People's Party with Talib Kweli

In this episode of People’s Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with acclaimed director, writer, and producer -- Jessy Terrero. This wide-ranging discussion covers his path from being an extra in the movie 'Juice' to becoming one of the most sought after music video directors of the 2000's. They discuss his Dominican heritage and growing up in the Bronx and Queens, New York, as well as his start writing concepts for music videos before he got his chance to direct for acts like 50 Cent, G-Unit, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, Sean Paul, Daddy Yankee and countless others. They also discuss the criticism many of these videos received for the perceived objectification of women, and debate how much, if any responsibility of that falls on the director.

In this episode of People’s Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with singer, rapper, actor, and songwriter Everlast, aka Whitey Ford. This in-depth interview covers the full career arc of a man who has been able to reinvent himself time after time, the way few others in the music game have been able to pull off.

In this episode of People’s Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with British Comedian, and actor Gina Yashere. The interview covers Gina's upbringing in London UK, to Nigerian parents, and her path to now emerging as one of the most well-known comedians worldwide. Gina, Kweli, and Jaz discuss what it was like to grow up a first generation Nigerian-Brit facing racism from every angle following her from youth through her later years as an elevator engineer. They speak on American's ignorance of world culture, the contrasts of US versus UK racism, Nigerian stereotypes, the 'Nollywood' Nigerian film industry, and Eddie Murphy's 'RAW' is also brought up for a debate on if we can still laugh at comedy considered taboo by today's standards.

In this episode of People’s Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper, author, producer, and one of the most influential, and respected figures around the world. We're not just talking hip-hop, but ALL of popular culture. The leader of the iconic group Public Enemy -- "Mista" Chuck D. Over the course of two hours, we get an insightful and exclusive discussion highlighting the life and career of a man who helped shape the course of music history. Public Enemy and their pull-no-punches approach to attacking politics and addressing social injustices was the beginning of a true movement in every sense of the word. With Chuck "trending like a chicken sandwich" after his fallout with Flavor Flav, he, Kweli, and Jasmine discuss the rapper's early childhood, coming up in the middle of the civil rights era, PE following Run DMC's footsteps to success in the industry, Chuck designing the PE logo, Yo! MTV Raps co-host Andre "Doctor Dre" Brown's huge contribution to hip-hop, and PE's signature sound. Chuck also speaks to the current generation, giving advice on use of their smartphones.

In this episode of People’s Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, and former high school teacher -- D Smoke. This extensive interview covers Smoke's youth, growing up Inglewood, California in a musical family with his mother Jackie singing for greats like Anita Baker, Tina Turner, and Michael Jackson, and her teaching him to play piano, starting at age 6. The trio discusses the early days of WoodWorks Records, Smoke and his brother having their own corner store selling CDs and merchandise to promote their movement, and ghostwriting for Genuine, The Pussycat Dolls, and others.

In this episode of People’s Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper, writer and true curator of the culture -- Jadakiss. This comprehensive discussion kicks off with talk of Jada and Talib's shared birth year of '75, and their witnessing of hop-hop's biggest points of evolution at the perfect age, both having grown up in its epicenter of New York City. They also discuss Talib's appreciation of the Lox for showing him love at the beginning of his career, while he struggled for mainstream success. They reflect on Jada's growing up in Yonkers, and the emcees that inspired him most during those early years. The trio also explores what went into the makings of some of the classic recordings Jadakiss was involved with like "All About The Benjamins", "24 Hours To Live", "We'll Always Love Big Poppa", as well as albums such as "The Last Kiss", "Kiss Tha Game Goodbye", "Top 5 Dead or Alive", "Freddy vs. Jason", and his latest project "Ignatius" -- dedicated to his close friend and business partner Ice Pick Jay, who recently passed. Jada describes the challenges he had while recording that album, at times fighting back tears.

In this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper, singer and record producer JPEGMAFIA. As one of the most brazen, uncompromising, and unpredictable figures in hip hop today, in this interview JPEGMAFIA keeps it 💯, true to form. The wide-ranging conversation includes his early years growing up in Flatbush, Brooklyn, and his move to Alabama at age 13, where he experienced prevalent racism. They also tackle gentrification, Ice Cube's profound influence on both his and Talib's unflinching approach to racism, the punk/hip hop connection, artist's empowerment to control their public image once they've paid dues, and JPEG gives his take on Kanye's support of Trump.

In this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper, actor and West Coast legend MC Eiht. Being a veteran and pioneer of the Gangsta Rap genre, as well as someone that was fully immersed in the lifestyle that he portrays on wax, Eiht has a deeply authentic story to tell. To kick things off, the trip discusses how Eiht got turned onto gang life at such a young age, the sensationalizing of gang-banging, and how the sets have evolved since he was active. Eiht also digs into his famous long-standing beef with DJ Quik, and how they finally reconciled.

In this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper and writer Rapsody.

In this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh talk to actor, writer, rapper and comedian Affion Crockett.

In this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper, singer, songwriter, producer and one of Talib's closest friends -- John Forte. John's life story is one of extreme highs, lows, and redemption. The show kicks off with talk of his early years growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn with an adventurous spirit, always being on the move. They explore his unique sense of style, things that drew him to the 5% Nation, and landing his first job in the industry, not as an emcee, but as head of A&R for Rawkus Records.

On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with actor, comedian, writer, sports reporter, podcast host, "international hero", hip-hop aficionado, and longtime friend of Talib -- Michael Rapaport. Get ready for a wild one here, with an interview as up-front, honest, and hilarious as any we've seen on People's Party. It kicks off with Mike growing up in New York during the 1980's, where for him "it was all about basketball, hip-hop, and talkin' shit", then moving to LA to do stand-up comedy, which evolved into an acting career, starring in movies like "Zebrahead" and "Higher Learning".

On the 33rd episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper, actor, producer, director, writer, sports league founder, and all-around legend among legends: Ice Cube. The conversation covers a multitude of subjects and starts at the beginning -- with the story of Cube growing up with aspirations of playing pro-football before transitioning into one of the most respected, prolific lyricists of all-time. The trio discusses the origins of Ice Cube classics like "Boyz-n-the-Hood" and "It Was A Good Day," the booming growth of the BIG3 basketball league, and emcees who had the most impact on the development of Cube's pen-game.

On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with longtime friend, collaborator, and legendary West Coast lyricist -- Planet Asia. Throughout the interview, we get profound insight into numerous topics including PA's upbringing in Fresno, CA, linking up with Rasco to form their group Cali Agents, his desire to leave a legacy as an emcee staying true to form throughout his career, and carving out his niche in the game as a West Coast lyricist cut from the same cloth as East Coast acts like The Wu-Tang Clan. Yep, the deep hip-hop heads are gonna eat this up.

On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with actress and writer Yvette Nicole Brown. They discuss her early dream of becoming a singer, which evolved into an acting career. Later, she talks about writing the movie "Always A Bridesmaid," and valuable lessons she learned from Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino on the set of the hit show "Community." Later, the trio discusses the idea of fame being a vapor and a trap that compromises the integrity of so many in the industry.

In this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and co-host Jasmin Leigh sit down with Grammy Award-winning record producer and pioneer of the "Trap Music" sound — Zaytoven. This in-depth interview gives us great insight on how Zay became one of the biggest names in the industry, starting with his beginnings living in the Bay during the 90's perfecting his craft under legends like JT The Bigga Figga and E-40, then moving to Atlanta to produce and help shape the careers of so many Trap Music icons, including Lecrae, Gucci Mane, Migos, and countless others. As the interview progresses, Zaytoven opens up about the church's influence on his music, and how he balances his deep-rooted faith, while operating in the Trap world.

In this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and co-host Jasmin Leigh sit down with comedian, actor, writer, and game show host Anthony Anderson. There result is a lively and entertaining start to 2020. The topics are wide-ranging -- spanning Anderson's journey from Compton to Hollywood, his rough start as a standup comic, and his huge breaks (first being cast in the film "Life", alongside Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, and Bernie Mack, then, only a year later, landing "Me, Myself & Irene" with Jim Carey).

In this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and co-host Jasmin Leigh sit down with the man, the myth, the legend MC Supernatural. Over the next hour and twenty minutes we get a deeply candid and rare discussion with one of the greatest freestylist of all-time. The conversation covers many topics that include early life growing up in Marion, Indiana and his move to Brooklyn, where he met Talib freestyling in Washington Square Park. They reminisce on the days before fame soaking up culture together in the streets of 90's Brooklyn. Nat also details everything that led up to those infamous battle rap sessions with Craig G and Juice that changed the freestyle game forever.

In this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and co-host Jasmin Leigh sit down with revolutionary chef, author, activist, TV host, and former b-boy Roy Choi. The conversation that follows spans a wide range of subjects -- from the launch of Choi's famous Kogi Truck to his role in Netflix's "The Chef Show." From the outset, it's clear that no subject is off-limits and Choi doesn't hold his tongue, discussing food deserts, offering his impressions of the LA riots, and opening up about his personal struggles with addiction. Choi also talks about the hip-hop/food connection, kicks a few food-inspired lyrics, and trades Bourdain stories with Kweli. The trio hits on some big ideas throughout the episode -- liked the notion of subverting capitalism in order to create a more equitable society. The entire hour is deeply insightful and unflinchingly honest while still being funny and fast-paced.

In this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with comedian, writer, and producer Michelle Wolf. The conversation is an all-encompassing trip through the intersection of comedy, social justice, and politics. The trio discusses Wolf's fast-tracked comedy career after she left a secure Wall Street job, her notorious White House Correspondents' Dinner performance, and her thoughts on restorative justice. She also talks about performing at the iconic venue The Comedy Cellar alongside greats like Dave Chappelle and Jerry Seinfeld, and her work writing for Seth Myers and Trevor Noah.

On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper, entrepreneur, and very-honest-motherf*cker, The Game. Right away the trio dives into the deep end, with a wide-ranging conversation on gang culture, rap beefs, Nipsey Hussle's legacy, and a possible G-Unit reunion. Later in the episode, Kweli and The Game talk about their mixtape collaborations, rap reality vs. street life reality, and #BlackLivesMatter. Throughout the interview, The Game is the same man you hear on the track: unflinchingly honest and fearlessly raw. No topic is off-limits and stories are told in vivid detail. As one observer at the live taping said, "Damn, listening to him is like a John Woo movie!"

On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with legendary actor, director, producer, writer, and Avenger Don Cheadle. The conversation covers a wide swath of his career -- as the trio discusses the backstories of what led Cheadle to take the iconic roles he became known for over the years. "Colors," "Boogie Nights," "Devil In A Blue Dress," "Iron Man," "Out Of Sight," and "Hotel Rwanda" all come up in this wide-ranging discussion. Cheadle also speaks on his contact with Kendrick Lamar, asking him to star in his self-produced and directed biopic 'Miles Ahead', and we get to hear about some of the hilarious reactions he received from Brits about the Cockney accent he used while playing Basher in the Ocean's movies.

On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with activist, community organizer, National Surrogate for Bernie Sanders, and co-founder of The Dream Defenders, Phillip Agnew. Over the course of the next hour and change, the trio dives deep into the importance of HBCUs to the black community, the case for electing Bernie Sanders, and the issues of reparations and identity politics. The conversation is full of big ideas tempered by plenty of laughter.

On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper, songwriter, and icon Lil Kim. We get insight into a number of topics -- including her latest album "9," a college course created at SU dedicated to her lyrics, her first interactions with Biggie, her biggest influences in hip-hop as well as fashion, and what it is about Brooklyn that made it such pinnacle of hip hop through the years. Later she gives her feelings about being titled a feminist icon, what it was like being in the targets of C. Delores Tucker during her crusade against rap music, her experiences with Trump on his show "The Apprentice," and speaks on her own show "Girls Cruise" now airing on VH1.

On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with musician, rapper, songwriter, record producer, record executive, and a true icon of the underground, El-P. They dig into a variety of subjects, including the deconstruction of El-P's signature noisy production style, how Run The Jewels with Killer Mike came into existence, Zack De La Rocha living at his house after the Rage Against Machine breakup, as well as what led to the breakup of his own group Company Flow around the same time. Later Talib and El-P trade their stories on how they got signed to Rawkus Records, being the mecca of the underground scene in the late 90's. El-P also opens up about his song "Last Good Sleep," which outlines his own experiences dealing with domestic violence as a child. His record label Def Jux is also discussed, as well as what we can expect for his up and coming album "Run The Jewels 4" with Killer Mike. The whole interview is filled with moments that are insightful, introspective, and often hilarious.

On this episode of the People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh talk to Canadian singer and songwriter Melanie Fiona. They get the low down on Drake, the Toronto hip-hop scene and major label deals

On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with critically acclaimed comedian, writer, producer, and director Neal Brennan. They discuss his Netflix special "3 Mics", writing for SNL, as well as his work on the Chappelle Show where him and Dave both wrote and produced virtually every sketch themselves. They talk about his relationship with Dave and the aftermath of the show's abrupt ending and fallout. They also go on to speak on a multitude of topics, including white friends asking Neal how to make black friends, sharing stories about their first meetings with Dave Chappelle, Neal's cameo in Half Baked becoming a meme, Ellen's selfie with George W., as well as political news comedians like John Oliver, Trevor Noah and their impact during the Trump era.

On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with Bay Area Rap Legend Too $hort. The trio touch on a range of topics including the evolution of the Bay Area hip hop sound, his multiple retirements, the huge success he found working with artists outside his genre like Lil' Jon and Biggie, and his trademark persona as a pimp rapper and why that seems to translate to such a wide audience.

On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with multi-Grammy Award-winning jazz/R&B/hip-hop pianist, performer, and producer Robert Glasper. The conversation is wide-ranging -- the trio discusses his early days playing a broken organ at his local church, his time in the Brooklyn scene working with artists like Bilal, Erykah Badu, Common, Mos Def, and Kweli, and his later collabs with Lupe Fiasco, Q-Tip, J Dilla, Slum Village, Kendrick Lamar, Anita Baker and countless other industry legends.

On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with Rapper and Podcaster Crooked I. They discuss his interview show Crook's Corner, his involvement working on the Hulu Bioepic "Wu-Tang: An American Saga", his first time meeting 2Pac, as well as Long Beach gang rivalries and the need for black and brown unity through hip hop. Crook also speaks on working with Death Row and Suge Knight, then later moving to Shady Aftermath, touring with Slaughterhouse, his struggles with alcoholism and reaching sobriety. The trio also speak on the mainstream promoting negative stereotypes and the need to take back the culture from those that are pushing those agendas.

On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jamsin Leigh sit down with TMZ personality and podcaster, Van Lathan. They discuss how Van operates within TMZ, his famous Kanye West encounter, his weight loss journey, their past disagreements over gun activism, and how he disagrees with white people versus how he disagrees with black people.

The Masters is an interview show where UPROXX Style Editor and co-founder of Phat Farm and Zoo York, Eli Morgan Gesner, sits down with pioneers and craftsman in style, music, skateboarding, and culture to discuss how they became who they are and the inspiration behind their work. You can listen at https://apple.co/themasterswithelimorgangesner

On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jamsin Leigh sit down with rapper, singer, and producer IDK. They discuss how he found his voice as an artist while incarcerated at age 17, his first time meeting Kanye West, and Kanye's confounding relationship with Donald Trump. Later, the conversation expands to IDK's close friendship with Denzel Curry, his wide-ranging influences as an MC, and his personal take on religion. Kweli, Jasmin, and IDK also dig into the stories behind some of the most attention-grabbing and thoughtful tracks off of "Is He Real?" -- from "Porno" to "Julia...". This interview reveals a rapper on the rise and a man who isn't afraid to be open or honest with his fans -- both in the booth and on People's Party. The insight that comes with that fearlessness makes the episode essential viewing.

On this episode of the People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper Murs to discuss the current state of hip-hop, the lack of support for "conscious rap," whether gangs should incorporate, and the influence of white emcees like El-P.

On this special episode of the People's Party Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with friend and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement Patrisse Cullors. They discuss her experience growing up in LA during the war on drugs campaign. She tells the story of how BLM got started, and later explains the guiding principles of the cause. Other topics include corruption inside LA's Sheriff's department, LGBT social movements, the making of Talib's album "Prisoner Of Conscious", how the FBI labeled them a terrorist organization, Jay-Z's recent deal he made with the NFL, reparations, and the serious problems within the US prison system.

Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh chop it up with comedian, actor, and personal friend Godfrey. They discuss the similarities of what it is to be a rapper versus a comedian. Godfrey talks about valuable lessons learned from Jerry Seinfeld and studying under Bernie Mac when he was getting started in Chicago. They go into Instagram comics possibly being the mumble rappers of comedy, and we get to hear some of his favorite impressions.

On this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh converse with long time friend and collaborator Ras Kass. They discuss his legacy as a lyrical heavyweight on the west coast. He reflects on how he feels about his song "Nature Of A Threat" almost 25 years later and more.

On this episode of People’s Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with actor, comedian, performer, writer, and podcaster, Dax Shepard. They discuss Ice Cube, politics, white privilege, addiction, family, and more.

Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with Talib’s longtime friend and collaborator, Evidence. They discuss how his upbringing in Venice Beach and living next door to Quincy Jones’ son helped shape his love for hip-hop music and culture. They also talk about how he got his name from rapper and collaborator Everlast, showing LL Cool J one of his first songs, producing for Kanye West first debut album “College Dropout”, and the story behind his past “beef” with Eminem.

Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with singer, songwriter, rapper, and actress Estelle. In this wide-ranging interview, the UK star skewers Jermaine Dupri’s comments about women in hip-hop, opens up about launching her career by approaching Kanye West at a restaurant, and shares her creative process.

Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros frontman -- and Lollapalooza founder -- Perry Farrell. The conversation goes from Perry playing Lollapalooza with Ice-T and favorite protest songs all the way to... a discussion of other dimensions.

Talib Kweli sits down with hip-hop legend and T.I. to discuss his trap past, early albums, Trap Music, his upcoming Flint water movie, ASAP Rocky detained and in jail in Sweden, Jay Z, being "King of the South," and potentially running for mayor of Atlanta.

Talib Kweli sits down with political activist Angela Rye to discuss hip-hop’s influence on culture, their approaches to Twitter trolls, the impact of the 2016 election, and the need for people to better understand where they get their information.

Talib Kweli sits down with legendary hip-hop artist B Real to discuss Cypress Hill, Prophets of Rage, gang life, and marijuana and cannabis activism.

Talib Kweli sits down with sports journalist and former ESPN host Jemele Hill to discuss her role with LeBron James’ “Shut Up And Dribble” documentary, Shaq and Kobe’s rap careers, and Donald Trump’s white supremacy agenda.

On the second episode of People's Party, Kweli sits down with former NBA star and celebrity public figure Lamar Odom. They discuss being famous vs infamous, not taking advice from Jay Z, living in the spotlight, addiction, and Lamar's relationship with Kanye West as well as the Kardashians.

On the world premier of People's Party, Kweli sits down with Texas rap icon Bun B. They reflect on his biggest influences growing up in Port Arthur, the evolution of UGK, his lyrical style, as well as his and Pimp C's breakthrough getting on the Menace II Society soundtrack. We hear his story of hotboxing with Biggie Smalls, and how it felt like he was smoking out with the Godfather. He also gives detailed insight about the home invasion he and his wife experienced recently.