Talib Kweli Announces New Release Date for "Prisoner of Conscious"

Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) are sticking to their solo projects.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Kweli announced that Prisoner of Conscious—an album that has seen numerous pushbacks—will be releasing on April 23. He explains that the title is aimed to redefine the “socially conscious rapper” label.

"At the center of being socially conscious is your community – it's where you come from, what type of person that it made you, and how you give back to that. And it's a cycle," he said. "With me it's like, 'Oh, he's a great lyricist,' but they don't focus on the music. I think it's because of how I've been sold and how I've been marketed as some sort of poster boy for underground rap."

Kweli also shared his thoughts on the future of Black Star. Currently, him and Bey have only made minimal progress for a follow-up. Still, he says, “I would love to get back into it whenever he's ready."