Flips several songs by Boogie Down Productions. Hi-Tek’s beat is a reworking of “The P is Free”, the hook is an interpolation of “Stop the Violence”, and Mos throws in a line from “The Bridge Is Over”.
This song is Black Star’s take on violence in hip-hop and their dislike of it, this song comes a couple of years after 2Pac and Biggie Smalls were both shot dead.
Producer Hi-Tek said the following about the track:
"I went home to my Cincinnati studio and just did what I felt from it. I think I made the beat on the MPC60. Basically, I just flipped the ‘P Is Free’ beat and put my own thing on it. I gave Mos the beat and he liked it. He flew me and Kweli out to LA— he was out there doing some movie stuff—and found a studio through a good friend of ours. Even when he gave me the idea, I felt like it was too simple for me. At the time, I felt like I had something to prove to separate myself from a lot of other East Coast producers. I always try to do something different."
Definition
Black Star Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All nice and peace and true, follow me now, we say
Say Hi-Tek yes you're ruling hip-hop
Say J. Rawls yes you're ruling hip-hop
Redefinition say you're ruling hip-hop
Say Black Star come to rock it non
Yo, from the first to the last of it, delivery is passionate
Projectile that them blasted with, accurate assassin shit
Me and Kweli close like, Bethlehem and Nazareth
After this you be pressing rewind on top your master disk
Shining like an asterisk for all those that be gatherin'
Connectin' like a roundhouse from the townhouse to the tenements
Cause all my Brooklyn residents, heavy regiments
Don't believe, here the evidence, where Brooklyn whoa
See that? Bound to take it all kid, believe that
From where they sellin' tree at, to where the police be at
Talib Kweli e-Kweli-ty yo tell them where we be at
Brooklyn, New York City where they paint murals of Biggie
In cash we trust cause it's ghetto fabulous, life look pretty
What a pity. Blunts is still fifty cents, it's intense
Tree scents is dominant can't be covered with incense
My presence felt my name is Kweli from the Eternal Reflection
People thinkin' MC is short hand for Mis Conception
Let me meditate, set it straight, came to the conclusion
That most of these cats is featherweight, let me demonstrate
Walkin' the streets is like battlin', be careful with your body
You must know karate or think your soul is bulletproof like Sade
Stop actin' like a bitch already, be a visionary
And maybe you can see your name in the column of obituary
Third rate teacher readin' and talkin' about
"I knew he'd amount to nothin'"
Neighbors like, "He was the quiet type
Who'd have thought they was frontin'?"
Talkin' and loud like you in RCA, get carted away
With body parts and treys, what a way to start your day
Yo it's like
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 a emcee
They shot Tupac and Biggie
Too much violence in hip-hop, Y-O
I said Manhattan keep on makin' it (Bo!), Brooklyn keep on takin' it (Bo!)
So relax we're takin' it back, Redhook where we're livin' at
Plenty cats be strugglin' not hustlin' and bubblin'
It ain't about production and, what else we discussin'?
When the cock crows, my crop grows, enable me to rock flows
Strivin' for perfection ever since I was a snot-nosed
Colossal, true original B-boy apostle
Standin' on the rooftop with the, Zulu gestapo
You think you the shit
Somebody in the wings'll force you to quit
It could be your crew or click
Or some random kid you smoked Buddha with
Consider me the entity within the industry without a history
Of spittin' the epitome, of stupidity, livin' my life
Expressin' my liberty, it gotta be done properly
My name is in the middle of e-Kweli-ty
People follow me and other cats they hear him flow
And assume I'm the real one with lyrics like I'm Cyrano
Still sippin' wishin' well water, imported, from Pluto
Three hundred and sixty milliliters for all our believers
In miles or kilometers, most cats, cannot proceed us
In the jungle with the leaders we the lions you the cheaters
A cypher, will complete us if we come through your receivers
You can play us and repeat us and then take us home and read us
(Line for line) Good Jesus, Mos Def and Kweli just
Make a pussy freeze up, thinkin' we will ease up
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 a emcee
They shot Tupac and Biggie
Hold your head when the beat drop, Y-O
In the song Definition by Black Star, the artists Mos Def and Talib Kweli collaborate to deliver a powerful message about the state of hip-hop at the time, and what they're doing to change that. The song begins with them acknowledging Hi-Tek and J. Rawls as ruling hip-hop, before asserting their own presence. From there, the verses cover a lot of ground, with Mos Def delivering lines about the violence in hip-hop and how it's become dangerous to be an emcee, while Talib Kweli talks about Brooklyn and his own journey as an artist.
The chorus of the song features the artists counting to three before proclaiming themselves the "best alliance in hip-hop." This line is a significant one, as it was released early in their careers and helped to establish them as major players in the genre. The song ends with a call to hold one's head high when the beat drops, suggesting that even in the face of adversity, they will continue to make music that matters.
Overall, Definition showcases Mos Def and Talib Kweli's lyrical abilities, social consciousness, and commitment to making hip-hop that challenges the status quo. Their message still resonates today, as they continue to inspire new generations of hip-hop artists.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord, lord have mercy
An expression of surprise or shock.
All nice and peace and true, follow me now, we say
We will lead with positive intentions and authenticity.
Say Hi-Tek yes you're ruling hip-hop
Hi-Tek is a powerful force in hip-hop.
Say J. Rawls yes you're ruling hip-hop
J. Rawls is a powerful force in hip-hop.
Redefinition say you're ruling hip-hop
Our redefinition of hip-hop is taking over the genre.
Say Black Star come to rock it non
Black Star is here to revolutionize the hip-hop scene.
Yo, from the first to the last of it, delivery is passionate
Our delivery is emotionally charged from beginning to end.
The whole and not the half of it, vocab and not the math of it
Our rhymes are complete and focused on language rather than numbers.
Projectile that them blasted with, accurate assassin shit
Our rhymes are powerful and precise like a trained assassin.
Me and Kweli close like, Bethlehem and Nazareth
Mos Def and Talib Kweli have a close relationship like two biblical towns.
After this you be pressing rewind on top your master disk
Our lyrics are so impactful that listeners will want to hear them again and again.
Shining like an asterisk for all those that be gatherin'
We stand out and are memorable even in large crowds.
Connectin' like a roundhouse from the townhouse to the tenements
Our reach and influence extend from the wealthy townhouses to the modest tenements.
Cause all my Brooklyn residents, heavy regiments
Our followers in Brooklyn are dedicated and participate in heavy regimentation.
Don't believe, here the evidence, where Brooklyn whoa
We have proof that Brooklyn is where it's at.
See that? Bound to take it all kid, believe that
We're confident in our ability to succeed.
From where they sellin' tree at, to where the police be at
Our influence spans from the corner where they sell drugs to the areas where the police patrol.
Talib Kweli e-Kweli-ty yo tell them where we be at
Talib Kweli will tell everyone where we are located.
Brooklyn, New York City where they paint murals of Biggie
Brooklyn has a strong cultural connection to iconic hip-hop artists like Biggie.
In cash we trust cause it's ghetto fabulous, life look pretty
Money is highly valued in the ghetto because it makes life more comfortable and attractive.
What a pity. Blunts is still fifty cents, it's intense
Despite the harshness of life in the ghetto, there are still simple pleasures like cheap blunts.
Tree scents is dominant can't be covered with incense
The scent of marijuana is prevalent and cannot be masked by other smells.
My presence felt my name is Kweli from the Eternal Reflection
My influence is palpable and my name represents my deep thoughts and introspection.
People thinkin' MC is short hand for Mis Conception
Misunderstandings abound when it comes to the role of MCs.
Let me meditate, set it straight, came to the conclusion
I need to reflect and clarify before coming to a conclusion.
That most of these cats is featherweight, let me demonstrate
Most rappers are weak, and I will show you what true strength and skill look like.
Walkin' the streets is like battlin', be careful with your body
Navigating the streets of the ghetto is challenging and dangerous.
You must know karate or think your soul is bulletproof like Sade
You have to be physically or mentally prepared, like a martial artist or like Sade's song 'Bulletproof Soul'.
Stop actin' like a bitch already, be a visionary
Don't be weak or passive, think bigger and be a visionary.
And maybe you can see your name in the column of obituary
If you don't step up and make something of yourself, you may die unknown and unfulfilled.
Third rate teacher readin' and talkin' about
A mediocre teacher is teaching and talking about...
"I knew he'd amount to nothin'
Doubting the potential of someone who has not yet proven themselves.
Neighbors like, "He was the quiet type
People are often surprised by the success of someone who was quiet and unassuming.
Who'd have thought they was frontin'?"
Who would have thought that they were actually pretending to be something they were not?
Talkin' and loud like you in RCA, get carted away
Speaking too loudly or being disruptive can get you in trouble, even to the point of being taken away.
With body parts and treys, what a way to start your day
Starting your day with body parts and trays (of food or drugs?) is a disturbing and unsettling thought.
Yo it's like
It's similar to...
One, two, three
Simple counting sequence to introduce the next lines.
Mos Def and Talib Kweli
Introducing themselves as the rappers of this song.
We came to rock it on to the tip-top
We are here to rock the hip-hop scene and reach the top.
Best alliance in hip-hop, Y-O
We are the best duo in hip-hop, and introducing the call-and-response chant 'Y-O'.
It's kind of dangerous to be a emcee
Being an MC can be risky or dangerous.
They shot Tupac and Biggie
Two iconic rap artists were killed by gun violence.
Too much violence in hip-hop, Y-O
Calling attention to the problem of violence in hip-hop, again introducing the chant 'Y-O'.
I said Manhattan keep on makin' it (Bo!), Brooklyn keep on takin' it (Bo!)
Manhattan retains its cultural influence while Brooklyn is forging a new identity.
So relax we're takin' it back, Redhook where we're livin' at
We're reclaiming the culture and returning it to its roots in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood.
Plenty cats be strugglin' not hustlin' and bubblin'
Many people are struggling to survive, not making money and living glamorously.
It ain't about production and, what else we discussin'?
It's not just about making music - what else are we talking about?
When the cock crows, my crop grows, enable me to rock flows
When the rooster crows, my creativity grows, allowing me to make great music.
Strivin' for perfection ever since I was a snot-nosed
I've been striving for perfection since I was young and unrefined.
Colossal, true original B-boy apostle
I'm influential and unique, a true pioneer of hip-hop.
Standin' on the rooftop with the, Zulu gestapo
I'm standing on the rooftops with a group of powerful leaders.
You think you the shit
You think you're really great.
Somebody in the wings'll force you to quit
Someone will come along and prove you wrong or put you in your place.
It could be your crew or click
It could be your own group of friends or associates.
Or some random kid you smoked Buddha with
Or it could be someone you casually smoked marijuana with.
Consider me the entity within the industry without a history
I am a unique presence in hip-hop, without a typical backstory.
Of spittin' the epitome, of stupidity, livin' my life
I'm not just another unintelligent rapper - I'm living out the pinnacle of my skills and intelligence.
Expressin' my liberty, it gotta be done properly
I want to express myself freely, but in a way that's thoughtful and tasteful.
My name is in the middle of e-Kweli-ty
My name is an important part of my artistic persona.
People follow me and other cats they hear him flow
People follow me and other rappers whose music resonates with them.
And assume I'm the real one with lyrics like I'm Cyrano
They assume I am the truest and most lyrically talented rapper, like Cyrano the famous romantic hero.
Still sippin' wishin' well water, imported, from Pluto
I'm still drinking the mythical waters of the wishing well, which have been imported from another planet.
Three hundred and sixty milliliters for all our believers
Our true fans get a special 360 ml serving of the wishing well water.
In miles or kilometers, most cats, cannot proceed us
In any unit of distance, we are ahead of the competition.
In the jungle with the leaders we the lions you the cheaters
We are the leaders and powerful predators of the hip-hop game, while others are simply cheating their way to the top.
A cypher, will complete us if we come through your receivers
Our powerful rhymes will complete the circle and fill the space when they pass through your speakers.
You can play us and repeat us and then take us home and read us
Our music is so good that you can play it on repeat and even find deeper meanings in it at home.
(Line for line) Good Jesus, Mos Def and Kweli just
We are spitting our rhymes in a way that even Jesus would be impressed by.
Make a pussy freeze up, thinkin' we will ease up
Our powerful lyrics and delivery will shock and leave listeners in awe, even causing some fear.
Hold your head when the beat drop, Y-O
Brace yourself for an amazing experience when the beat drops - introducing the chant 'Y-O'.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dante Smith, Tony Cottrell, Talib Kweli
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@djfedezaza
Fucking jaw dropping song. Even after all these years it sounds so fresh and dope
@jarvasedundy1
Facts
@andreamorgan6578
💯
@Slamdog500
hey uhm, I made a Top 10 Mos Def Verses video and just uploaded it. I bet ya you gonna enjoy this! Definition is in it. But which place? check it out :D (it turned out more like a Mos Def Tribute video than a hard fact Top 10 Verses) ❤ and of course with special guest Talib Kweli cause Def and Kweli close like Bethlehem and Nazareth ❤❤
@mountcomfort740
Absolutly
@MYNEWMOKE
indeed
@alexeikuznetsov1450
Mos Def is one of those once in a lifetime artists.
@simonking5381
actually hes twice inna lifetime :D
@LoganThomasSnyder
I'll give that the hundredth like, hell yeah.
@barriereid9244
I carried this on a Sony MP3 player in the Sahara Desert for ten years...did not meet a nomad or traveller who did not like the album. This has brought back many happy memories....and now I get to see those who made this magic happen. Stay safe and my regards from Scotland.