Talib Kweli & Madlib Reunite On "Liberation 2" Ft. Mac Miller, Westside Gunn & More

BYAron A.12.5K Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
IMG_978CB276F3C7-1IMG_978CB276F3C7-1
Mac Miller, Westside Gunn, Roc Marciano, Q-Tip, and more appear on "Liberation 2."

Talib Kweli and Madlib created an undeniable classic when they joined forces on Liberation. The 9-song effort showcased Talib Kweli’s sharp lyricism over Madlib’s soulful, psychedelic production. It was a perfect pairing of collaborators, though its success didn’t necessarily spark an immediate urge to release a sequel. Fans waited for years, hoping to hear some sort of update from Kweli and Madlib.

In recent times, Talib Kweli and Madlib began working closely together again. It began with the release of the latest Black Star project, No Fear Of Time. Madlib held down the production on the entirety of Talib Kweli and Mos Def’s follow-up to their 1998 debut, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star. The reunion between Kweli and Mos Def alone was enough to leave backpackers salivating at the mouth. However, Madlib’s assistance in the production sealed the deal for those who waited over 20 years for Black Star to reunite. And then, they began plotting the release of Liberation 2 when they dropped, "Longevity."

Talib Kweli & Madlib - Liberation 2

Though it’s been less than a year since Mos Def and Talib Kweli reunited for No Fear Of Time, Kweli is back less than a year later with the sequel to Liberation. He and Madlib team up for the 15-song endeavor, which they launched with the release of “After These Messages” ft. Amani. The project includes a posthumous appearance from Mac Miller, as well as features from Westside Gunn, Roc Marciano, Q-Tip, Pink Siifu, and more. 

“The materialism and debauchery that is stereotypically associated with hip-hop has lost some of its luster,” Kweli said of the project. “Madlib and I have been consistent in our messaging. Never has there been a better time for such honest, message-driven music that pays tribute to the sounds that came before us.” Unfortunately, Liberation 2 is exclusively available on the Luminary podcast network and there hasn’t been much mention of its release on DSPs yet. We’ll keep you posted on any more updates. 

Liberation 2 Tracklist

  1. Assata’s Code (feat. Diani)
  2. Best Year Ever
  3. Air Quotes (feat. Diani)
  4. Nat Turner (feat. Cassper Nyovest & Seun Kuti)
  5. One For Biz (feat. Wildchild & Q-Tip)
  6. Loop Digga’s Revenge (feat. Goapele)
  7. Ad Vice (feat. Diani & Pink Siifu)
  8. Wild Sweet Love (feat. Moonbyrd & jessica care moore)
  9. Wild Beauty (feat. Moonbyrd & Keenyn Omari)
  10. The Right to Love Us (with Mac Miller)
  11. After These Messages (feat. Amani)
  12. Richies Part Two (feat. Roc Marciano & Westside Gunn)
  13. Marathon Thru Babylon (feat. Meshell Ndegeocello)
  14. Something Special (feat. Roy Ayers)
  15. Assata’s Reprise (feat. Jamie Branch)
About The Author
Aron A.
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
...