Talib Kweli and Busta Rhymes have teamed up for a new banger called “The Quiet One” from the Brooklyn rapper’s upcoming project with golden age hip-hop producer Diamond D.
Spitting a few conscious bars to elevate the mind, the two MCs make it their mission to be heard despite the song’s title. “The Quiet One” is the first single from Talib Kweli and Diamond D Are Gotham, which is set to drop on April 16, 2021.
“One of the first well-known producers to ever show me love in this music business was the legend Diamond D. I was raised on his music, from his solo work to the incredible contributions he’s made on the albums of others like Big L, Yasiin Bey, A Tribe Called Quest, Fat Joe, Fugees and many others,” he told New Musical Express. “As a Bronx native, his sound represents the best, most original hip-hop in the world.”
Produced entirely by Diamond D, the album also will feature Kweli trading bars alongside Niko Is, Skyzoo, Nire’ Alldai and John Forte. With a nod to the famous city in the Batman comics and projects, Gotham represents New York, and the “Get By” rapper plans to tell about the struggles it has endured during COVID-19.
“This documentation is necessary, especially in these pandemic lockdown times,” he added to NME. “The great cities of the world will never be the same after what we are currently experiencing. It’s the duty of those who actually lived it to tell these stories.”
Kweli also hinted on Instagram that his long-awaited reunion with Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def) is almost complete, which may include production from Diamond D as well. The creator of the classic rap album Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop further stated to NME that he and Kweli’s collaboration came about organically.
“Talib was in LA for a while working, and I sent him about 10 tracks in total,” Diamond D added. “When I saw him in LA a few weeks later, he had already recorded about eight demos. He told me that when he heard the tracks, sonically, they took him back to NYC, and that organic mind space really inspired him to write and record. That’s the catalyst which induced the formation of Gotham.”
Check out the new heat from Talib, Diamond and Busta on the next page.
