<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
p.MsoNoSpacing, li.MsoNoSpacing, div.MsoNoSpacing
{mso-style-priority:1;
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="2050" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:26.0pt">Talib Kweli
</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt">New Album
<i>Prisoner of Conscious</i></span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><span style="font-size:18.0pt"> </span></i></b><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Out<i>
</i>April 23<sup>rd</sup> via Javotti Media/Capitol/EMI</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">New Video for Single “Upper Echelon” Premieres on MTV<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">North American Tour Begins February 8<sup>th</sup>
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></b><img width="263" height="395" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image002.jpg@01CDFEE1.9DD21520" alt="IMG_2143-lr.JPG"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:8.0pt">(Photo Credit: Anna Sian)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black">Hip-hop luminary<b> Talib Kweli
</b>will release his 5<sup>th</sup> solo studio album<b> <i>Prisoner of Conscious</i>
</b>on<b> April 23, 2013 </b>via Javotti Media/Capitol/EMI. The album, four years in the making, boasts a slew of guest features from
<b>Busta Rhymes, Curren$y, Kendrick Lamar, Melanie Fiona, </b></span><b><span style="color:#222222">Marsha Ambrosius,
</span><span style="color:black">Miguel, Nelly, Ryan Leslie, </span><span style="color:#222222">Seu Jorge</span></b><span style="color:#222222"> and more.
</span><b><u><a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/talib-kweli/873518/upper-echelon.jhtml#id=1568964">PRESS HERE</a></u></b> to check out the brand new video for new single
<b>“Upper Echelon”</b> which recently premiered across MTV platforms. Two other videos have already been released:
<b><span style="color:#222222"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4S2avleyeM">PRESS HERE</a></span></b><span style="color:#222222"> to watch
<b>“Push Thru” ft. </b></span><b>Curren$y, Kendrick Lamar and Glen "Grey" Reynolds</b> and
<b><span style="color:#222222"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eHPfEMjLt0">PRESS HERE</a></span></b><span style="color:#222222"> to see the video for the album’s bonus track
<b>“Outstanding” ft. Ryan Leslie</b>. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Additionally, Kweli will embark on a <b>North American tour kicking off February 8<sup>th</sup></b> including performances at
<b>SXSW</b> in Austin and <b>The Music of Prince tribute concert at Carnegie Hall on March 7<sup>th</sup> in NYC,
</b>which will raise money for arts education programs. The full list of tour dates is below.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#222222">Talib Kweli, nearly 20 years into his prolific career, stands as one of the most gifted lyricists, acclaimed rappers and in-demand performers in music today. His latest effort,
<i>Prisoner of Conscious</i>, ushers in a new artistic chapter for Kweli – one that embodies his exceptional musicality and robust creative vision while aiming to give everyone something to relate to.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:#222222"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:#222222">The dynamic collection of songs, colored with live instrumentation, was born from Kweli’s desire to expand past his reputation for making heavy socio-political statements into more of a personal realm.
<i>Prisoner of Conscious</i>, an uplifting album that savvily explores universal life experiences that we all share, slowly came to life over the course of four years. Kweli steadily worked on the songs while continuing to put out music at his typical breakneck
speed, which included releasing his solo album <i>Gutter Rainbows</i>, performing Black Star shows with Mos Def, teaming up with DJ Hi-Tek for their Reflection Eternal album
<i>Revolution Per Minute</i> and flexing his genre-bending abilities with Idle Warship and
<i>Habits of the Heart,</i> a collaboration with Res. Finished off with production work from
<b>J Cole, RZA, Symbolic One</b> (Kanye West) and <b>Sean C</b> <b>and LV</b> (Jay-Z) and an impressive list of guest features,
<b><i>Prisoner of Conscious</i></b> is finally ready to be unveiled.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:#222222"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">“Come Here” ft. Miguel</span></b><span style="color:black"> brings in a Marvin Gaye-esque vibe while the dramatic, piano-driven
<b>“Before He Walked”</b> showcases passionate vocals from singer <b>Abby Dobson</b> and includes a verse from
<b>Nelly</b>. The driving <b>“Ready Set Go”</b> with singer <b>Melanie Fiona</b> features Kweli’s ever-impressive clever verbal gymnastics. From the stark
<b>Busta Rhymes</b>-guested and <b>RZA</b>-produced <b>“Rocket Ships”</b> to the breezy
<b>“Favela Love,”</b> featuring crooning from Brazilian singer and actor <b>Seu George</b>,
<b><i>Prisoner of Conscious</i></b> is Kweli re-invigorated and better than ever.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">In other news, Talib Kweli is participating in the new
</span><b>“mtvU Against Our Will Campaign,”</b> a student-conceived interactive video experience to combat human trafficking that was unveiled today on mtvu, MTV’s 24-hour college network. “<b>The Backstory</b>” sheds light on the realities of human trafficking
through powerful stories illustrated by a series of interactive videos that feature text read by
<b>Kweli</b>, dancers from <b>Ailey II</b> and music scored by<b> Kenna. </b>For more information, please visit
<a href="http://TheBackstory.MTV.com" target="_blank">http://TheBackstory.MTV.com</a>,
<a href="http://www.againstourwill.org/" target="_blank">mtvU.AgainstOurWill.org</a> or
<a href="http://www.mtvu.com/" target="_blank">mtvU.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Upcoming Talib Kweli U.S. Live Dates:</u></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">Feb 8<sup>th</sup> Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">Feb 9<sup>th</sup> Detroit, MI @ 2<sup>nd</sup> Annual Dilla Day Tribute Concert at The Fillmore
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">Feb 17<sup>th</sup> Las Vegas, NV @ Bank Nightclub at The Bellagio</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">Feb 22<sup>nd</sup> Lawrence, KS @ The Granada</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">Feb 23<sup>rd</sup> Denver, CO @ The Summit</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">Feb 24<sup>th</sup> Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theatre</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">Feb 26<sup>th
</sup> Boston, MA @ The Middle East</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">Feb 27<sup>th</sup> Providence, RI @ Fete</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">Feb 28<sup>th
</sup> Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">March 1<sup>st</sup> Chicago, IL @ The Shrine</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">March 16<sup>th</sup> Austin, TX @ SXSW</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">March 7<sup>th</sup> New York, NY @ The Music of Prince – Carnegie Hall</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">March 17<sup>th</sup> Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">March 18<sup>th</sup> Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">March 29<sup>th</sup> Montreal, Canada @ Club Soda</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">March 30<sup>th</sup> San Bernardino, CA @ Paid Dues Festival
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">March 31<sup>st</sup> Vancouver, Canada @ Bar None</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">April 1<sup>st</sup> Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">April 2<sup>nd</sup> Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">April 3<sup>rd</sup> Arcata, CA @<b>
</b>Arcata Theater</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">April 4<sup>th</sup> San Francisco, CA @ Club DNA</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">April 5<sup>th</sup> Los Angeles, CA @ The Key Club</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">April 6<sup>th</sup> Tempe, AZ @ Club Red</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">April 7<sup>th</sup> Santa Ana, CA @ Yost Theater</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#222222">April 13<sup>th</sup> Chicago, IL @ Double Door</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Prisoner of Conscious Tracklisting:</u></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1. Intro<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2. Human Mic<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3. Turnt Up<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">4. Come Here ft. Miguel<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">5. High Life ft. Rubix and Bajah<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">6. Ready Set Go ft. Melanie Fiona<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">7. Hold It Now<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">8. The Color of You<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">9. Push Thru ft. Curren$y, Kendrick Lamar and Glen "Grey" Reynolds
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">10. Hamster Wheel<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">11. Delicate Flowers<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">12. Rocket Ships ft. Busta Rhymes<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">13. Before He Walked ft. Nelly and Abby Dobson <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">14. Upper Echelon<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">15. Favela Love ft. Seu Jorge<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">16. Only Gets Better ft. Marsha Ambrosius<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">17. Outstanding ft. Ryan Leslie (bonus track)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><br>
<b><a href="http://www.talibkweli.com">www.talibkweli.com</a> / <a href="http://www.facebook.com/talibkweli">
www.facebook.com/talibkweli</a> / @TalibKweli</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information on <b>Talib Kweli</b>, please contact:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Press Here<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Carla Senft<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">212-246-2640<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:carla@pressherepublicity.com">carla@pressherepublicity.com</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Carla Senft</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:#C00000">PRESS HERE </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">(New York)</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">138 W. 25<sup>th</sup> St., 9<sup>th</sup> Floor, New York, NY 10001</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">P: (212) 246-2640<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Carla@pressherepublicity.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:blue">Carla@pressherepublicity.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:#C00000">PRESS HERE </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">(Los Angeles)</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">8105 West Third St.,<b><span style="color:#C00000"> </span></b>Los Angeles, CA 90048<b><span style="color:#C00000"> </span></b></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">P: (323) 556-9752 </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif""> </span></i><a href="http://www.twitter.com/presshere"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:blue">www.twitter.com/presshere</span></i></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">Click to view website:</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.presshere.com/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="79" height="33" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CDFED4.E00F3FB0" alt="Description: Description: Description: cid:image001.jpg@01CD6F46.9F2B47A0"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>