TSS: Explain Prisoners Of Conscious since Gutter Rainbows is obviously the alley-oop. How does it derive or differ from Gutter Rainbows?

Talib Kweli: Well it’s interesting you ask because Gutter Rainbows actually derives from Prisoners Of Conscious. I’ve been working on that album for some time now and Gutter Rainbows contains songs that demanded immediate attention. Think of them as children. These Gutter Rainbow songs were like children that were crying the loudest. And I still don’t know what Prisoners Of Conscious is going to sound like; I recorded a lot of songs for it but I kind of what it to be a definitive album. And that’s not to take anything from Gutter Rainbows because I think that’s an incredible piece of work. But like you said: “alley-oop” is a good way to describe it.

TSS: So looking forward, is the ultimate goal to being entirely independent?

Talib Kweli: Yes sir. Blacksmith is doing real well right now. Strong Arm Steady’s album is coming out February 1st and I’m very excited about that. DJ Khalil handled a lot of production on it. There’s also Terrace Martin and Madlib and features from Too $hort, myself, Planet Asia, Kurupt, Marsha Ambrosius and Chace Infinite. It’s a crazy; 5 years in the making. It’s coming out on Element 9. It’s a very well-rounded album and I think the people will love it. Jean Grae’s Cake Or Death is coming soon and there’s an official Idle Warship album in the works as well.

TSS: But enough about music. You get thrown Hip-Hop questions on the daily. What’s the last good book Talib Kweli read?

Talib Kweli: Let’s see here…Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead: What Every Business Can Learn from the Most Iconic Band in History.

TSS: Interesting. Did it give you an assist with being a label head and talent scout?

Talib Kweli: Yeah, the Grateful Dead had an incredible business model as far as being musicians who were touring and selling merch and all that. And they actually did a lot of what we’re doing right now in the digital era, but they did it in the analog era. I went to boarding school so I’m very familiar with their music and their fanbase but reading on their story on a business level just brought it around 360° for me.

TSS: What’s the last good movie you saw?

Talib Kweli: I watched 127 Hours. That was ill! I highly recommend it. But I liked Black Swan too. That was nice.

TSS: Yeah, that was pretty good. Especially…you know…the scene.

Talib Kweli: [Laughs]

TSS: O.K., lastly. When’s the last time Talib Kweli was drunk out of his mind?

Talib Kweli: New Years! That was a situation. I did a party in Portland, OR with a bunch of hippies and there was a shaman who blessed the stage at midnight before I got on [Laughs!!!]

TSS: [Laughs] Wait, what?

Talib Kweli: Yes. A shaman. And then the promoter got mad at me because I was DJing after I performed and I told all the people to come on stage. He said we crushed all the spiritual stuff that he brought to the stage. The word he used was “sad.” He said he was sad and I was fucked up. So it was that type of night [Laughs].

TSS: Were these Native Americans?

Talib Kweli: It was a bunch of White people. But they were into it.

TSS: Always on the road. How does that make or break your family?

Talib Kweli: It just means I have to put extra effort into the family time.

TSS: Another challenge, huh?

Talib Kweli: That’s the biz brother. That’s the biz.

And so it is. Talib Kweli’s Gutter Rainbows features appearances from Sean Price, Jean Grae, Outasight, production from Khrysis, 88-Keys, Marco Polo, 6th Sense and much more and will available it tomorrow. Support his efforts and pre-order the album via Javotti/3D Media and follow him on Twitter @RealTalibKweli.