Light
Mos Def Lyrics

Against the canvas of the night
The lyrics set the stage for what's to come.

Appears a curious celestial phenomena
Something relevant to us all is happening.

Called Black Star, but what is it?
The intro questions what is this Black Star thing all about.

Black people unite and let's all get down
The artists are calling for black people to come together.

We got to have what? We got to have that love
The love within the black community needs to be strengthened.

What is the Black Star?
The artists continue to ask what this Black Star represents.

Is it the cat with the black shades, the black car?
Is it the flashy things in life that people associate with blackness?

Is it shining from very far, to where you are?
Is the Black Star something so big it reaches everyone, everywhere?

It is commonplace and different
The Black Star is simultaneously familiar yet unique.

Intimate and distant
The enigma of the Black Star is personal and far-reaching at the same time.

Fresher than an infant
The Black Star is new and exciting.

Black, my family thick, like they're striped molasses
The author speaks to their blackness and the familial bonds shared within the black community.

Star, on the rise, in the eyes of the masses
The Black Star is a representation of black culture that is increasingly gaining popularity.

Black is the color of my true love's hair
Black is the color that represents love to the artist.

Star's are bright, shining, hot balls of air
The Black Star represents something that burns bright and hot like a star.

Black like my baby girl's stare
Blackness is a prominent aspect of the author's child's appearance.

Black like the veil that the muslimina wear
The black veil worn by Muslim women is symbolic of blackness to the artist.

Black like the planet that they fear, why they scared?
Blackness is feared and misunderstood by many.

Black like the slave ship that later brought us here
The darkness of the slave trade that brought black people to America is an integral part of their history and identity.

Black like the cheeks that are roadways for tears
Blackness is associated with the pain and suffering that has been endured by the black community.

That leave black faces well traveled with years
The struggles of the black community are etched on their faces, reflecting the years of hardship they have endured.

Black like assassin cross hairs
Blackness can also reference something dangerous and deadly.

Blacker than my granddaddy armchair
The artist speaks of the blackness found in their family and in everyday objects such as armchairs.

He never really got no time to chill there
The artist's grandfather never had the luxury of taking it easy due to living in a society where black people face constant challenges.

Cause this life is warfare, warfare
Life can feel like a battlefield, especially for black people in America.

Deep on the front lines, and blacks is all there
Black people are often at the forefront of social movements fighting for equality.

Black like the perception of who, on welfare
Blackness is often associated with poverty and welfare and creates a negative perception of the black community.

Black like faces at the bottom of the well
The black community has been treated as less than and marginalized throughout history.

I've been there before
The artist has faced oppression and discrimination themselves and can relate to this experience.

To bring the light and heat it up like "la cocina"
The artist is motivated to spread awareness and inspire others to fight for equality and justice.

Make without imagine happen but maybe I'm just a dreamer
The artist is imagining a world where black people are treated fairly and fighting to make that dream a reality, even if it seems unlikely at times.

I love rockin' tracks like John Coltrane love Naema
The artist is inspired by jazz musicians who used their art to express the struggles of the black community.

Like the student love the teacher
The artist is passionate and dedicated to the cause of fighting social injustice.

Like the prophet love Khadeja
Like the prophet who loved Khadeja, the artist has someone who supports them and keeps them grounded amidst the fight for justice.

Like I love my baby features
The artist loves their child and wants to create a better future for them.

Like the creator love all creatures
The artist believes in equality for all, as they see how all of existence is connected by the divine.

Who acknowledge truth and peace seekers
The fight for justice is supported by those who seek truth and strive for peace.

We on point like heat seekers
The artists and activists fighting for justice are focused and determined in their goals, like heat-seeking missiles.

Targeting the black marketing strategists
There are those who benefit from the negative perception of black people and are complicit in systems of oppression.

Run up on 'em with the heaters
The artists are willing to confront those who perpetuate systems of oppression with force if necessary.

Everybody following with no leaders
The fight for justice isn't led by one specific person or group, but by the collective efforts of many.

Feeling like we killing ourselves
The battle for equality can be exhausting and feel like a losing fight.

Because I know they can't defeat us
Despite the challenges black people continue to face, the artist is confident that change is possible.

It don't stop 'til we complete this, keep this fly
The fight for justice will continue until true equality is achieved.

There's so much to life when you just stay Black and God
The artists see their blackness as a powerful force, connected to the divine.

Blacker than the nighttime sky of BedStuy in July
The artist is describing a darkness that is palpable and inescapable in their community.

Blacker than the seed in the blackberry pie
Blackness is found in everyday things, like the seeds in a blackberry pie.

Blacker than the middle of my eye
Blackness is a part of the artist's physical identity.

Black like feh-lah man cry
Blackness is tied to the pain and struggles that make people cry out in agony.

Some man wan ask "Who am I?"
There are those who question their own identity and place in the world.

I simply reply, "The U-N-I, V-E-R-S-A-L Magnetic"
The artist believes in their own power and strength as an individual, and knows that they are part of a collective that is magnetic and influential.

Work to respect the angelic, climb the mountaintop
The artist is striving to be a better person, and will do what it takes to reach new heights.

And tell it 'til the valley's enveloped
The artist is spreading their message of change until it reaches everyone.

You're full of big chat but you nah know me
People may talk a big game, but they don't truly know the artist personally.

I'm dark like the side of the moon you don't see
The artist is expressing their own darkness, something hidden or unseen like the unseen side of the moon.

When the moon shine newly
Referring to times of new beginnings or fresh starts.

You know who else is a Black Star? (Who?) Me
The artist is asserting their own power and influence in the movement for change.

You know who else is a Black Star? (Who?) Me
The artist repeats their assertion that they, and others like them, are the Black Stars.

You know who else is a Black Star, who we? (And we)
The artist is including other people in their movement and solidarity.

Be shining and shining, when we rhyming and rhyming
The artists will continue to spread their message through their music and art.

Now everybody hop on the one, the sounds of the two
The artists are calling for people to come together and unite under a common purpose.

It's the third eye vision, five side dimension
The artist is referencing a heightened sense of awareness and spiritual connection.

The 8th Light, is gonna shine bright tonight
The artist envisions a bright future for the black community.

Equaling up to eight, light shine bright
The addition of the 8th Light represents a greater level of enlightenment and understanding.

Now black people unite, and let's all get down
The artist reiterates their call for black people to come together.

Everybody hop on the one, the sounds of the two
The call to unite grows stronger as the song continues.

It's the third eye vision, five side dimension
The artist is emphasizing the spiritual and visionary aspects of their movement.

The 8th Light, is gonna shine bright tonight
The artist is confident in the future of the black community and their own power to create change.

It's the third eye vision, five side dimension
The artist continues to emphasize the spiritual aspect of the movement.

Equaling up to eight, light shine bright
The artist's message is reinforced for a final time, with a hint of hope for a brighter future.