Respiration
The Black Stars Lyrics
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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
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
The lyrics dive into the underground hip hop scene, where artists use raw skills, as opposed to the commercialized, mainstream style. Mos Def talks about his pickiness towards the quality of music and his dissatisfaction towards lesser skilled artists who still manage to make it big. He compares their success to slipping something in a drink and taking advantage, akin to Mickies (Mickey is a brand of drink spiked with drugs). He calls out the people who criticize and hate on others and praises those who bring new flavors and skills. Mos Def boasts about his ability to run his rhymes like a river and freeze up bodily fluids with his cold delivery. He dismisses the haters, telling them to retire and offering them a complimentary watch. The lyrics contain a lot of wordplay, with Mos Def using analogies like “I'm like shot clocks, interstate cops, and blood clots, My point is, your flow can stop!” to compare himself to things that stop or regulate other things.
Common's verse talks about his visions, his mind's landscape with tall grass, low plains, mountainous ridges, and rivers beneath the bridges, with hilltops lit up with treetops, and Stones in orbit. He uses metaphors to describe his surroundings, and the presence of the audience galvanizes him. He explains how he can't be tested and how his method may be unorthodox, but it rocks. He must represent and not come off as corny. He describes his luminosity despite people's commentary, and how it makes people jump and murmur to themselves. Common's verse provides vivid descriptions and brings a visual dimension to the lyrics while also boasting about his rap skills.
Talib Kweli's verse starts with a call to action, telling the audience to hop on the Blackstar line and promising to take them home. He boasts about how they've captured all markets, using a phrase like "From meat to stock," before bragging about how Blackstar can tear apart any emcee who dares to share the stage with them. He takes a dig at those who are afraid to speak out honestly about music, fearing being called a hater, and offers a reverse psychology tip telling the audience not to be scared to call out what is wack. He boasts about how the Blackstar team is a real force in the rap game, and how they are not interested in the cost of fame. Talib Kweli's verse provides a unique perspective on the lyrics, with emphasis on the power and dominance of Blackstar team.
Line by Line Meaning
People keep askin me, where's the underground? There's mad talented cats underground with that raw shit. Ya know what'm sayin? Bringin the raw skills. Ya know what I'm sayin? Really...
People often ask me where the underground scene is. I believe there are many talented underground artists who produce authentic music. They are bringing raw skills and creating something truly special.
To me, It's a Small Wonder, like Vicki, why I'm picky
I am very selective about the music I listen to, and it's like a small wonder as to why I am so picky.
These niggas suck like kitty, and still get the shit they slip in like Mickies
These rappers are not good, but somehow they still get by. It's like they slip their way into success.
Like a river how I run through it, I do it so cold Freezin up your bodily fluids, your style is old
I flow like a river, and my style is so cold that it can freeze up your bodily fluids. Your style is old and outdated compared to mine.
Yo, with the quickness, so swift you miss this lyrical fitness Now get this, these emcees want to test me like litmus, bear witness
I have quickness and agility, making it hard to catch my lyrical flow. Other emcees want to test me like a litmus test, but they will quickly see how skilled I am.
I'm like shot clocks, interstate cops, and blood clots My point is, your flow can stop!
I'm like a shot clock, an interstate cop and a blood clot - I can stop your flow.
You should retire, get that complimentary watch, be out!
You should retire and collect your complimentary watch, and leave the game.
Cause we developin the followin gettin played like ?stones? off tapes and ?dollar vans?
Our following is growing and people are playing our music off of mixtapes and bootlegged CDs sold on dollar vans.
I'll reverse you, universal, your demise is first Before your rise gets worse
I'll reverse your luck, make your downfall universal, and before things get worse for you, you should stop while you're ahead.
Some heads approach like I'm the one to base with Clowns about, screamin but don't say shit
Some people try to step to me like they want to compete, but they really have nothing to say and are just acting like clowns.
We sell our souls like Spawn and come for the drone I sit upon Freestyle or written songs so we can get it on!
We sell our souls like Spawn, the comic book character, and come ready to rap over any beat, whether it's freestyle or written. We're here to get it on and put on a good show.
Cause I'm the one these Spice Girl emcees want to Be But they can't, ain't no points forever, so why bother?
I am the emcee that all these wannabe Spice Girls want to be like, but they can't keep up forever, so why even bother trying?
Blackstar keeps shining
Blackstar continues to shine and will keep doing so.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Tony Cottrell, Talib Kweli, Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Dante Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@oldshcool_N.Y.C
Who’s here in 2024
@raihanshrk1955
2025 here
@BigEmpySpaces76
Still a fresh breath of air.
@Batemanronny.
@@BigEmpySpaces76real talk
@fdpunchypops7814
if you watch this now what other year can you be in fool?
@terrancehugle141
i'm with u @@raihanshrk1955
@jweezy8645
Man when Blackstar dropped I had just graduated high school. Earlier that day I was kicked out of my house by my snake ass stepmom, pops didn’t stick up for me due to him being strung out on dope and she was his way of getting tons of money to feed his addiction. I had no car, no job and nowhere to live. But I had that Blackstar CD though. That gem got me through some real hard times fam.
@omegamanGXE
damn
@ButcherOfBeek
How are you doing now buddy?
@jweezy8645
@@ButcherOfBeek Doin real good fam. Married my high school girl. Have 2 kids, one boy and one girl. Both of them are in high school and my son graduates next July. Half to say I’m actually happy in life lol. Not many get to say that. Appreciate you.