Talented triple threat Saul Williams will headline a benefit for Kenyan orphans called Why Africa Matters, which will also include local hip-hop crew 2012, dance troupe Reality Check and music and poetry from Peacetime Armory Friday night at Tacoma's Rialto Theater.

For those who don’t know the cult idol, Williams is the critically acclaimed poet, actor and hip-hop artist best known for his starring role in the movie “Slam,” several volumes of poetry (“She,” “The Dead Emcee Scrolls”) and three alt-hip-hop CDs. And when I caught up with him last month, my focus was on his latest album “The Rise and Inevitable Liberation of Niggy Tardust,” which he recorded with homey and Nine Inch Nails main man Trent Reznor, and which he has sold directly to fans via his Web site, a la Radiohead. (Note: Williams won’t be playing the new songs Friday; more like poems from “The Dead Emcee Scrolls” since it’s a spoken word performance. You’ll have to wait till he brings his band back this way, on March 19 at Neumo’s. )

Here’s some of what he had to say …

… about hooking up with Reznor to make music.

... the concepts behind his new alter ego, Niggy Tardust (and, of course, the Bowie connection.)

… on selling directly to fans and the greater freedom technology gives independent and experimental artists.