Black Star is the self-titled debut by the pairing of rappersTalib Kweli and Mos Def from the group of the same name Black Star. It is sometimes listed as Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star. The album was released on August 261998 to mass critical acclaim. The title is a reference to a shipping line founded by Pan-AfricanistMarcus Garvey. Black Star deals with modern day issues, ideas, and life in Brooklyn, New York City as the two artists know it.
The album's fruition came about from the chemistry between the two emcees. Both planned to release their solo albums around the same time, but postponed their individual projects and decided instead to collaborate on a full-length LP. The late jazz musician, Weldon Irvine, played the keys on the album's opening song, "Astronomy". The song interprets the word "black" in a positive way and contains similes such as, "Black like my baby girl's stare". The next song, and first single, "Definition", is a stern response to "hip hop's fascination with death", and a dedication to slain rappers Tupac Shakur, and Biggie Smalls. As the chorus goes: One two three / Mos Def and Talib Kweli / We came to rock it on to the tip-top / Best alliance in hip-hop, Y-O / I said one two three / It's kind of dangerous to be an emcee / They shot Tupac and Biggie / Too much violence in hip-hop, Y-O The chorus is also a play on Boogie Down Productions' anti-gun song "Stop the Violence". "Children's Story" is a re-imagined version of Slick Rick's original, with Mos Def cautioning against overly materialistic pursuits. "Brown Skin Lady" is an affectionate tribute to brown-skinned women. The song encourages black and brown women to be proud of their hair and complexion, and to not be influenced by Western and white supremacist beauty standards. Kweli says: "...We're not dealin' with the European standard of beauty tonight / Turn off the TV and put the magazine away / In the mirror tell me what you see / See the evidence of divine presence." The centerpiece of the album, "Thieves In The Night", was inspired by author Toni Morrison's novel The Bluest Eye. In the album's liner notes, Kweli explains that the paragraph "struck me as one of the truest critiques of our society, and I read that in high school, when I was 15 years old. I think it is especially true in the world of hip hop, because we get blinded by these illusions." The excerpt interpolated in the song is as follows: And fantasy it was, for we were not strong, only aggressive; we were not free, merely licensed; we were not compassionate, we were polite; not good, but well behaved. We courted death in order to call ourselves brave, and hid like thieves from life. And the version on the track: not strong, only aggressive/ not free, we only licensed/ not compassionate, only polite (now who the nicest?) / not good but well-behaved/ chasin' after death so we could call ourselves brave, still livin' like mental slaves/ hiding like thieves in the night from life/ illusions of oasis making you look twice. The album's cover was designed by artist Brent Rollins.
Critical reaction
Black Star was hailed as a hip hop classic and is often cited as an anchor for the new wave of rappers directly or indirectly inspired by the Native Tongues. As a result Rawkus Records became the premier independent hip hop label, with a reputation for delivering underground albums of considerable quality. The praise would continue on subsequent albums by the two MCs. Despite popular demand, Mos Def and Talib Kweli have yet to deliver a follow up album, however both have gone on to produce their own albums to much critical acclaim. They have been instrumental in the rise of Kanye West, currently one of rap music's biggest artists. Talib has said that there will be a follow up album to Black Star on his myspace.
"Definition" ·"Respiration" ·"The Express" ·"Move Somethin'" ·"The Blast" ·"Down for the Count" ·"Good to You" ·"Fortified Live" ·"Waiting for the DJ" ·"Get by" ·"Peace of Mind" ·"I Try" ·"Never Been In Love" ·"Flash Gordon" ·"Fly that Knot" ·"Gettin' Up Anthem" ·"Listen" ·"More or Less" ·"Hot Thing" ·"Say Something"
10/29/98, p.77
11/98, p.198
