Talib Kweli is no stranger to politics and controversy (check our recent interview with him here). However in the past few days the rapper has found himself at the centre of a veritable shitstorm for some Twitter comments he made about ‘white privilege’ that were neither political nor controversial, but in reality, totally rational and completely normal.
In response to the news that the long-running television series The Dukes of Hazard would be pulled from the air due to it’s frequent use of the image of the Confederate Flag, some mouthbreather decided to tweet at Kweli (not the person responsible for television programming) that to ensure complete equality the show The Jefferson’s should also be pulled, because that most vile of words, honky is occasionally used by black characters.
“Black folks out here getting murdered, literally, and white dudes tweeting me mad cuz the Jeffersons still on and George say honky. Wowsers,” Kweli wrote lucidly on July 5.
So then of course, people got angry that this statement obviously meant that Kweli was accusing ALL white people of being racist. Because the only thing worse than judging a man for the colour of his skin, is judging a man for his views on race.
Listen, insecure white people in my mentions, ALL WHITE PEOPLE ARE NOT THE SAME. We cool now? Favorite this tweet for the future.
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 5, 2015
Fair deuce. From here, Talib Kweli elaborated further, in one of the more rational yet over-dramatised Twitter rants in recent times.
If I say “hey racism still exists” and you hear & interpret that as “ALL whites are racist, you too”, then you probably are.
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 5, 2015
If ppl spent a fraction of the time pushing back against actual oppression that they spend being scared 2 b called racist we’d get somewhere
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 5, 2015
In less nauseating news, Kweli has released a 12-song compilation of B-sides. It’s titled Train of Thought: Lost Lyrics, Rare Releases & Beautiful B-Sides Vol. 1, and, given it includes appearances from Kanye West, Killer Mike and Mos Def, this might be more in the ‘A’ mould. You can get it here and check the star-studded tracklisting below:
Train of Thought: Lost Lyrics, Rare Releases & Beautiful B-Sides Vol. 1:
01 Space (prod. by Dave West)
02 2000 Seasons (prod. by Hi Tek)
03 Black Star: Bright As the Stars (prod. by Ayatollah)
04 Wack Niggaz [ft. Common, Kanye West & Consequence] (prod. by Kanye West)
05 Boomerang [ft. NIKO IS, K’Valentine & Cory Mo] (prod. by Cory Mo)
06 Ocean Song [ft. Mela Machinko] (prod. by Rahki)
07 7:30 [ft. RES] (prod. by DJ Quik)
08 Fortfied Live [ft. Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def) & Mr. Man] (prod. by Hi Tek)
09 Tryin To Breathe [ft. Killer Mike] (prod. by Midi Mafia)
10 Distractions (prod. by Oh No)