RE: DEFinition
Black Star Lyrics

What what what, what what, what what, what what
Black Star opens the song with various expressions of enthusiasm and excitement.

Whoa
This is another expression of enthusiasm to put emphasis on the following lines.

One two three, Mos Def and Talib Kweli
Introducing Mos Def and Talib Kweli as the Black Star hip-hop duo.

We came to rock it on to the tip-top
Arriving with the intention of taking the hip-hop music scene by storm.

Best alliance in hip-hop,
Referring to themselves as the strongest hip-hop duo.

I said, one two tree, Black Star shine eternally
The Black Star will always stand out and continue shining.

And Hi-Tek make the beat drop
Giving a shout-out to Hi-Tek, for creating the beat for this track.

RE Definition, turning your play into a tragedy
The song is about redefining the hip-hop genre and making it distinct from other styles, which may result in less favorable outcomes for other musicians.

Exhibit level degree on the mic, passionately
Mos Def and Talib Kweli are displaying their exceptional skills on the microphone with passion.

Niggas is sweet so I bet if I bit I'd get a cavity
Other hip-hop musicians who claim to be hardcore are actually too emotional and weak.

Living to get high, you ain't flyer than gravity
People who prioritize drug use over their own lives are not impressive, as gravity is always pulling them downwards.

We Die Hard like the battery done in the back of me by the mad MC
Mad MCs are trying to degrade them, but they are resilient and tough like the battery that does not die quickly.

Who think imitation is the highest form of flattery, actually
Mocking the cliché and sarcastically implying that flattery through imitation is not significant.

Don't be mad at me, I had to be the one to break it to you
Apologizing for exposing the truth to those who suffer from delusions or unrealistic expectations.

You get kicked into obscurity like judo, no Menudo
People who lack talent will fade into obscurity like Menudo did, as easily as they are kicked during a Judo match.

Cause you pseudo, trying to compete with reality like Xerox
People who copy and only pretend to be real cannot compete with true talent or originality.

Towards destruction you spiraling like hair locks
People who follow bad habits or wrong paths are headed towards destruction like spiraling dreadlocks.

wipe them teardrops
Encouraging people who have made poor choices in life to dry their tears and move forward.

Chasing stars in your eyes, playing games with your lives
People who do not live life honestly or realistically are playing games and are always chasing something unachievable.

Now the wives is widows soaking up pillows, weeping like willows
The consequences of poor choices may lead to sadness, despair, and tears for loved ones and family members.

Still mo' blacks is dying, kids ain't living they trying
The unfair treatment of African-Americans and the problems facing young people in society are still perpetuating.

"How to Make a Slave" by Willie Lynch is still applying
Criticizing the persistent systemic oppression of African-Americans, as explained in the book "How to Make a Slave" by Willie Lynch.

Regardless, the Mos is one of my closest partners
Regardless of all these issues, Mos Def remains a close friend and partner of Talib Kweli.

Rocking ever since before Prince was called The Artist
They have been making music since before Prince changed his name to The Artist Formerly Known as Prince.

Rocker before Funkmaster Flex was rocking Starter
They did hip-hop even before Funkmaster Flex became popular, and even before brands like Starter were associated with hip-hop fashion.

When 'Pac and Biggie was still cool before they was martyrs
They have been around since the time when Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. were still popular, and before their untimely deaths.

Life or death, if I'm choosing with every breath I'm enhancing
Every decision they make is critical and each breath counts towards making them better people and musicians.

Stop, there comes a time when you can't run
At some point, one must face the music and take responsibility for their actions.

What, lyrically handsome, call collect a king's ransom
Black Star's lyrics are excellent, and they are worth more than the standard offered by other musicians.

Jams I write soon become the ghetto anthem
They are already gaining popularity in the ghettos and other communities, and their music is becoming an inspirational anthem.

Way out like Bruce Wayne's mansion, move like a phantom
They are out of reach and elusive like the mansion of Bruce Wayne, and they cannot be easily traced or followed.

You'll talk about me to your grandsons
Their legacy and music will last beyond their lifetimes, and they will be remembered for generations.

Cats who claiming they hard be mad fag
People who pretend to be tough and claim hardcore status are no match for Black Star.

So I run through 'em like, flood water through sandbags
They can easily defeat such people with no effort, like floodwater can penetrate sandbags.

Competition is mad, what I got, they can't have
Other musicians are envious of their talent, but they cannot acquire what they possess.

Sinking they ship, like Moby Dick, did Ahab
Black Star can easily sink their competition, just like Moby Dick destroyed Captain Ahab's ship.

Son I'm way past the minimum, enter a millennium
They have surpassed the minimum standard and are moving into a new era of hip-hop music.

Where cats will hold a gat to your back, like Palestinians
They seek to shed light on the violence and aggression towards Palestinians and minorities.

Ancient Abyssinian, sure to hold the Gideon
They are invoking their pride in African history and skill to combat their rivals.

Official b-boy gentlemen won't turn off at the interim
As official and accomplished b-boys, they will always retain their status and not turn off or lose their fans in the slightest decline in popularity.

Born inside the winter one, day after December 10
Talib Kweli was born on January 11.

These simpletons they mentioning the synonym for feminine
People who use words that are synonymous with feminine to insult others are stupid and immature.

Sweeter than some cinnamon, the Danish rings by Entemann's
Black Star is as sweet as the cinnamon in Entemann's Danish rings.

Rush up on adrenaline, and get they asses sent to them
Black Star is always hyped-up and ready for action, and they can easily defeat their opponents.

(Gentlemen) you got tenement, well then assemble it!
Challenging other musicians to put their skills into action and assemble their skills into something worthwhile.

Leave your unit trembling like herds of moving elephant
They can make other hip-hop groups shake with fear like a herd of elephants moving together.

Intelligent embellishment, follow for your element
Their music is intelligent yet embellished, and they encourage others to follow their natural instincts and motivational patterns.

From Flatbush settlement, SKIN possess melanin
They hail from the Flatbush area in Brooklyn, New York, and celebrate their melanin-rich skin tone.

Hotter than tales of crack peddlin', making 'em woop
Their music is hotter and more exciting than the tales of crack peddling, and it can make people go crazy.

Like blue gelatin, swing like Duke Ellington
Their music is smooth yet powerful, just like blue gelatin, and they move to their rhythm like Duke Ellington did.

Broader than Barrington Levy, believe me
Their music is more diverse, wide-ranging, and influential than that of Barrington Levy's, and people should believe them when they say this.

The hot Apache red who burn down your chief teepee
They are fierce and destructive like a hot Apache tribe, and they can burn down the chief's teepee with ease.

You see me?
Black Star is asking if the audience can understand and appreciate their lyrics and music.

Best alliance in hip-hop, wayoh
Reiterating that they are still the best hip-hop duo around.

Because we rulin hip-hop, yes we is rulin' hip-hop
They confirm that they are the leaders and rulers of the hip-hop music scene.

Talib Kweli is rulin' hip-hop
They give special credit to Talib Kweli, who is helping them rule the hip-hop world.

Say we Black Star we rule hip-hop-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Closing the track by repeating their name and stating that they have taken over the rap game.

Whoah!
Ending the song with another shout-out of enthusiasm.