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Talib Kweli is making sure his forthcoming album, Prisoner Of Conscious, doesn’t get the Detox treatment. The Brooklyn MC’s new project will be dropping in April but those hoping for a new Black Star LP probably shouldn’t hold their breath. 

In an interview with Rolling Stone, the “Get By” rapper revealed that Prisoner Of Conscious will now arrive on April 23, via his own Javotti Records. This is a change since all of Kweli’s most recent releases were via the Blacksmith label he owned with Cory Smyth.

As for his album, the name alludes to Kweli trying adjust the “conscious” and “underground” rapper label he’s been branded with his entire career. “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 told Rolling Stone. “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 revealed sample clearance issues prevented Prisoner Of Conscious from being release last November as intended. Apparently, a sample of Eric B & Rakim’s “Paid in Full” is to blame. Nevertheless, the rapper went back and added two songs to the project.

As for a Black Star album, busy schedules between Talib Kweli’s prolific solo work and Yasiin Bey’s own solo material and acting obligations, make a proper follow up to 1998’s Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star a distant wish. Case in point, Bey aka Mos Def told fans to “practice patience” this time last year.

“I would love to get back into it whenever he’s ready,” said Kweli of hooking up with Bey.

That said, appreciate the fact that Talib Kweli is still cranking out quality music by himself.

Photo: Talib Kweli