Details of Talib Kweli's upcoming record are slowly emerging.
Ear Drum will be released on July 24th on Blacksmith Music, the first release on Kweli's new Warner Bros. imprint.
Of the album title, he says it came from "the image of the ear and of the drum, which are powerful enough by themselves, but put them together and it's an instrument in your body that helps you hear. They're also two very simple, yet powerful words. I wanted to focus on finding a sound that makes you move, and that's where the word 'eardrum' popped in my head."
As always, the Brooklyn emcee is assembling a pretty stellar cast of guests. Kanye will lend his hand behind the boards, as will Pete Rock, Madlib, Hi-Tek and -- why? WHY? -- Black Eyed Pea will.i.am. Fellow Blacksmith artist Jean Grae will spit a verse or two. And when was the last time Norah Jones and UGK appeared on the same record?