Talib Kweli & Jessica Care Moore Talk Detroit Hip-Hop, J-Dilla, Poetry, Protests | People’s Party 

TIMESTAMPS 3:50 -- Jessica is asked about her home-town of Detroit and it's long history of a majority black demographic. She speaks of growing up in the Boston-Edison District, being the same neighborhood that Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson were raised. She also gets asked how growing up in Detroit has impacted her poetry, Talib brings up her poem 'Black Statue Of Liberty' helping garner her fame with a five-time win at the Apollo Theater, and they talk about Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman reciting it to her all-white classroom. Jessica also speaks on her push to inject diversity into the Eurocentric curriculum taught in most schools. 13:14 -- Jasmin asks Jessica when she realized the power of black ownership, and how to bypass the white gate-keepers in business. She talks about all the big-name record labels and publishing outfits she turned down after she won Apollo, and why she knew she could find real success without their help, ultimately leading to her creating her own company in 'Moore Black Press'. Jessica also brings up the first time she met Talib while he was working at Nkiru books and they discuss the poet and comedian overlap doing many of the same gigs. 18:44 -- Jessica talks about her deep connection with the hip hop community, having cameos on Nas’ Nastradamus album, Jeezy's Church in These Streets, and Talib Kweli’s Attack The Block mixtape, as well as others. They discuss Detroit's famous 'Hip Hop Shop' founded by Maurice Malone, and what it did for the legacy of Detroit hip hop culture with it's open mic nights for freestyles battles, DJing, poetry and dancing. She touches on her friendships with J-Dilla and Proof, then mentions a freestyle battle she witnessed with Proof pitted against a young Busta Rhymes, and Jessica is asked what young artists she has her ear to right now. 28:35 -- Jessica goes on to outline how the HBO series 'Def Poetry Jam' came together, starting with Danny Simmons bringing a group of poets to do a showcase at the US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado. Jessica is also asked if she feels ahead of her time for recognizing all these talented poets and getting them published before others showed them real love. She talks about how hard it was to get a publishing deal early-on as an independent, and her grind in finding unconventional ways to sell thousands of books at rap concerts, and other venues. 35:12 -- Talib brings up his call to Jessica in the wake of Mike Brown's killing for a visit to Ferguson during the protests, where police actually drew guns on them. He asks her to describe how that experience has impacted her, and what she learned from it. She digs into her poem 'I Can't Breathe' that she penned after returning from that scene. Jessica also brings up discussions she's had with her son King over peaceful vs. confrontational protesting, and shares what she told him about these burning police stations he's seeing on TV. 47:17 -- Talib explains why he was so nervous when he found out Jessica was releasing a spoken-word album with her 2015 project of 'Black Tea: The Legend Of Jessi James' that he ended up appearing on along with One Be Lo, jazz artist Roy Ayers, and others. She outlines her goal being to create something that Gil Scott-Heron would be proud of, she speaks on how they seamlessly tied in the live music with the poetry, and mentions another album she has in the works. 53:26 -- Jessica explains why she finds so much in common with female black rock stars, which then transitions to a talk about the annual concert festival 'Black Women Rock' she started back in 2004 that's still going strong. Talib also brings up Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def and the challenges he's had staying true to his Islamic faith while making records that retain his adulation in hip hop, he asks Jessica if she suffers some of those same struggles with her also being Muslim, which leads her to tell about defending their mutual friend over criticisms of his song 'Ms. Fat Booty' as well as lifestyle choices. 1:03:25 -- Jessica is asked about the 'Jess CARE Moore Foundation', that she has been working on with her son King, doing open mic sessions, and workshops for kids helping to build curriculum and literacy programs in public schools throughout the country. Jessica also talks about the play that she put on titled 'Salt City -- a Techno Choreopoem.' that's been promoted as "an Afrofuturistic fantasy -- a tale of love, gentrification and the future". She explains the definition of a 'Choreopoem', what the play is about, and what inspired it. Jessica's multi-talented son King gets a big shout-out from Talib, and they go on to discuss him being a spokesman for black youth playing hockey in Detroit, making beats with a strong interest in piano, and publishing his own poetry book. All this at age 13.

One of the best podcast shows out right now

She and Ursula Rucker were my introduction to spoken word/black poetry. Growing up as a Swiss white kid in the 90s I had oftentimes difficulties relating to the anger and the overall perspectives I would get from predominantly male MC's that were on Swiss radio/TV back in the day, for various reasons (lacking context being the most obvious one), but those two spoke to my humanity in a way that felt universal and inclusive, but, make no mistake, without ever holding back in terms of the radicalness and the intransigency of their messages. In fact, she made me care more. Thanks for bringing her on, that was one of my favourite discussions on here. Salute to a true legend of mine, Jessica Care More!

This popped in my head when I saw this notification... "We chasin death carelessly like Jessica, I Care Moore Who said, "Just because no one can understand how you speak Don't necessarily mean that what you be sayin is deep"."

I remember the first time I heard Jessica was on the intro of Nas' Nastradamus album, one of my favourite intro's to any album of all time. This was a brilliant fluid interview I can listen to her speak all day. Big up Talib and Jasmine, great work.

Talib does an amazing job of having a laid back conversation with Jessica that you can both enjoy and learn something from.

Amazing Detroit representative and living legend Jessica Care Moore

peace & thank you! this was insightful & motivational! God's speed

What an intro, i’m two minutes in, haven’t even seen or heard her and i’m already impressed

I remember her from Nas’ Nastradamus album but didn't know enough about her. Thanks for this!

Great show. What a beautiful sista Talib.

Always down for Dilla talk

This is incredible This was a perfect episode

Whoaa!!! The Legend JCM!! Staying up late for Showtime at the Apollo and her winning all dee timmmmee. Introduction into poetry at a young age. Well done talib stick to your rib

I used to live in the neighborhood on W Boston and Rosa Parks .... who knew I was in the same neighborhood as Jessica Care Moore. Detroit vs Everybody., Man great interview. That Fegurson part moved Me.

Congratulations Jasmine on the baby !

WOW!!! These are amazing woman, I hope alot of black woman learn from this.

So impressed, I knew but I didn’t know

Bruuuuh! When you mentioned Nas, but then Jeezy, and I realized who you were speaking to, I got chills. She spoke to my core on that Jeezy album when I was in prison. WORD.

Love this podcast, makes my day better😊 Big up from Prague, Czech republic...thx

You can tell she is a poet by how she talks. She’s very drawn out (not like in a bad way) but like she is very elaborate and goes very deep into her thoughts and spirit and is very detailed in picking her words. Beautiful word art and beautiful show

One of my favorite poets of all time. Such a dope artist. What they talked about the poetry scene out made me miss being on the Mic or just being at the spot amongst other poets.

This was incredible, I will certainly take some time to read her writing soon, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye on King as he gets older, sounds like a modern renaissance man in the making! I also appreciate ya going the extra effort and recording at her place, the audio quality was much better than the other online episodes (though i understand the difficulties and limitations).

Amazing interview🔥 I’m from Detroit and I haven’t heard of her, but now I’m a true fan. Thanks Kweli 🙏🏽

Excellent interview, definitely going to order her books based off learning more about her.

Black Statue of Liberty! I've used this in my classroom for years, and I was admonished by a parent, then administration for using this in my classroom because it was "too divisive." I may have had a few exchanges with a parent over these "concerns." The response I received was, "I am not racist. I even dated a Black guy in college." It hurt even more that my administration at a school with over 50% Black students backed the parent.

I feel like Talib is someone who even if you don’t share the same ideology, you can have an honest conversation with him.

If you watching this one, share it! More Black Press!

Thank you 👍✌️

That was a dope show. I’m a little in love with Jessica. Shout out and congratulations to Jasmine!!!

Great Interview full of history and life!!!! Peace

I heard her on the intro to the Nastradamus album she was dope. Didn't know she was a successful poet and that rappers were into her plus. I didn't know she was affiliated with Maurice Malone and the Hip Hop Show in Detroit. This was a dope interview.

Amsterdam 🤔 Jamaica 🤔 🗣️🎵I BE SMOKIN 😁

She is super dope ✊🏾 🖤‼️ Thx Talib and Jasmin

Detroit Love and Respect!!! One*

Discovered her on the Nastradamus album.

I'm not thinking ms care would KILL Talib in a VZ but uh whatever.. I'm loving these podcasts we all know Talib is a elite lyricist but he even puts words together while having a discussion in such a eloquent way

Clear Soul Forces have to be in the convo when you mention HIPHOP and especially Detroit HIPHOP.

Welcome to my city, Talib!!!👍

Def Poets (before they had to change it to Poetry) was the best show on TV!

Rest in Perfect Peace. Proof, Baatin & Dilla DAWG XXX

Wow. I definitely remember her and now I feel like Amanda Seals should pay homage. Same vibe...same friggin' voice!

Two GREAT artists...respect #MotorBooty #RockCity

I've met herrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!

Techno isn't black. There are German groups like Kraftwerk who would beg to differ.