Black Star
Origin	New York City, USA
Years active	1998 – Present
Genres	Hip-Hop
Labels	Rawkus Records
Members	Mos Def Talib Kweli

Black Star is an alternative hip hop group formed by MCs Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Affiliated with the group is DJ Hi-Tek, who formed producer/MC duo Reflection Eternal with Kweli for the album Train of Thought and produced a portion of Black Star's debut album. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 588 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (753 × 768 pixel, file size: 98 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Mos Def and Talib Kweli at Black Star studios in New York City. ... Nickname: Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1625 Government  - Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area  - City  468. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Rawkus Records is an independent hip hop record label that enjoyed considerable exposure and massive success in the late 90s. ... Mos Def (born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973), is an American rapper and actor. ... Talib Kweli (born Talib Kweli in Brooklyn, New York City on October 3, 1975) is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ... Alternative hip hop (also known as alternative rap) is a genre that is defined in greatly varying ways. ... Mos Def (born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973), is an American rapper and actor. ... Talib Kweli (born Talib Kweli in Brooklyn, New York City on October 3, 1975) is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ... Hi-Tek is an American Rawkus Records alternative hip hop artist from Cincinnati. ... Reflection Eternal is a hip hop duo composed by rapper Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek. ... Black Star is the self-titled debut by the pairing of rappers Talib Kweli and Mos Def. ...

History

Black Star is part of the Native Tongues Posse, a collective that contains, amongst others A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, the Jungle Brothers, Da Bush Babees and Common. The Native Tongues Posse is a group of late 1980s and early 1990s hip-hop artists known for their positive-minded, good-naturedly Afrocentric lyrics and jazzy beats. ... A Tribe Called Quest is a critically acclaimed American hip-hop group, formed in 1988. ... De La Soul is a Grammy-award winning hip hop group from Long Island, New York. ... The Jungle Brothers are an American alternative hip hop group who pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip hop. ... Da Bush Babees are members of the late 1980s to early-mid 1990s rap alliance known as the Native Tongues Posse. ... Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. ...

Black Star arose from the underground movement of the late 1990's, which was in large part due to Rawkus Records, an independent record label stationed in New York City. 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. Rawkus Records is an independent hip hop record label that enjoyed considerable exposure and massive success in the late 90s. ... An independent record label is variously described as a record label operating without the funding (or outside the organizations) of the major record labels, and/or a label that subscribes to indie philosophies such as DIY and anti-corporate art. ... Black Star is the self-titled debut by the pairing of rappers Talib Kweli and Mos Def. ... Alternative hip hop (also known as alternative rap) is a genre that is defined in greatly varying ways. ...

A sample on the album from the film Chameleon Street has generated the often repeated and often misattributed quote, "I'm a victim brother. I'm a victim of 400 years of conditioning. The man has programmed my conditioning. Even my conditioning has been conditioned!"

Most recently Mos and Kweli appeared together in the movie Dave Chappelle's Block Party, alongside Jill Scott, Dead Prez and The Fugees, among others. They even contributed a new song, "Born & Raised", to the movie's soundtrack. Dave Chappelles Block Party (aka Block Party) is a documentary film hosted and written by comedian Dave Chappelle, and directed by Michel Gondry. ... Jill Scott (born April 4, 1972) is a Grammy Award-winning jazz, rhythm and blues, and neo-soul singer and songwriter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... . The initial letter is shown capitalized due to technical restrictions. ... The Fugees are a critically acclaimed music band from the United States, popular during the mid-1990s, whose repertoire includes primarily hip hop, with elements of soul, and Caribbean music (particularly reggae). ...

According to hip hop website TheSituation.co.uk, Kweli has said that a new Black Star album is "in the pipeline".[1]

Discography

Albums

• Black Star (1998) Rawkus Records

Black Star is the self-titled debut by the pairing of rappers Talib Kweli and Mos Def. ... Rawkus Records is an independent hip hop record label that enjoyed considerable exposure and massive success in the late 90s. ...

Singles

• "Definition"(1998)
• "Respiration" (1999)

Respiration is the second single from Black Stars eponymously titled 1999 album (see 1999 in music). ...

Other collaborations

• "Know That" from Mos Def's 1999 album, Black on Both Sides
• "Joy" from Talib Kweli's 2002 album, Quality
• "Supreme Supreme" from Talib Kweli's 2005 album, Right About Now
• "Bright as the Stars" from Mos Def's 2005 single, "Ah Ha"
• "What It Is" from Talib Kweli's 2005 mixtape, The Beautiful Mixtape Vol. 2
• "Born & Raised" from the 2006 soundtrack, Dave Chappelle's Block Party
• "This Means You", produced by DJ Hi-Tek on the album Train Of Thought
• "What's Beef", live from Chappelle's Show

Black on Both Sides is an alternative rap album by Mos Def, released on October 12, 1999 (see 1999 in music). ... Quality is rapper Talib Kwelis second album. ... Right About Now: The Official Sucka Free Mix CD or simply Right About Now was released by Talib Kweli in November 2005. ... The Beautiful Mixtape Vol. ... Dave Chappelles Block Party (aka Block Party) is a documentary film hosted and written by comedian Dave Chappelle, and directed by Michel Gondry. ... Released on November 11, 2003, Train of Thought is an album by the progressive metal band Dream Theater. ... Chappelles Show is an American comedy television series starring comedian Dave Chappelle. ...

See Also

• Native Tongues Posse

The Native Tongues Posse is a group of late 1980s and early 1990s hip-hop artists known for their positive-minded, good-naturedly Afrocentric lyrics and jazzy beats. ...

External links

• Mos Def's official website
• Talib Kweli's official website