In January of this year, Talib Kweli posted a photo of himself, Kanye West, Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def), and Dave Chappelle in the studio together. “2018 is looking good...” read the caption. To put it mildly, Kanye's 2018 probably didn't turn out the way Kweli expected it to.
Yesterday on Twitter, Kanye announced, “My eyes are now wide open and now realize I’ve been used to spread messages I don’t believe in. I am distancing myself from politics and completely focusing on being creative!!!” He also wrote, “I support creating jobs and opportunities for people who need them the most, I support prison reform, I support common-sense gun laws that will make our world safer. I support those who risk their lives to serve and protect us and I support holding people who misuse their power accountable. I believe in love and compassion for people seeking asylum and parents who are fighting to protect their children from violence and war.”
This was taken as good news by Kweli who, like many people, has been outspoken about his frustration with Kanye's politics of late, including his support for Donald Trump and his alliance with right-wing pundit Candace Owens. (In yesterday's tweets, Kanye also distanced himself from Owens' "Blexit" initiative, which encourages African-Americans to leave the Democratic Party. Owens initially claimed Kanye was responsible for designing the Blexit logo, before walking it back. He also denied it.)
Following Kanye's tweets, Kweli took to Instagram last night to share a clip of what he says is an unfinished collaboration with Kanye. The video features Kweli rapping along to a recording of a sparse piano loop. “Me and Kanye West started an album together last January,” the caption reads. “That same month Candace Owens trolled me on Twitter and her followers called me all types of n****s and monkeys for months. Hey Ye it’s probably time to revisit this one... lyrics are timely AF. Welcome back.”
In the preview of the unreleased song, Kweli decries the recent rise of white nationalism, referencing the August 2017 rally and subsequent protests in Charlottesville, Virginia that resulted in the death of Heather Heyer. In the video, he encourages Kanye to finish the song with him.
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