Yasiin Bey Stopped Talib Kweli From Taking A Break From Music
Photo Credit: Vickey Ford/Sneakshot Photography for Okayplayer
Photo Credit: Vickey Ford/Sneakshot Photography for Okayplayer
Talib Kweli has been accused of sexual harassment by his former collaborator Res. The accusation came about in a string of tweets written by the latter last Friday.
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In the tweets Res, real name Shareese Ballard, accused Kweli of refusing to release music she gave him years ago because she rejected his advances.
"I tried to be humble but you letting a kiss that you didn't get Talib Kweli keep my career on hold, and I dare you to say I'm not telling the truth you know Gmail Mr. Green I'll wait," Res wrote.
"I want to apologize to my fans I'm so tired of women getting treated like shit in this industry if we not having sex or kissing someone my talent is mine Talib Kweli not yours," she continued. "I understand you broke and you tired and rusty but let me go dude."
Following Res' tweets, Kweli shared a screenshot of a court document between him and Res on Instagram and refuted her claim that he sexually harassed her. In 2016, Kweli and Javotti Media sued Res for breach of contract and a copyright violation. The lawsuit claims that Res was paid over $20,000 in advances for new recordings but "continually failed to show up for obligations" and didn't deliver an album.
Kweli then goes on to say that Res launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise money for her new album in 2016. For those that contributed to the campaign, they were given a track titled "You Don't Know Me" that featured Kweli. However, Kweli claims that he didn't give Res permission to use his vocals on the song. Kweli sent Res a cease and desist letter over the song but said it went ignored, which prompted the lawsuit.
"Shareese Ballard Aka Res is a liar. She was dropped from my label Javotti Media in 2013 for disrespecting my employees and for failing to turn in an album I invested in," the rapper wrote in the post's caption.
That same year, Res filed a counterclaim where she said she did deliver the album to Javotti Media. She also countersued Kweli for sexual harassment.
"During the course of the parties' collaboration on at least two occasions, Mr. Greene made unwanted and unprovoked sexual advances toward Ms. Ballard," the counterclaim reads. "These unwanted and unprovoked sexual advances by Mr. Greene toward Ms. Ballard made Ms. Ballard feel uncomfortable and demeaned."
Along with posting on Instagram, Kweli also responded to Res on Twitter, saying that he didn't respond to her emails "Cuz you falsely accused me of sexual harassment and it got thrown out in court cuz you're a liar."
The court document can be read here via Pitchfork.
