed project with Freddie Gibbs, Bandana.

The first single is “After These Messages,” the video for which you can watch above.

Liberation 2 is due 3/6 on Luminary.

Talib Kweli & Madlib Announce Joint Album, “Liberation 2”

by

Talib Kweli and Madlib just announced Liberation 2, a sequel to their 2007 collab album releasing on March 6. While it will release exclusively on the Luminary podcast network, they released the project’s first single “After These Messages” via a YouTube music video. Moreover, the track features a very special performance from Kweli’s son, Amani. In addition, the Black Star’s daughter Diani will also appear on Liberation 2‘s tracklist. With this announcement, hip-hop fans are likely salivating at this collaboration between two legends in the game.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 26: Talib Kweli attends the Legacy Grand Opening with Talib Kweli on August 26, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Still, the fact that it’s only coming out via a podcast network is likely disappointing for the Spotify-aligned fans out there. However, it calls back to its first installment, Liberation, and its similarly unorthodox release. Moreover, Kweli and Madlib released the album as a full download online in early 2007. It wasn’t in record stores, but rather on the Stones Throw Rappcats website and both artists’ MySpace pages. Also, this isn’t the first time the Brooklyn rapper has worked with Luminary. Exclusively through that platform, he and Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) released a long-awaited return from their duo Black Star. Their album No Fear of Time released in May of 2022.

Furthermore, the sequel to their fan-favorite Liberation collaboration will feature Q-Tip, Roc Marciano, and Westside Gunn. In addition, Liberation 2 is reportedly including a posthumous Mac Miller performance, as well. Kweli expressed that their recording process took a decade, and spoke on his thematic intent. “People today are taking stock of what is most important — family, health, wellness, love,” he remarked in a statement. “The materialism and debauchery that is stereotypically associated with hip-hop has lost some of its luster.

“Madlib and I have been consistent in our messaging,” he continued. “Never has there been a better time for such honest, message-driven music that pays tribute to the sounds that came before us.” Whereas Talib recently revived his duo, the legendary producer beside him recently continued his work on forming one of the best current duos. Him and Freddie Gibbs have incredible chemistry on wax, as evidenced by their most recent effort, 2019’s Bandada. Regardless, come back to HNHH for the upcoming album, and for more release news from your favorite hip-hop artists.

[via]

Black Star (Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli) Set to Release New Album, ‘No Fear of Time’ Exclusively on Podcast Platform

by
No Fear of Time Black Star Talib Kweli Mos Def Yasiin Bey Album

After 24 years since the release of their debut album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) and Talib Kweli, the hip-hop duo known as Black Star, are finally set to release their highly anticipated second album, No Fear of Time. The album will be available exclusively on the podcasting platform Luminary.

Set to be released on May 3, the album comprises nine tracks, all of which were recorded “guerrilla style in hotel rooms and dressing rooms around the globe.” No Fear of Time is said to hone a “future vibe with vintage soul,” ultimately living up to its highly anticipated coming from the iconic Brooklyn rap pair.

Luminary is also home to the duo’s podcast with Dave Chappelle, The Midnight Miracle. According to the platform, the first episode of season two titled, “Bugs Bunny Mathematicx,” “serves as audio liner notes to introduce the album.” The following episode, “Mineral Mountain,” features a Black Star freestyle with Black Thought produced by Madlib.

No Fear of Time will be the first of its kind—a hip-hop album released and confined to a digital platform for access, in this case, a podcasting platform. The album will not be available on popular streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. It will solely be available on the podcasting platform, Luminary.

Since their debut album, the duo has managed to continue creating their refined hip-hop sound throughout the victorious solo projects of both Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) and Talib Kweli, ultimately producing era defining hip-hop works.

At the time using the moniker Mos Def, in 1998 Yasiin Bey released his solo debut Black on Both Sides under Rawkus records. Bey’s musicianship is a full display with tracks such as “UMI Says,” “Mathematics,” and “Ms. Fat Booty.” The cosmic individuality showcased by Bey highlights his melodic fluctuation between rapping and singing, set the tone for the new millennium’s hip-hop sound. The album peaked at number one on the US Billboard Top Rap Albums chart in 1999.

In 2002, Talib Kweli released his debut album Quality, where the Brooklyn native displays a refined level of their boom-bap tendencies with a flair of rich instrumentation. The Kanye West produced single, “Get By,” hit the Billboard Hot 100 at number 77, ultimately making the album a commercial success. Quality peaked at number 6 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Prior to Quality, Talib Kweli teamed up with producer Hi-Tek to form Reflection Eternal and released Train of Thought, which features one of Kweli’s referenced tracks, “The Blast/Down For The Count.”

“Our fans always ask about the possibility of a second Black Star album,” Talib Kweli shares on The Midnight Miracle. “To that end, we’ve had many false starts. But we also realize that great music happens organically and we’ve never wanted to force it. Black Star was and is a vibe.”

The post Black Star (Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli) Set to Release New Album, ‘No Fear of Time’ Exclusively on Podcast Platform appeared first on The Source.