Hello everybody! Happy New Year, happy new you! This is a transition period for me, a true transition. My resolution this year is to fully realize my artistic potential. It’s going to require travel, reflection, focus, and ultimately, growth. God willing you will all grow with me. Thank you all for taking this journey with me here at Year Of The Blacksmith. We’ve updated and improved the site, we hope you enjoy. Be on the look out for Gutter Rainbows, my new album out on Javotti Media/3D digital only in North America, available at mom and pops by import January 25th. Special limited edition vinyl at www.fatbeats.com. Also be sure to cop the incredible piece of music that is Strong Arm Steady’s Arms and Hammers, available on Blacksmith/Element 9/Fontana February 1st.

To kick things off, I want to talk about how great of a read Jay-Z’s Decoded was. Shout out to dream hampton aka dreamy fresh! this book is a must read for anyone who is serious about the craft and art of MCing. There has never been a book more dedicated to the craft then this. If you refuse to support this book because you think the cover is some sort of illuminati imagery, then you ain’t serious about MCing. Your loss. The book is not just about Jay’s songs, but about the actual process of writing a great hip hop record. It ain’t easy.

Many of my fans have suggested to me that they would like to see a Decoded style book on my songs. Well, this is still hip hop, so i don’t wanna bite and do a book like Jay, but for my fam here at YOTB, respond to this post with a song from my catalog you would like to see me break down, Decoded style. I will pick the top 8 most requested. Starting Friday, I will write about two a week, cool?

Your brother in music, Talib Kweli….

24 Comments

CR00KLYN January 12, 2011 at 1:33 pm27

1 drink, uh-oh, cold rain, sealey



Cbrownie January 12, 2011 at 3:17 pm27

Hey mr kweli I’d love to see you break down “where do we go” or “around my way ” or “beautiful struggle ” (I’ve life is a beautiful struggle tattoed on my forearm it motivates me) or “ms hill” man you’ve to many tracks



MaG January 12, 2011 at 3:26 pm27

The site looks amazing.

I agree with all of it. Being a fan of Jay’s, and after reading your tweets, I knew I needed Decoded. Got it for xmas and ran through it. Straight up investment for any true hip-hop head or lover of music in general.

I would love to see “Get By” broken down. I think if the average listener really saw the breakdown of your approach to that record and your use of language on that joint they’d be awestruck



Ian Blevins January 12, 2011 at 4:03 pm27

This was really hard to choose because the reason your such a great mc is your ability to explain so much in so few words. My choice of songs to decode is a toss up between “happy home” and a personal favorite “ghetto afterlife”



John January 12, 2011 at 4:36 pm27

It’s got to be What I Seen. “So much cleavage and ass crack / If pussy were stock it would plummet on the NASDAQ.”
This was a song of the day on Socially Contracted: http://sociallycontracted.blogspot.com/2010/04/talib-kweli.html



Diego S January 12, 2011 at 8:23 pm27

Get By, Where Do We Go, Beautiful Struggle, Four Women, Give Em Hell, Ballad of The Black Gold, Back Again, Hostile Gospel, KOS, I Try, Cold Rain, The Proud and The Blast.



Chris January 12, 2011 at 9:25 pm27

Hey Talib, new site looks great. Can’t wait for Gutter Rainbows, either. I’d love to hear a breakdown of Hostile Gospel and Redefinition. Maybe BS book project, come to think of it…Or, I’ve always wanted to hear more about your version of Four Women.

Also, don’t miss what Bun B and Dr. Anthony Pinn are doing down in H-Town on Religion and Hip Hop. I’m one of the course TAs and will be reppin’ YOTB and Okayplayer all semester long. We’ve also assigned Decoded for the course. You’re right, fantastic read.



Jake of All Tradez January 12, 2011 at 9:31 pm27

Imma take it back to the 1st Reflection Eternal album Train of Thought, the song doesn’t really have an a name but it was the last track on the album “Expansion Outro.” Hands down 1 my favorite Kweli tracks, so real, relevant, and timeless. I know this will not be the most requested but I feel like the story in the song needs to be unveiled the people. Please decode this record.



Ghostface Marcus January 12, 2011 at 11:23 pm28

Looking forward to reading the thoughts behind whatever songs are chosen.



Aaron January 13, 2011 at 2:54 pm27

Can you break down “The Beast”?



Pamela January 13, 2011 at 7:52 pm27

I agree with Jake of All Tradez totally, Expansion Outro is definitely a good track to decode. Also, KOS (Determination) for sure as well as Give ‘em Hell.



Mitch January 13, 2011 at 8:03 pm27

Talib Kweli, you are a true BLESSING.

“Hostile Gospel,” “Get By,” “Thieves in the Night,” “Respiration,” “Ballad of the Black Gold,” “Lonely People,” “K.O.S. (Determination)”



Uncle Phil January 14, 2011 at 12:13 am28

The Proud, the Blast, and Ms. Hill



bless da virtue January 14, 2011 at 2:32 pm27

Whats good Kweli..i hope all is well with you and i hope you are having a wonderful year to start..i would have to say..what was behind “Memories Live”? how did that song inspire you to create a master piece and what was the approach that you and hitek took?…i would say that was the song that got me through my trials and turbulations in life..i can relate to a lot of things you said on that song..especially when you said..

“Yo, it kinda make me think of way back when
I was the portrait of the artist as a young man
All them teenage dreams of rapping
Writing rhymes on napkins
Was really visualization
Making this shit actually happen”.

those 6 bars alone gave me the courage and strength to pursue to be come a rapper…so thank you for your inspiring words and creative music!!!

bless da virtue..



arsene January 15, 2011 at 8:49 am27

hey Talib,
i’m looking forward to all of your projects this year. when is ‘southern smoke northern lights’ to be released? i thought it was expected to come out in December 2010.
could you break down ‘Hostile Gospel pt.1/2′, ‘Lonely People’, ‘Ballad of the Black Gold’, ‘Guerrilla Monsoon Rap’, ‘For Women’ and ‘Flash Gordon’ please?



KolossalBigDeal January 16, 2011 at 6:05 pm27

How about decoding “Everything Man” off Ear Drum. Love it!



Nina Ross January 17, 2011 at 9:13 pm27

Please decode Ms. Hill…I would love to hear the story behind this personal song. She is and always will be one of my favorite emcees!



John January 17, 2011 at 9:27 pm27

Happy New Year all! I’ve been bumping the new Reflection joint for a few months now. Def. one of my favorite albums of last year. Can’t wait for the new one!

How about decoding ‘Ballad of the Black Gold’?



bighan January 17, 2011 at 10:55 pm28

Around My Way, Country Cousins, What I Seen, Give em Hell, and Listen!!! have to be some of the ones I’d like to see decoded.



Fausto Polanco January 18, 2011 at 11:17 am28

Where do we go , My Life, Going Hard, Everything Man, NY Weather Report, Too Late, Eternalist, Who Got it



Belinda Smith January 18, 2011 at 9:45 pm27

I’m reading whatever you write. However, my favorite song in the universe is “Beautiful Struggle”



ChiCha January 19, 2011 at 2:22 pm27

I would Love for you to decode “Hot Thing” Not only because its my Favorite but because you said special dedication like 50 times lol … next would be “Get By” then “Back again”



ChiCha January 19, 2011 at 2:25 pm27

Oh & BTW… What was up with “Back up off of me”??? hahaha



Darelle January 21, 2011 at 12:16 am28

How about both you and Jean Greasy decode Black Girl Pain. Also History, you know what come to think of it you are one of the most literate emcees in hip hop. I usually understand most of the things you say and I am more often struck by the poignancy of your lyrics than by anything else.