Talib Kweli | How to Craft Lyrical Miracles and EPIC Rhymes with Master Lyricist, Rapper and Entrepreneur

Show Notes

Can Clay convince Talib Kweli to FREE-STYLE RAP on the show? One of the top hip hop lyricists in the game today, Talib Kweli joins us to break down how he crafts lyrical miracles and his process for writing raps.

1. Yes, yes, yes and yes! Thrivetime Nation on today’s show we are interviewing the master lyricist, rapper, entrepreneur and activist Talib Kweli!!! Talib, welcome onto the Thrivetime Show, how are you sir?!
   1. Listen at 1:21 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CIWmfl0Gp8 
2. I know that you’ve had a ton of success at this point in your career, but I would love to start off at the bottom and the very beginning of your career. What was your life like growing up and where did you grow up?
3. Talib Kweli When did you first figure out what you wanted to do professionally?
4. How did you break out of the clutter and crowd of so many skilled, talented and hard-working rappers?
5. When did you first feel like you were truly beginning to gain traction with your career?
6. Talib, what is your process for crafting your lyrics from beginning to end?
7. I want to break down your lyrics for the song Legacy you recorded with Mike Posner?
   1. Legacy is when you need no introductions (None)
   2. You walk in the room and everybody start buzzin’

 

1. Legacy, when your reputation precedes you
2. Little kids grow up, they wanna be you

 

1. Legacy is when you’re silent, but your presence felt
2. The product like drugs ’cause it sell itself

 

1. Yeah, you survived many disasters
2. And now, they hang your jersey from the rafters (Yeah)
4. And see these jokers gettin’ greedier? (Come on)
5. Gotta hit the road when the locals don’t believe in ya

 

1. My music in museums, it’s timeless as Mona Lisa, bruh
2. A legacy artist, I don’t need social media

 

1. So, when you see me online, I’m havin’ fun, trust
2. Unjust situations make me wanna gun-bust (Brrah)

 

1. But I’m a man of peace (Yeah), and so I plan to be poetic
2. With my words to help you curb and understand the beast

 

1. We keep it all love in the nightclub (Let’s go)
2. They wanna turn the nightclub into the fight club (Let’s go)

 

1. My life’s blood runs deeper than a knife cut
2. This the crack that the dope boys slice up

 

1. My lyrics sound scary to the corporate sellers (Yeah)
2. I’m like ’97 Rockafella, but more Griselda (Yeah)

 

1. My observations make your heart stop, like organ failure
2. So, they think that I could see the future like a fortune teller

1. How do you decide when you are done crafting your lyrics?
2. What separates a good rap from a bad rap in your mind?
3. What microphone do you recommend for any of the aspiring rappers listening to this show?
4. Talib Kweli What software do you like to use?
5. Many of our guests say that they had a key mentor or a key book that they read that really helped them to change their mindset and their approach to success…do you have a key book or mentor in your life that has impacted you the most…I would love to hear that story?
6. Talib Kweli When you were at the bottom, what did you learn most from this experience?
7. Today, I’d love for you to share with the listeners about the kinds of projects that you are up to?
8. You come across as a very proactive person…so how do you typically organize the first four hours of your and what time do you typically wake up?
9. What are a few of your daily habits that you believe have allowed you to achieve success?
10. Talib Kweli What mentor has made the biggest impact on your career thus far?
11. What has been the biggest adversity that you’ve had to fight through during your career?
12. What advice would you give the younger version of yourself?
13. We find that most successful entrepreneurs tend to have idiosyncrasies that are actually their super powers…what idiosyncrasy do you have?
14. What message or principle that you wish you could teach everyone?
15. You are super successful, but what do you struggle with the most…what is your weakness…what is your kryptonite? 
16. What are a couple of books that you believe that all of our listeners should read?
17. You’ve got the mic, what is one thing that you want to share with the Thrive Nation before you drop the mic?