Black Star
Brooklyn duo of Mos Def and Talib Kweli, central to the late-'90s conscious hip-hop movement.
Key albums
Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black StarNo Fear of Time
Key tracks
DefinitionRespirationThieves in the NightBrown Skin Lady
Who are Black Star?
Black Star is a duo of Mos Def (now Yasiin Bey) and Talib Kweli, both from Brooklyn, New York.
Known for
Their 1998 album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star on Rawkus Records, with tracks like "Definition", "Respiration" and "Thieves in the Night". In 2022 they finally released a second album, No Fear of Time.
Style
Thoughtful, layered lyrics about identity, Black culture and society, over soulful, jazzy production. Two very different voices that complement each other perfectly.
Impact
Black Star became the blueprint for the independent "backpack rap" scene of the late '90s and showed that conscious hip-hop could be both smart and catchy.
Influences
- KRS-One
- A Tribe Called Quest
- De La Soul
