[.ca] Black Star

From Amazon.com:
Mos Def has done his time in the hip-hop trenches, apprenticing with Native Tongue before hitting with his first big single, "Body Rock" (with Q-Tip, off the Lyricist Lounge, Volume One compilation). He's learned well, and it comes through on Black Star. He and partner Talib Kweli flow well together, but they've also got something to say: their spiritual "Astronomy (8th Light)" harks back to De La Soul's Daisy Age; "People be thinkin' MC is short for misconception.... Stop acting like a bitch already / be a visionary," Kweli raps on "Definition." And then there are the backing tracks--for once, the music and the lyrics are on the same level. While Mos Def and Kweli's words would be powerful as spoken word, the music here--innovative and funky, bass-heavy, but with plenty going on--would be enjoyable even if there were no MCs in sight. --Randy Silver

They're not on every soundtrack, and they aren't featured guests on every crossover hit. That's OK. Mos Def & Talib Kweli are leaders of a different school; though they've got beats by the pound and the lyrical chops to pull off an (updated) cover of Slick Rick's classic "Children's Story," Black Star proffers a more philosophical take on hip-hop. Years from now this album, much like the Freestyle Fellowship's Innercity Griots, will still be revered. --Randy Silver

i don't understand the hype around this cd:
i just dont get it...i bought this cd...thinking it would be a classic...i bought talib kweli's reflection eternal and the beautiful struggle, and while reflection eternal is much better that beautiful struggle, i still enjoy them both much better than this one....ive tried a few times to get into this cd, but i just cant do it...beats are just too horrible to get over and into the cd...i own about 100 cds, and i must say this is one of the worst..get something from nas, or Biggie, 2pac, mobb deep...i just dont feel this cd at all.

Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star:
Mos Def & Talib Kweli's collabration album "Black Star" (1998) is excellent. Running in at thirteen tracks is a short release, full of first class quality music from two of Hip Hop's illest. Production is impressive as well. What I like about both these MC's is they drop intelligent thought provoking rhymes that sometimes take a few listens to absorb. The intro, has Mos and Talib promising to bring the light to Hip Hop, while repping black pride and talking about the struggle on "Astronomy" (8th Light). My favourite track is without a doubt "Definition", a fastpaced track in which Black Star kick knowledge to a sick beat, the gripping 1-2-3 chorus moves over to "RE:Definition" another memorable track. Mos-Def's singing shines through on the laidback love ballad "Brown Skin Lady". Another standout for me is the inspirational "K.O.S." (Determination). Common drops in for the powerful "Respiration", which is followed up by the reflective sad sounding "Thieves In The Night". Highly recommend this album for people who are looking for music with substance, music that goes far beyond the norm, there solo albums are also definetly ones for the collection.

Best Album of All Time...:
Every music lover must have a copy of this album in their collection, regardless whether they are not hip hop fans or not. This album is by far the most underrated album of all time, and should stand as the greatest. Mos Def and Talib Kweli have created an album that not only contains hip hop at its purest form, with rhymes that are thoughtful and provoking at the same time, but they have created an album that a person of any race and age can listen to. An album like such is very rare these days, especially in the genre of rap/hip-hop. Nothing has come close to this level of creativity and beauty in hip hop and I doubt that anything will ever come close to this in the future. I have searched near and far for an album that can come close to this album but still I have come to no avail. If you may know of any album that is as good as this album please tell me of it, I will greatly appreciate it. And please do Mos and Talib a favor, and buy the album instead of downloading the album, they do truly deserve the sales, unlike their contemporaries and today's sellers. All I can do as a hip hop and music lover is dream that Mos Def and Talib Kweli return to collaborate and create another Black Star. Even though their solo albums are great, they are not at the same level of this album. Highlights: The whole album, but "Thieves In the Nights" stands as my favorite track of all.

Best Album Of All Time...:
Every music lover must have a copy of this album in their collection, regardless whether they are not hip hop fans or not. This album is by far the most underrated album of all time, and should stand as the greatest. Mos Def and Talib Kweli have created an album that not only contains hip hop at its purest form, with rhymes that are thoughtful and provoking at the same time, but they have created an album that a person of any race and age can listen to. An album like such is very rare these days, especially in the genre of rap/hip-hop. Nothing has come close to this level of creativity and beauty in hip hop and I doubt that anything will ever come close to this in the future. I have searched near and far for an album that can come close to this album but still I have come to no avail. If you may know of any album that is as good as this album please tell me of it, I will greatly appreciate it. And please do Mos and Talib a favor, and buy the album instead of downloading the album, they do truly deserve the sales, unlike their contemporaries and today's sellers. All I can do as a hip hop and music lover is dream that Mos Def and Talib Kweli return to collaborate and create another Black Star. Even though their solo albums are great, they are not at the same level of this album. Highlights: The whole album, but "Thieves In the Nights" stands as my favorite track of all.

1,2,3 Mos Def and Talib Kweli = Best Alliance in Hip-Hop:
What can I say? Talib Kweli and Mos Def are meant to collaborate. Black Star is one of the greatest alliances in hip-hop. Their styles copmliment each other. They are both amazing lyricist, Talib Kweli especially. They both contribute amazing examples why hip-hop is real and they both tell stories through their mindblowing songs. The best song is by far "RE:Definition" I think Talib Kweli shines on that one. Other great songs are "Respiration" "Brown Skin Lady" and "Thieves in the Night" All songs are high quality. "Children's Story" is a nice play on Slick Rick's classic song. This is a classic, beginning to end. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this to any hip-hop fan looking for a change from their normal music. This album is like none other. I would also recommend 'Reflection Eternal' by Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek 'Quality' by Talib Kweli and 'Black on Both Sides' by Mos Def.

• Intro
• Astronomy (8th Light) - Black Star, Weldon Irvine, Talib Kweli, Mos Def
• Definition
• RE: DEFinition
• Children's Story
• Brown Skin Lady
• B Boys Will B Boys
• K. O. S. (Determination) - Black Star, Talib Kweli, Vinia Mojica, Mos Def
• Hater Players
• Yo Yeah
• Respiration - Black Star, Common, Conunon, Talib Kweli, Mos Def
• Thieves in the Night
• Twice Inna Lifetime - Black Star, Jane Doe, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, ,