When people mention the greatest duos of all time, what names spring to you mind? For me it consists of BDP, Eric B and Rakim and Pete Rock & CL Smooth to name a few. But also along with that list a certain two "Lyricist Lounge" natives spring to mind also! After regular plays from numerous downloaded Kazaa tracks of the Cher and Sonny of hip hop/rap, the suspense of the rumored album was almost unbearable. But fortunately in 1998 that suspense came to an end with their enlightening and positive titled album "Mos Def and Talib Kweli are 'Black Star'". Never more have I felt sure pride in the year I felt commercial rappers really had started to swarm like killer bees. With poetic metaphors, similes and wordplay both these unique and suited lyricist brought hip hop/rap back to it's brightening era (early 90's). With production from the great Hi-Tek and 88 Keys Mos Def and Talib Kweli truly are 'Black Stars'.

Track Listing & Rating
1)Intro Not Rated
2)Astronomy 4/5
3)Definition 4.5/5
4)Re:DEFinition 5/5
5)Children's Story 5/5
6)Brown Skin Lady 4.5/5
7)B Boys Will B Boys 4/4
8)K.O.S Determination 5/5
9)Hater players 3.5/5
10)Yo Yeah 4/5
11)Respiration 5/5
12)Thieves in the night 5/5
13)Twice in a lifetime 4.5/5

The "Intro" kicks off nicely with Hi-Teks scratches sailing over some beautifully deep piano keys and a light snare. This really is just Talib and Mos telling through a 'speakers' voice what they feel their duty with this album is. "Astromony" then followers through nicely with a GREAT base hitting hard through electric keys and Mr Walts uplifting pre-recorded scratches mid drifting through the keys. Talib and Mos kick thought (almost a freestyle) on what a 'Black Star' is. Questioning commercial raps existence outnumbered 100 to 1 by the underground presence. This is a great way to start the album as neither spits braggadocio, only complete speechless knowledge off the top of their heads. "RE Definition" creeps up behind and succeeds in gaining the number three spot of favourite songs on this album. One of the most heavenly, beautiful beats ever rushes fourth containing one of the heaviest baselines ever and perfect jazzy keys. An electric, intensifying hook contradicts the background spilling life and soul over the 'remix'. Being the most high energetic, almost party track on the album (I feel), Talib and Mos slitter with conjured lyrics of magic battles between the thudding snare: 'Re:definition, turning your play into a tragedy, Exhibit level degree on the mic, passionately. Ni--az is sweet so I bet if I bit I’d get a cavity, livin to get high, you ain't flyer than gravity'.

"Brown Skin Lady" dictates love through wordplay and rhymth like no other. The track begins with two men talking about woman, how they like woman with 'Light complexion' and how the system has 'brainwashed them'. After that short intro Talib and Mos kick their own intro telling the listener their sending this message to all the 'indigenous woman'. The beat playing over their words is one of jazzy keys, a hi-hat, a xylophone (to give it a calm, open feel) and finally a triangle. But really the main elements of this beat is the keys and hi-hat that producer J Rawls combines into the mixture. 'I don't get many compliments, but I am confident, used to have a complex about, gettin too complex. You got me, willin to try, looked me in the eye, my head is still in the sky, since you walked on by'. "K.O.S Determination" is surely a CLASSIC! Over Vinia Mojica's sweet voice and a beautiful hi-hat, Talib's voice is purposely echoed to keep that raw, underground effect to it. Talib (without Mos) spits the most knowledgeable, truth lyrics I have ever come across! It is impossible to pick a best verse, so I just take a snippet to give you a glimpse of what wonderful classic lyricism he perpetrates: 'The most important time in history is, now, the present, so count your blessings cause time can't define the essence. But you stressin over time and you follow the roman calendar, these people enter cona like gattaca....you must be history, you repeatin yourself out of the pages'. WOW! This song is pure poetry...I can never get old only grow on you.

"Respiration" featuring the one and only Common conjures similes, metaphors and graphic illustrations on how the city life is an living organism. Beautifully crafted, thoughtful words ride over a funky beat produced by Hi-Tek originating jazzy piano keys, a perfect snare and an electric background. With three of the most potent emcees spiting their knowledge and truth, of course this had to be my second favourite track on the album 'Tonight alive, let's describe the inscrutable, the indisputable, we new York the narcotic, strength in metal and fiber optics. Where mercenaries is paid to trade hot stock tips'. So we've come to it Talib's and Mos's greatest song and my favourite song on the album "Thieves In The Night". Taken from a passage from the beautiful book 'The Bluest Eye' by Toni Morrison. Talib literally speaks the haunting tale of societies crimes and unanswerable questions on planet earth, while Mos spits his heart out. The production done by the unknown 88 Keys is remarkable. The lightest snare kicks in over Talib's voice followed by chiming keys and soft notes. This song is so melodical, but at the same time brings hip hop/rap back to it's truest form....a pure, poetic/prophetic whole hearted CLASSIC! 'The question was rhetorical, the answer is horrible, our morals are out of place and got our lives full of sorrow. And so tomorrow comin later than usual, waitin' on someone to pity us, while we findin beauty in the hideous'. Talib is amazing! But actually this is one time where Mos outshines him: 'Foolishly, most men join the ranks cluelessly, Buffoonishly accept the deception, believe the perception. Reflection rarely seen across the surface of the lookin glass, walkin the street, wonderin who they be lookin past'. This performance by the inhuman duo is literally perfection. But when I say 'literally' I mean it.

Although the production is amazing, it isn't 'stellar'! Talib's and Mos' lyricism outshines the production easily, but there is still room for improvement! For example the track "Hater Players" lets the album down quite a lot. And even 4 star tracks like "B Boys will B Boys" I feel have definite room for improvement! Other than that, this was certainly the hip hop/rap album of 1998. Shinning knowledge and thought into the dense hole of hip hop/rap, Talib Kweli and the mighty Mos Def are as rare and beautiful as shooting stars!

Overall Rating
5 Stars


Recommended: Yes