Rapper wants fans to hear words and music

NEW YORK, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- New York rapper Talib Kweli said he wanted fans to hear the music as well as the words on his album "Ear Drums."

"I just wanted to make an album where people could concentrate on the music," said Kweli (ne Greene), who came to fame as part of the group Black Star with Mos Def before making his solo debut with 2002's "Quality." "People see me as a deep lyricist, but I wanted to concentrate on the music.

"I feel like I've always been musical but I feel like that gets lost when people start talking about how deep of a lyricist I am. That's why I named the album 'Ear Drum,' so you could concentrate on the music as well."

Kweli worked with a variety of collaborators to achieve that vision, including longtime cohorts such as Kanye West and Hi-Tek plus Black Eyed Peas leader will.i.am., Jean Grae, UGK, KRS-One and Dion. Pop singer Norah Jones guests on the track "Soon a New Day."