Black Star arose from the underground movement of the late 1990s, which was in large part due to Rawkus Records, an independent record label stationed in New York City, NY, USA. They released their self titled debut album in 1998. Though the record achieved little commercial success, they (and other members of the Native Tongues Posse) helped shape underground alternative rap and helped bring it further into the mainstream eye. Both have gone on to greater commercial and critical success in separate solo careers.
A sample on the album from the film Chameleon Street has generated the often repeated and often misattributed quote, "I'm a victim brother. I'm a victim of 400 years of conditioning. The man has programmed my conditioning. Even my conditioning has been conditioned!"
Most recently Mos and Kweli appeared together in the movie Dave Chappelle's Block Party, alongside Jill Scott, Dead Prez and The Fugees, among others. They even contributed a new song, "Born & Raised", to the movie's soundtrack.
In November 2009, members and collaborators of Black Star released a collaboration album with the alt-blues/rock band, The Black Keys, under the title "The Blakroc Project." Project members included RZA, Jim Jones, Mos Def, Q-Tip, and others.
According to hip hop website TheSituation.co.uk, Kweli has said that a new Black Star album is "in the pipeline". On Talib Kweli's Myspace he posted up a video saying that "We're going to find Mos Def and put it on camera that there will be a second Black Star album. Black Star released their second album titled entitled No Fear of Time in 2022.
Discography
===========
Albums
Black Star (1998)
No Fear of Time (2022)
The Blakroc Project (2009) Collaborative album with The Black Keys
Singles
"Definition"(1998)
"Respiration" (1999)
Other collaborations
"Know That" from Mos Def's 1999 album, Black on Both Sides
"Joy" from Talib Kweli's 2002 album, Quality
"Supreme Supreme" from Talib Kweli's 2005 album, Right About Now
"Bright as the Stars" from Mos Def's 2005 single, "Ah Ha"
"What It Is" from Talib Kweli's 2005 mixtape, The Beautiful Mixtape Vol. 2
"Born & Raised" from the 2006 soundtrack, Dave Chappelle's Block Party
"This Means You", produced by DJ Hi-Tek on the album Train Of Thought
"What's Beef", live from Chappelle's Show
"Get By [remix]", from Kanye West's mixtape Freshman Adjustment 3
"Gitcha, Gitcha, Gitcha", from Talib Kweli's 2004 album The Beautiful Struggle
"Little Brother", The Hurricane
"History" from Mos Def's 2009 album The Ecstatic.
There is another band with the same name:
2) A dark rock band, formed in Jakarta, Indonesia (2000), based on the common taste of its members, Emir (vocal), Aloel (guitar), Yudi (guitar), Q-nos (bass), Ine (keyboard) and Roby (drum). They had always adored british bands such as Radiohead and Muse, and started playing to cover their music. The name "Black Star" itself was taken from a track in Radihead's album, The Bends.
In 2005, they started recording their own material. Swiftly they gained attention of indie music community and acquired got good reviews by the media, especially for their single "Schizofrenia". Their long-anticipated debut album has been released in March 2009. The first single from the album, Abnormal Aku, in collaboration with Cholil Mahmud from Efek Rumah Kaca, was a huge success in local indie scene. The album has a theme of diseases, from biological, social to psychological diseases. This shows the empathy from the band towards their surrounding envronment.
Their second album, titled "Luar Angkasa", was released on 14th February 2016 with Demajors Independent Music Industry (DIMI).
Free tracks can be downloaded at their offical website, http://www.blackstarid.com.
Buy their album at http://cdbaby.com/cd/blackstarpop
New song
Black Star Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have got no reason at all
Getting older but not getting any wiser
And I never even heard the last call
I have got no reason
No reason have I got
Seems like I am stuck in my old ways
Bitter jaded and vitriolic
Got no reason
I have got no reason at all
Got no reason
At all
At all
At all
No reason at all
I got a new song to sing now
Wishing to Christ that I would never get old
Whilst to the sands of time my mind and body were being sold
Yeah I have got a new song to sing now
Got no time for getting the blues
After all it could be worse
I could be like you
Well I got no reason
Seems like I lost the plot
Well I am putting it all on the line now
Out on a limb on one final shot
The lyrics of Black Star's "New Song" appear to be an introspective reflection on the meaning, or lack thereof, of the singer's life. The first stanza confesses a sense of aimlessness or dissatisfaction with life, evident in lines like "Getting older but not getting any wiser" and "Bitter jaded and vitriolic." The refrain "Got no reason" repeats throughout the song, further emphasizing the singer's sense of purposelessness.
However, the chorus adds a twist to this sentiment; the singer finds meaning in a "new song to sing now." This new focus allows them to avoid the blues and despair, and to embrace a sense of youthful energy that they wish would never fade. The final line introduces a hint of desperation - the singer is "putting it all on the line now" and taking "one final shot" - which suggests this new song is not merely a passing phase, but a last chance at some kind of redemption or fulfillment.
Overall, the song's lyrics explore themes of aging, disillusionment, and the search for purpose. The repeated refrain, "Got no reason," suggests a sense of nihilism or resignation, but the introduction of the 'new song' creates a glimmer of hope that the singer can still find something worthwhile to pursue.
Line by Line Meaning
I have got no reason
I cannot find any justification for my actions or existence.
I have got no reason at all
I am completely devoid of purpose or motivation.
Getting older but not getting any wiser
As I age, I am not gaining any more insight or knowledge.
And I never even heard the last call
I missed out on or ignored a crucial opportunity or warning.
No reason have I got
I am unable to find a rational explanation or justification for anything.
Seems like I am stuck in my old ways
I am trapped in the same patterns of thought and behavior.
Bitter jaded and vitriolic
I am resentful, cynical, and full of spite.
Yeah I have got the lot
I have all of these negative traits and feelings.
Got no reason at all
I am completely lacking in purpose, motivation, or justification.
I got a new song to sing now
I have a new outlook or approach to life to share with others.
Wishing to Christ that I would never get old
I regret the passage of time and the effects it has on my body and mind.
Whilst to the sands of time my mind and body were being sold
As I age, I feel like I am losing control of my faculties and my youthfulness.
Got no time for getting the blues
I am too busy being positive and proactive to wallow in sadness or regret.
After all it could be worse
I am grateful for what I have, and acknowledge that things could always be more difficult.
I could be like you
I do not want to become like someone who is unhappy or unfulfilled.
Seems like I lost the plot
I feel like I have lost sight of what matters or what I am trying to accomplish.
Well I am putting it all on the line now
I am taking a risk and exposing myself to potential failure or criticism.
Out on a limb on one final shot
I am risking everything I have on this one last attempt to succeed or be happy.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tesher
That bollywood sample though! Madlib came thru 🙌🏽
Information Sniper
Bombay the hard way Shadow/Automator
Romil
Madlib flipped the old "Don" theme and made it sound like an old Blaxploitation film score. Genius!
Big Doug
The Don Theme is MESMERIZING!
Canais Young
I never knew that was from a Bollywood movie. I first heard it as part of the opening theme to the "American Dad" episode "Tearjerker" (one of two episodes that parodied the James Bond movies. The other one is "For Black Eyes Only").
Dj Hashhh
Don bolte✌🔥
Looder
Let's all pray for a vinyl release soon! Such a killer album, brutally awesome cover art! This is already a timeless classic!
Jimmy1982*Playlists
🙏🏼🤲🏼
calmb01
The cover is so powerful
Remnant Saved 144
supposed to be coming soon