Since last weekend's shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown, Brooklyn rapper Talib Kweli has been very vocal with his thoughts on the ordeal.
During a recent interview with Vibe, Kweli spoke on police brutality in a social media age and hip-hop's responsibility to address it.
The "Get By" rapper who joined Florida's Dream Defenders last year in the wake of Trayvon Martin's murder, says social media has created a sense of connectedness in times like these.
"With this new era-with Jordan Davis, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Michael Brown and all the names that we can name—we're starting to see a connection, because these things are played out through conversations on social media," he said. "With Eric Garner and Michael Brown, these are things that we have multiple witnesses and people able to give us first-hand experiences on the ground when it's happening because of the innovations of technology. Because of social media we're able to participate in these moments as a national or international community, as opposed to them being isolated. Because we're able to share the information more quickly it's now become a story."
Kweli went on to say that social media makes citizens more responsible to hold the police and government more accountable.
As far as celebrities be held as the voice of the people, he says that isn't always applicable.
"Sometimes people think that because artists have a larger platform that they have a responsibility to speak on topics; I don't necessarily agree with that," Kweli explained. "People who have the knowledge have the responsibility to speak. From what I can see, artists, celebrities and entertainers who do have the knowledge, when you see them in the press they are speaking about it. But some of these people are babies in the woods and they don't have the information or knowhow to speak about certain topics, so you just give focus on those who do."
Read more of the interview here.
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