Call it skill, call it game, call it whatever, but be sure to call Talib Kweli's talent something that denotes its exceptional abundance. A gifted wordsmith who seems to never waste a bar, the New York MC is one of rap music's finest and most intellectually provocative rhymers, and his lyrical prowess has earned him a devoted following and placed him among hip-hop's "socially conscious" luminaries.

Sharing that distinction with Kweli are a handful of elite acts, like Common, and both men will be featured attractions tomorrow night at Detroit's State Theater. Gang Starr will also be performing at a show certain to please real hip-hop fans. Kweli, who spoke to The Michigan Daily last week, is clearly excited about the performance.

"(The show) is just some real hip-hop shit. It's a pretty long show, so people should be prepared for that. However, it's not long and boring; it's long and good," he said. "I try to throw a party with my show." The party atmosphere created results from Talib's remarkable ability to engage fans with his music.

"I try not to make music for the audience; I try to make music for myself. The only way that you can be true to yourself as an artist is if you make music for yourself and then let the audience relate to that. If you make music for specific audiences, they're usually sophisticated enough to see through that."

Measuring the sophistication of the hip-hop audience is a difficult task. As hip-hop has permeated society, the culture's growth has raised a plethora of issues that require complicated responses. One such topic is the direction in which the music is headed.

"I see hip-hop going wherever the people are, whatever the people demand," Kweli said. "Right now, whatever Nelly is putting out is something that the people are demanding. He came out with a song that was a hit and it just became a phenomenon. And since (he and Universal Records) have been able to capitalize on the phenomenon. He touched a nerve and hip-hop is going to be wherever the people are."

Those people are, at times, not with Kweli, who has not enjoyed the same commercial success as a Nelly. Compounding that problem, even loyal fans have at times been disappointed with Kweli, like this summer when they disapproved of a new song, "Gun Music," before fully understanding its meaning.

"There are people in the so-called 'conscious music' that are just as close-minded as people who listen to 'commercial music,'" said Kweli. "In the summer it was a little tough because people automatically assume that I'm not allowed to use the word 'gun,' that I'm so positive that I can't even say something that might have a negative connotation."

The rush to judgment that proved to be hasty is symptomatic of a mass U.S. audience that often lacks patience. Subjecting Kweli to such unfortunate behavior has especially threatening consequences, though, because anything that might encourage the MC's silence - though he'd likely be undeterred - would deprive hip-hop of a much-needed candid and honest voice.

Demonstrating how he's garnered his reputation for intelligence and thoughtfulness, Kweli discussed the meaning behind his latest single, "Get By."

"I specifically choose to address the black condition around the world in my music, because there is not enough of that in the mainstream, and it needs to be dealt with because it is a serious issue. But when I say 'we' in that sense (of coping with life's stresses), I am talking about all people. Getting by is a constant struggle, something that everybody, regardless of race, deals with."

Kweli's unabashed opinions also cover ongoing topics of conversation ranging from his responsibility as a role model given his profession - "I think that there is a responsibility, but I wouldn't put that on everybody" - to Eminem's potential role in the co-optation of hip-hop.

"Honestly, of course (Eminem is a vehicle for co-optation), to a certain extent, but I don't think anybody realizes that more than Eminem, and I think it's kind of irrelevant to discuss that because that's so far away from the real issues in our culture. Part of the reason that he sells millions of records is obviously because he's white, and obviously because white kids who buy hip-hop music relate to him, and that's why you see him on the award shows and everything. He realizes that and he wouldn't be where he is if he weren't one of the best MCs to ever do it, and he also realizes that."

Speaking further about the issue's nuances, Kweli continued, "You could make the argument that Vanilla Ice was good for the culture because he brought hip-hop to a whole bunch of people who didn't give a fuck about it before. It's about where someone's heart (rests), and you take everything as it is. If Eminem can rhyme, that's all we should be dealing with."