Black Star

Released: September 29, 1998

Songwriter: Talib Kweli Yasiin Bey

Producer: Hi-Tek Ge-ology

[Mos Def]
Yo yo, yo, whassup, yo yo
Yo yo, we gonna, we gonna slow it down
So we can speed it up y'all
Right now I want everybody come to the front
That's right, move forward
I want all the poppers and the breakers, to form this circle
I want all the poppers and the breakers
The writers and the exciters, to get in this circle
And make it real live yo
Cause I'm seein' too many stars up in here tonight yo
I'm seein' the Rock Steady Crew
I'm seein' Ken Swift, I'm seein Mr. Wiggles
I'm seein' Maurizio, I'm seein' Crazy Legs
Man I'm seein' the Zulu Nation up in here
I'm seein' the Rawkus family, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Company Flow, Menelik, I'm seein' G-ology, Shawn J. Period
Man this the Black Star movement
Mos Def, Talib Kweli we gon' keep it live
For the b boys and b girls universally
Rock Steady Japan, Rock Steady Europe
Rock Steady New York, yo we just gonna keep it live
All over the world -- get live y'all

[Talib Kweli (Mos Def)]
Party people in the place to
Be, my name is Talib Kweli
Yo, I got my man on the side of me
Mos Def-initely, and we are
(Fresh) Black Star, (Fresh) G Young
(Fresh) Hi-Tek, (Fresh) Native Tongue
(Fresh) Shawn J, (Fresh) Eighty-eight
(Fresh) Ninety-eight, we 'bout to motivate, come on y'all
(Here's a little story that must be told)
About two young brothers who was put on hold
(They tried to stop the goal), we on a spiritual plane
(Tried to kill the pride) and destroy the name
(We just two bad brothers) who will never quit
I'm Mos Def, (Kweli) (WE THE ULTIMATE)
(Make sure that you tell) everybody you know
(To get on line), take a ride (to the Black Star show!)
Black Star (shinin'), shinin', we in the house
Shinin', (shinin'), we in the house y'all
Black Star (shinin'), shinin', we in the house
Shinin', (shinin'), we in the house y'all
Black Star (shinin'), shinin', we in the house
Shinin', (shinin'), we in the house y'all
Black Star (shinin'), shinin', we in the house
Shinin', (shinin'), we in the house y'all

Black Star consists of Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli and they arose from the underground movement of the late 1990s. They released one self-titled album. 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.

Black Star’s emergence into the hip-hop scene came at a crucial point in music history. Following the deaths of both Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur, hip-hop was consumed in a world of chaos. Black Star attempted to bring reconciliation in the wake of these violent deaths.

In a talk with Rap Genius' SameOldShawn, Talib Kweli explains the influence Yasiin Bey had on him as a young hip-hop artist.

more tracks from the album

Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star

From the album

Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (1998)

Black Star popular songs

B Boys Will B BoysBlack Star

Black Star

Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star