In 2022 Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli connected with Madlib for their second-ever Black Star album (and first since their 1998 debut), No Fear Of Time. Almost a year later, Talib and Madlib reunite for their own re-up, Liberation 2.
The sequel to the pair’s 2006 album, Liberation 2 is a 15-song drop with features from a myriad of guests: Westside Gunn, Q-Tip, Goapele, Pink Siifu, the late Mac Miller, Roc Marciano, Meshell Ndegeocello, Roy Ayers, and even Talib’s kids Diani and Amani.
“This album was written, recorded and mixed over ten years. It’s expansive in concept but tight in its substance and approach,” Kweli said about the project. “People today are taking stock of what is most important — family, health, wellness, love. The materialism and debauchery that is stereotypically associated with hip hop has lost some of its luster. Madlib and I have been consistent in our messaging. Never has there been a better time for such honest, message driven music that pays tribute to the sounds that came before us.”
Now here comes the fun part. Like No Fear Of Time, Liberation 2 is — for the time being/foreseeable future — a Luminary exclusive (Lunminary, of course, being the home of both the duo’s The Midnight Miracle podcast with Dave Chappelle and Kweli’s solo podcast People’s Party).
Stream the album via Luminary here. Meanwhile, a video for the focus track “Best Year Ever” can be seen below.
- Assata’s Code f. Diani
- Best Year Ever
- Air Quotes f. Diani
- Nat Turner f. Cassper Nyovest & Seun Kuti
- One for Biz f. Wildchild & Q-Tip
- Loop Digga’s Revenge f. Goapele
- Ad Vice f. Diani & Pink Siifu
- Wild Sweet Love f. Moonbyrd & Jessica Care Moore
- Wild Beauty f. Moonbyrd & Keenyn Omari
- The Right to Love Us f. Mac Miller
- After These Messages f. Amani
- Richies Part Two f. Roc Marciano & Westside Gunn
- Marathon Thru Babylon f. Meshell Ndegeocello
- Something Special f. Roy Ayers
- Assata’s Reprise f. Jamie Branch
