Talib Kweli Says the New Black Star Album Is Canceled, Announces New Solo Album
The new album will come by way of Patreon.


After Madlib confirmed that the album has been completed, Talib Kweli, one half of Black Star, has stated the upcoming reunion album has officially been canceled. In a now-deleted Instagram post, Kweli addressed that he and Mos Def‘s (now Yasiin Bey) anticipated album will no longer be arriving:
I’m tired of being silent about this. I tried my best y’all. Flew around the globe. Paid for this out of pocket. All for the culture. I’m a fan of Black Star too. I want to see this come out as bad as y’all do, or more. But people who never made a beat, never wrote a rhyme in they life got they fingers in the pie and are being disrespectful to what me and my brothers built. It’s in Gods hands now. I’m on to other things, life is too short to be disrespected by culture vultures. Maybe y’all will get to hear this album after I’m gone.
Following the announcement, the Brooklyn rapper took to his podcast to state that he will be making a new solo project called Cultural Currency, which will arrive exclusively to his Patreon subscribers.
“I am considered an underground rapper. My lyrics critique the status quo,” the Brooklyn MC stated in a press release. “On paper, I was not supposed to be a successful artist. I succeeded in spite of the odds because I was always able to go around the industry and connect with my fans directly. When the music industry told me no, I built an industry around myself. Working with Patreon is the next step in this evolution. Patreon was created by artists for artists.” He continues, “I am proud to be born who I am, but my chosen tribe consists of artists and people who love art. Sharing my art on Patreon allows me to connect with my tribe in amazing and innovative ways.”
Kweli’s new project will see a new song release every month for a year. He will also release previous unreleased tracks from “hip-hop legends” curated by Kweli himself, alongside access to his Patreon-only Discord.
In other music news, take a look at HYPEBEAST’S Best 25 Albums of 2020… So Far.