Black Star is a hip-hop group formed by MCs Mos Def & Talib Kweli. Affiliat… Read Full Bio ↴Black Star is a hip-hop group formed by MCs Mos Def & Talib Kweli. Affiliated with the group is Hi-Tek, who formed producer/MC duo Reflection Eternal with Kweli, for the album Train of Thought & produced a portion of Black Star's debut album. They're, also, part of the Native Tongues Posse, a collective that contains, amongst others A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, Da Bush Babees & Common.

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

Respiration
Black Star Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Escúchala, la ciudad respirando

The new moon rode high in the crown of the metropolis
Shining, like who on top of this?
People was tussling, arguing and bustling
Gangstas of Gotham hardcore hustling
I'm wrestling with words and ideas
My ears is pricked, seeking what will transmit

The scribes can apply to transcript, yo
This ain't no time where the usual is suitable
Tonight alive, let's describe the inscrutable
The indisputable, we New York the narcotic
Draped in metal and fiber optics
Where mercenaries is paid to trade hot stock tips
For profits, thirsty criminals take pockets
Hard knuckles on the second hands of working class watches
Skyscrapers is colossus, the cost of living is preposterous
Stay alive, you play or die, no options, no Batman and Robin
Can't tell between the cops and the robbers, they both partners, they all heartless
With no conscience, back streets stay darkened
Where unbeliever hearts stay hardened
My eagle talons stay sharpened, like city lights stay throbbing
You either make a way or stay sobbing
The shiny Apple is bruised but sweet and if you choose to eat
You could lose your teeth, many crews retreat
Nightly news repeat, who got shot down and locked down
Spotlight to savages, NASDAQ averages
My narrative rose to explain this existence
Amidst the harbor lights which remain in the distance

So much on my mind that I can't recline
Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine
Breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine
Breathe out, weed smoke retrace the skyline
Heard the bass ride out like an ancient mating call
I can't take it y'all, I can feel the city breathing
Chest heaving, against the flesh of the evening
Sigh before we die like the last train leaving

Breathin' in deep city breaths, sittin' on shitty steps
We stoop to new lows, hell froze the night the city slept
The beast crept through concrete jungles
Communicatin' with one another
And ghetto birds where waters fall
From the hydrants to the gutters
The beast walk the beats, but the beats we be makin
You on the wrong side of the track, lookin visibly shaken
Taken them plungers, plungin' to death that's painted by the numbers
With Krylon applied pressure, cats is playin God
By havin' children by a lesser baby mother but fuck it
We played against each other like puppets, swearin' you got pull
When the only pull you got is the wool over your eyes
Gettin' knowledge in jail like a blessing in disguise
Look in the skies for God, what you see besides the smog
Is broken dreams flying away on the wings of the obscene
Thoughts that people put in the air
Places where you could get murdered over a glare
But everything is fair
It's a paradox we call reality
So keepin' it real will make you casualty of abnormal normality
Killers Born Naturally like, Mickey and Mallory
Not knowing the ways'll get you capped like an NBA salary
Some cats be emceeing to illustrate what we be seeing
Hard to be a spiritual being when shit is shakin' what you believe in
For trees to grow in Brooklyn, seeds need to be planted
I'm asking if y'all feel me and the crowd left me stranded
My blood pressure boiled and rose, cause New York niggas
Actin spoiled at shows, to the winners the spoils go
I take the L, transfer to the 2, head to the gates
New York life type trife the Roman Empire state

So much on my mind that I can't recline
Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine
Breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine
Breathe out, weed smoke retrace the skyline
Heard the bass ride out like an ancient mating call
I can't take it y'all, I can feel the city breathing
Chest heaving, against the flesh of the evening
Sigh before we die like the last train leaving

Yo, on The Amen, Corner I stood lookin at my former hood
Felt the spirit in the wind, knew my friend was gone for good
Threw dirt on the casket, the hurt, I couldn't mask it
Mixin' down emotions, struggle I hadn't mastered
I choreograph seven steps to heaven
In hell, waiting to exhale and make the bread leaven
Veteran of a cold war It's Chica-I-go for
What I know or, what's known
So some days I take the bus home, just to touch home
From the crib I spend months gone
Sat by the window with a clutched dome listenin' to shorties cuss long
Young girls with weak minds, but they bust strong
Tried to call, or at least beep the Lord, but didn't have a touch-tone
It's a dog-eat-dog world, you gotta mush on
Some of this land I must own
Outta the city, they want us gone
Tearin' down the 'jects creatin' plush homes
My circumstance is between Cabrini and Love Jones
Surrounded by hate, yet I love home
Ask my guy how he thought travellin' the world sound
Found it hard to imagine he hadn't been past downtown
It's deep, I heard the city breathe in its sleep
A reality I touch, but for me it's hard to keep
Deep, I heard my man breathe in his sleep
A reality I touch, but for me it's hard to keep

So much on my mind that I can't recline
Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine
Breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine
Breathe out, weed smoke retrace the skyline
How the bass ride out like an ancient mating call
I can't take it y'all, I can feel the city breathing

Chest heaving, against the flesh of the evening
Kiss the eyes goodbye I'm on the last train leaving

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Black Star's "Respiration" describe the bustling and diverse city of New York at night, personifying the city and revealing its dark and gritty underbelly. The new moon is high in the sky, and people are arguing and fighting in the streets. The song's two rappers, Mos Def and Talib Kweli, are wrestling with words and ideas, seeking to describe the inscrutable and the indisputable aspects of life in the city. They draw attention to the high cost of living, the prevalence of crime and violence, and the pervasive sense of hopelessness that afflicts many of the city's residents.

The lyrics also explore the theme of breathing in and out, symbolizing the way that the city itself seems to inhale and exhale. The rappers describe inhaling the vapors of bright stars that shine, as well as the smoke of weed, while exhaling these things back out before retracing the skyline. The city itself is often portrayed as heaving and breathing, pushing against the flesh of the evening like a living organism.

Overall, "Respiration" is a powerful meditation on life in an urban environment, simultaneously celebrating the energy and vitality of a diverse city while also acknowledging its struggles, its dangers, and its dark side.

Line by Line Meaning

Escúchala, la ciudad respirando
Listen to it, the city breathing

The new moon rode high in the crown of the metropolis
The moon appeared bright and prominent in the sky over the city

Shining, like who on top of this?
It shines brilliantly, as if someone is in control of this greatness

People was tussling, arguing and bustling
People were engaged in fights, arguments, and hurried activity

Gangstas of Gotham hardcore hustling
Criminals in the city of New York engaging in intense and relentless illegal activities

I'm wrestling with words and ideas
I am struggling and grappling with the concepts and expressions in my mind

My ears is pricked, seeking what will transmit
I am listening attentively, searching for what will convey

The scribes can apply to transcript, yo
The writers can put into writing, you know

This ain't no time where the usual is suitable
This is not a time when the ordinary is appropriate

Tonight alive, let's describe the inscrutable
Tonight, while we are alive, let's explain the incomprehensible

The indisputable, we New York the narcotic
The obvious truth is that we make New York the addictive substance

Draped in metal and fiber optics
Covered in steel and high-tech communication

Where mercenaries is paid to trade hot stock tips
Where hired soldiers are paid to exchange valuable information about stocks

For profits, thirsty criminals take pockets
Criminals who are desperate for money steal from others

Hard knuckles on the second hands of working class watches
The rough fists of the working class pressing on the ticking hands of their watches

Skyscrapers is colossus, the cost of living is preposterous
Tall buildings are giants, and the expense of living is absurd

Stay alive, you play or die, no options, no Batman and Robin
Survival is crucial, you either participate or perish, there are no choices, no heroes to save you

Can't tell between the cops and the robbers, they both partners, they all heartless
It is difficult to distinguish between the police and the criminals, they work together, they lack empathy

With no conscience, back streets stay darkened
Without any guilt, the alleyways remain dimly lit

Where unbeliever hearts stay hardened
In a place where skeptical hearts remain resistant

My eagle talons stay sharpened, like city lights stay throbbing
My sharp senses remain keen, just like the constant pulsating of the city lights

You either make a way or stay sobbing
You either find a solution or remain in tears

The shiny Apple is bruised but sweet and if you choose to eat
The glorious city of New York may have its flaws, but it is still enticing and tempting

You could lose your teeth, many crews retreat
You may face consequences, and many groups withdraw

Nightly news repeat, who got shot down and locked down
The news on TV repeatedly reports on who got killed and imprisoned

Spotlight to savages, NASDAQ averages
The attention is given to violent individuals, while the stock market averages are scrutinized

My narrative rose to explain this existence
My story emerged to describe this way of life

Amidst the harbor lights which remain in the distance
Amongst the glowing lights of the harbor that are still far away

So much on my mind that I can't recline
I have so many thoughts occupying my mind that I can't rest

Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine
Creating disruptions in the darkness until it becomes illuminated with sunlight

Breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine
Take a deep breath and inhale the essence of the radiant stars

Breathe out, weed smoke retrace the skyline
Exhale marijuana smoke, creating a hazy outline of the city skyline

Heard the bass ride out like an ancient mating call
Listened to the deep bass sound resonating like an ancient signal to attract a partner

I can't take it y'all, I can feel the city breathing
I can't handle it, everyone, I can sense the city's rhythmic pulsation

Chest heaving, against the flesh of the evening
My chest is rising and falling, pressed against the body of the night

Sigh before we die like the last train leaving
Take a deep breath before we meet our demise, like the final train departing

Breathin' in deep city breaths, sittin' on shitty steps
Inhaling the essence of the city deeply, while sitting on dirty steps

We stoop to new lows, hell froze the night the city slept
We lower ourselves to immoral levels, and chaos erupted when the city was silent and unaware

The beast crept through concrete jungles
The dangerous creature crawled through urban areas full of cold, unfeeling structures

Communicatin' with one another
Interacting and conveying messages to each other

And ghetto birds where waters fall
And police helicopters flying over areas with high crime rates

From the hydrants to the gutters
From the fire hydrants to the drainage systems

The beast walk the beats, but the beats we be makin
The creature walks the streets, but the music rhythms that we create

You on the wrong side of the track, lookin visibly shaken
You are in the wrong place, appearing visibly disturbed and afraid

Taken them plungers, plungin' to death that's painted by the numbers
Using needles to inject drugs, diving into a life of addiction that brings a predictable death

With Krylon applied pressure, cats is playin God
Using spray paint to leave their marks, people are acting as if they are gods

By havin' children by a lesser baby mother but fuck it
By having children with someone of lower stature, but disregarding the consequences

We played against each other like puppets, swearin' you got pull
We competed against each other like manipulated puppets, believing that we have influence

When the only pull you got is the wool over your eyes
When the only power or control you possess is the ability to deceive yourself

Gettin' knowledge in jail like a blessing in disguise
Gaining wisdom and knowledge while in prison, although it may not be perceived as a positive experience

Look in the skies for God, what you see besides the smog
Search the heavens for God, but all you see is the pollution and haze

Is broken dreams flying away on the wings of the obscene
Are shattered hopes disappearing on the wings of the offensive and immoral

Thoughts that people put in the air
Ideas and beliefs that individuals share and spread

Places where you could get murdered over a glare
Locations where a simple look can lead to someone being killed

But everything is fair
But in this environment, everything is considered acceptable or justifiable

It's a paradox we call reality
It's a contradictory situation that we refer to as reality

So keepin' it real will make you casualty of abnormal normality
So, if you remain true to yourself, you will become a victim of an abnormal sense of what is normal

Killers Born Naturally like, Mickey and Mallory
People who are inherently inclined towards violence, like the characters Mickey and Mallory from the movie 'Natural Born Killers'

Not knowing the ways'll get you capped like an NBA salary
Unawareness of certain paths or lifestyles can lead to your demise, just like the salary cap in the NBA

Some cats be emceeing to illustrate what we be seeing
Some individuals are rapping to portray and express what we witness

Hard to be a spiritual being when shit is shakin' what you believe in
It's challenging to maintain a strong spiritual connection when everything around you is causing doubt and uncertainty

For trees to grow in Brooklyn, seeds need to be planted
In order for progress and positive change to happen, action needs to be taken

I'm asking if y'all feel me and the crowd left me stranded
I'm questioning if you understand and relate to my thoughts, but the audience has left me feeling alone

My blood pressure boiled and rose, cause New York niggas
I became extremely angry and frustrated because of the people in New York

Actin spoiled at shows, to the winners the spoils go
They are behaving arrogantly and entitled at concerts, believing that the rewards of success belong to them

I take the L, transfer to the 2, head to the gates
I take the subway train L, transfer to the train 2, and go towards the exit gates

New York life type trife the Roman Empire state
Life in New York is full of struggles and challenges, similar to the turbulent Roman Empire

Yo, on The Amen, Corner I stood lookin at my former hood
Hey, on the corner where people gather to sing praises, I stood and observed my old neighborhood

Felt the spirit in the wind, knew my friend was gone for good
I sensed a spiritual presence in the breeze, realizing that my friend had passed away permanently

Threw dirt on the casket, the hurt, I couldn't mask it
I threw soil onto the coffin, unable to conceal the pain I felt

Mixin' down emotions, struggle I hadn't mastered
Suppressing and blending my feelings together, I hadn't yet overcome the difficulties

I choreograph seven steps to heaven
I plan and arrange seven precise movements leading towards a state of bliss

In hell, waiting to exhale and make the bread leaven
In a difficult and challenging situation, waiting for the moment of relief and growth

Veteran of a cold war It's Chica-I-go for
Experienced in a prolonged conflict, this is my struggle

What I know or, what's known
Either what I am aware of or what is commonly understood

So some days I take the bus home, just to touch home
Therefore, some days I take the bus back to my neighborhood, just to experience a sense of belonging

From the crib I spend months gone
I am away from home for long periods of time

Sat by the window with a clutched dome listenin' to shorties cuss long
I sat near the window, lost in thought, listening to young kids swearing excessively

Young girls with weak minds, but they bust strong
Youthful girls with vulnerable thoughts, but they exhibit great strength

Tried to call, or at least beep the Lord, but didn't have a touch-tone
I attempted to reach out to God, but I didn't have the means to communicate electronically

It's a dog-eat-dog world, you gotta mush on
It's a harsh and competitive world, you have to keep fighting

Some of this land I must own
I must possess some of this territory

Outta the city, they want us gone
They want us to leave the city

Tearin' down the 'jects creatin' plush homes
Destroying the projects to build luxurious residences

My circumstance is between Cabrini and Love Jones
My situation is somewhere between the Cabrini projects and a romantic movie like Love Jones

Surrounded by hate, yet I love home
I am surrounded by hatred, but I still have affection for my home

Ask my guy how he thought travellin' the world sound
I asked my friend how he imagined traveling around the world would be like

Found it hard to imagine he hadn't been past downtown
I found it difficult to comprehend that he hadn't ventured beyond the city center

It's deep, I heard the city breathe in its sleep
It's profound, I heard the city subconsciously inhaling and exhaling while asleep

A reality I touch, but for me it's hard to keep
A tangible reality that I experience, but it's challenging for me to retain