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.
@@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.
1997 Common and Souls of Mischief played at a small Canadian club in the midst of a blizzard here in Calgary. We were never as blessed to have such a show. Truly honoured to have seen them.
A top 5 Common verse easily. Maybe top 3. “Asked my guy how he thought traveling the world sound, Found it hard to imagine he hadn’t been past downtown”
When this dropped, it was the first time I could say that's my favorite Emcee, me and my boy's would always debate Chuck oR Krs, and when I heard this cadence from Mos, I said that's my favorite Emcee right there!!
"So much on my mind, i just can't recline. Blasting holes in the night til she bled sunshine" Rappers don't write like this anymore. Blessed to have lived through the boom bap/golden era 🙏🏼
The beat, the 3 immaculate verses, the impeccable filmography that perfectly captures NYC in the 90s... this is the greatest thing ever produced in hip-hop history.
+Jedi Maneuvers Blackstar's Respiration: 2 million views, by now likely to barely reach 3 million. MC Hammer's Can't Touch This: 177 Million views. Just sayin'.
Shane Benjamson no need to be condescending buddy, just tryna understand your point. are you implying just because something acquires allot of views it is therefore more timeless than the one that doesn't ?
***** Yeah sorry my b was in a bad mood I guess. Basically, yes. The more it has been seen by people, the more likely it will be remembered. More people will therefore remember and notice MC Hammer than Blackstar.
Common was always like an unofficial member of Blackstar to me. Even though he wasn't on too many joints, his sound and style fit perfectly with Talib and Mos. Imagine those three with a pre-fame Kanye producing for them, shit would have been crazy yo.
You dont mix real hearted rappers with fake rappers that produce music. It sounds like shit. Kanye and Diddy and Cockafella fucked up a lot of peoples flows and made them sound wak. Theyre too mainstream and dont understand the real struggle to be working with these titans of rap. Itd be like having lil yahty produce a j cole song. It would be so wackkkk!
Thomas Mudrick Kalapuya soul Me being a True West Coast Hiphop person I can say this is one of the Baddest Tracks i ever heard especially getting Blown on some good Greens
“Ask my guy how he thought traveling the world sound, found it hard to imagine he hadn’t been pass downtown”. It’s actually guys in Chicago who haven’t been pass downtown, that was so true when I first heard this song. All 3 killed it, this is timeless.
Mos Def's verse on this song is probably one of the most beautifully written and performed piece of poetry I've ever heard. If I had to pick one song to illustrate the beauty and artistry of hip hop this would be it. Other notable songs I would recommend are The Roots "Act Too: The Love Of My Life", Common "Nag Champa", Slum Village "Fall In Love", etc.
Just came to the comment section to look for somebody who feels the same as me. Every time I listen to this song I can't help but be amazed at Mos Def's verse. It's just so beautiful and poetic. The rhyme schemes are there, the content is there, and then his amazing voice and that delivery. To me it's one of the greatest verses of all time. Together with the hook since it blends so well with the verse.
Those are indisputable classics. “Act Too” is on my favorite song of all time in any genre list, and “Nag” and “Fall in Love” are on every playlist I make
So much on my mind, I just 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
@@alexandrahopkinson1748 the only line eh? Damn, I must be an absolute clown shoe. Thank you for pointing out my idiot understanding of sports referenced lyrics.
Love this song. Listened to it so much while driving, one day I looked in the mirror and watched my 3 kids mouthing this word for word. Best feeling ever. “I can’t take it y’all, I could feel the city breathing”
+asa zimbabwe Maybe? Three of the best ever, in their prime, dropping some absolute knowledge over a heavy beat. I'd say definitely one of the best. I love all the verses, but Common just drops some soul music on here.
This song will last the test of time. Common's piece is such a unique piece of art. A true picture of inner city life. I am grateful to have heard this when it initially dropped. A teen in the projects trying to understand everything that I was being exposed to. This is greatness. 👏🏾✊🏾
God level hip hop. Where everything is perfect. The is incredible, Talib, Mos Def and Common weave an amazing narrative that paints a great picture of the street of New York and the people within. Everyone who contributed to this song helped to craft a truly timeless gem. I was so blessed to hear this at such a young age. It made me realize we are the curators and protectors of this culture. It's important to share these songs and if your a hip hop artist like me it's important to keep this culture strong and forever vibrant. Peace to you all.
The culture has been shit on by this new generation. This is the realest it was ever gonna get. The only ones keeping it even close is rappers like Cole and Kendrick. Otherwise it’s RIP.
@@neneolivares6743 That's because Mos had the best verse, and he deserves that. Doesn't mean that Com's verse is a sleeper or anything. It's just like on the Tribe song, What's The Scenario. Busta had the best verse, though everyone on the song had great verses.
At the end of the day, all will be as God wills. There will be no alterations beyond Gods premises, there will be no confusion among us. What is Love but conscious intent to Love, even in the face of our own ugliness.
“I can feel the city breathing, chest heaving, against the flesh of evening, sign before I die like the last train leaving” this verse will stay in my soul for the rest of my life!
"So much on my mind that I can't recline, blasting holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine" Wow this is deep. Basically Saying he's got a lot on his mind so he can't sleep, and on top of that there's gunshots until dawn. Also blasting holes could mean his eyes being open in the night until dawn. This song is a masterpiece
"look in the skies for God, what you see besides the smog is broken dreams flying away on the wings of the obscene" unbelievable levels of poetry in this masterpiece
Talib's verse is one of the best in hip hop for all time. "It's a paradox we call reality, where keeping it real will make you a casualty of abnormal normality" That's practically a philosophical paper on existentialism reduced to one line.
"Some cats be MCing to illustrate what we be seeing. Hard to be a spiritual being when shit is shaking 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"
In 2003, Complex interviewed Mos Def and David Bowie. Bowie said this line was one of the most beautiful he ever heard in a song. Needless to say, Bowie knew a thing or two about song writing...
My nigga Common said "young girls w/ weak minds but they butt strong", he said "ask my guy how traveling the world sound, then thought it was hard to imagine if he had been past downtown", incredibly deep, that's a true South Side Chicago nigga for you that's really from the hood. We see this shit everyday here on the South Side, everyday. It's thousands of Chicago niggas on the South, West, and East side of the city that ain't never been downtown cause they "stuck in the trap". That's real shit right there.One of the realest songs known to man. Some of the realest artists known to man.
That's not limited to Southside Chicago though. That is true for a lot of hood dudes all over America. Most don't have the financial means or courage to travel to places and spaces they are unfamiliar with.
The Truth Educate your brothers and get them to see more than being inside the fishbowl. Different city but Richmond and Petersburg the same way. Reach and teach my man.
The beat on this track is honestly top 3 beats of all time. Not only does it sound amazing, but it fits in with the narrative. The voicing of the 2 guitar chords sound with they're breathing in and out, which plays into the concept of the song about a living, breathing city. Pure perfection.
You folks on this comment thread have no idea how i feel reading your comments whilst listening to this lyrical masterpiece from 3 of the most gifted cyphaheads to ever spit magic onto a mic. Peace profound, God bless you all... All the way from Zimbabwe! Ashe' .....
From 98 to today. I had Black*Star on CD from early on. Think I got it at Target, IIRC. Definition and Re:definition were on heavy rotation on 102 Jamz down here in North Carolina. My favorite track was the posse cut near the end of the album, but I didn't sleep on Respiration either, this track is timeless!
Видеоклипы
Who’s here in 2024
2025 here
Still a fresh breath of air.
@@BigEmpySpaces76real talk
if you watch this now what other year can you be in fool?
i'm with u @@raihanshrk1955
Hi-Tek is such an underrated producer, this beat is incredible.
I agree! kinda sounds like a premo beat, and i mean that as a high compliment to Tek, not to take away from the brother's brilliance
We didn’t realize how much we missed this era of hip hop, until it was gone!
They still about my bro
Long life for all of us ✊
Unfortunately so do realize it and it hurts,but here right now to relieve that “pain”
its in our hearts its not gone juwst on vacation for a bit it seems
@@erykahhoney588i feel your pain ma!
everything is change and can't be forever,be happy this era exist and enjoy it
0:54 “ The cost of living is preposterous “ Mos Def said this in 1998.. it’s 2023 now and the cost of living is even worse 💯
Rights it is! 2024 5 6 7 ..... Up it will keep trickling.
Keep supporting the same people that are the reason why your hoods are the way it is and be expecting a different result
A lot of 90’s hip hop prophecies are true today.
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.
damn
How are you doing now buddy?
@@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.
Write a book
Peace fam. Blessings sir
One of the greatest Hip Hop songs ever written.
lyrically its one of the greatest songs ever written, period.
💯🔥🔥🔥
No doubt
Best hiphop song ever written.
Also one of the greatest Hip Hop songs ever produced too.
25 YEARS AGO.
ONE OF THE GREATEST HIP-HOP DUOS OF ALL TIME.
Man it’s really been that long geez
Amen!!!!
This should be the official link to the term Hip Hop in Wikipedia. All time classic.
@erock755 Redefinition of
Great comment.
100%.. one of the greatest hiphop songs of all time. Along with thieves in the night.
P
@@andykerste1 the p lol mopmlollpmllllpoplpoopll on I'm p
Op poop love look pretty pleased kpki I op
“Breath in, breath out”
Those words are the reason why I NEVER get tired of running for a while
One of the best hip-hop songs of all time
Agree
One of the best hip-hop albums of all time. A masterpiece from front to back.
Oh yeA
am 14 and this my favorite song
you may be right sir
1997 Common and Souls of Mischief played at a small Canadian club in the midst of a blizzard here in Calgary. We were never as blessed to have such a show. Truly honoured to have seen them.
Oh damn, consider yourself very lucky!!!!
A top 5 Common verse easily. Maybe top 3. “Asked my guy how he thought traveling the world sound, Found it hard to imagine he hadn’t been past downtown”
"no batman and robin, can't tell the difference between the cops and the robbers, they both partners, they both heartless"
💎💎💎🔥🔥🔥
@@TRUMPWAV you prolly listen to playboi carti
@@TRUMPWAV must be a mumble rap fan
That line always stood out from day one.
@@TRUMPWAV someone listens to mumble rap
This is my niece's account. She is fast asleep. I just wanna make sure that she sees and hears this joint ;-)
How thoughtful and loving of you.
Breath in breath out
peso
Its the paradox we call reality, so keeping it real will make you a casualty of abnormal normality....
@@zwiamudau7049 that is what the song says well done
Mos Def is one of the most underrated rappers of all time
He's a lyrical genius
Yes
@@themountainsandthesea41214 sure
Indeed
When this dropped, it was the first time I could say that's my favorite Emcee, me and my boy's would always debate Chuck oR Krs, and when I heard this cadence from Mos, I said that's my favorite Emcee right there!!
Underrated? Says who?
"So much on my mind, i just can't recline. Blasting holes in the night til she bled sunshine"
Rappers don't write like this anymore. Blessed to have lived through the boom bap/golden era 🙏🏼
"Surrounded by hate, yet I love home"
This song is too good
That's so true!!!!!!
"Veteran of the Cold War... It's Chica I Go for..." Common is my all time favorite emcee...
Being from the west side Chicago.. this bar made me cry
@@mariopantoja8259 I feel you...
When hip hop was ORGANIC
Word
This is so BULK UP. MAJOR PROPS to Mos, Def, Talib Quali, and Common for this. This song is MUCH better than Sex. FACTS!😄
Now it's inorganic coz of mumble rapper🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The beat, the 3 immaculate verses, the impeccable filmography that perfectly captures NYC in the 90s... this is the greatest thing ever produced in hip-hop history.
I’ve been where you’re at 👈🏽
I believe Commons scene was shot in Chicago. But your comment is on point. Peace!
This entire album is that!!
Ny AND chicago. Common verse was in chicago
Listen to massari old songs. Them beats hit different
Common's verse is really a strong contender for a spot in the top 10 best guest verses in hip hop
Fuck man, I wish I went through my teenage years through the 90s. I love this shit way to much.
I did bro, it was a fuckin blast! I can't get with this new mumbling bs
+Corey Lee for reals man no talent at all, no originality.
"90s", this was made in 2004
+Cerebro Wtf are you talking about? Lol, this is 90's
late 90's mb
real rap is timeless
+Jedi Maneuvers Blackstar's Respiration: 2 million views, by now likely to barely reach 3 million.
MC Hammer's Can't Touch This: 177 Million views.
Just sayin'.
"just sayin" what exactly ?
***** Wow okay. I'm not going to explain something that is REALLY fucking obvious.
Shane Benjamson no need to be condescending buddy, just tryna understand your point. are you implying just because something acquires allot of views it is therefore more timeless than the one that doesn't ?
***** Yeah sorry my b was in a bad mood I guess. Basically, yes. The more it has been seen by people, the more likely it will be remembered. More people will therefore remember and notice MC Hammer than Blackstar.
2024??? Anyone
After 25 years I still get goosebumps every time I hear this track. Timeless classic, incredible in every way.
Common was always like an unofficial member of Blackstar to me. Even though he wasn't on too many joints, his sound and style fit perfectly with Talib and Mos. Imagine those three with a pre-fame Kanye producing for them, shit would have been crazy yo.
Damn
Iconoclastic damn that would be 🔥
Iconoclastic old Kanye production would be nice
Iconoclastic agreed.
You dont mix real hearted rappers with fake rappers that produce music. It sounds like shit. Kanye and Diddy and Cockafella fucked up a lot of peoples flows and made them sound wak. Theyre too mainstream and dont understand the real struggle to be working with these titans of rap. Itd be like having lil yahty produce a j cole song. It would be so wackkkk!
Thumbing this down is true blasphemy. Top 10 songs ever created.
Very true!!
Thomas Mudrick Kalapuya soul
Me being a True West Coast Hiphop person I can say this is one of the Baddest Tracks i ever heard especially getting Blown on some good Greens
“Sometimes I catch the bus home just to touch home” 🔥🔥🔥
Love that line too. Extremely relatable to many people. Especially if you struggled and have moved up in life.
Can someone explain? Is it a pun? I am german and dont get it.
This song taught me how to not only love my city,but to become one with my city.
Nashville TN, reporting for duty.
Mos def should really get more recognition. He is such a dope MC. The flow, the voice, the lyrics he has got it all.
He a GOAT in my book 4 sure
Do not forget he also was a pretty decent actor.
All around black superhero
Alll
Wtf you talkin? The mans a legend globally
Real Hip Hop.
Hip Hop so dope in the 90's. I'm telling this is when it reached it's peak.
“Ask my guy how he thought traveling the world sound, found it hard to imagine he hadn’t been pass downtown”. It’s actually guys in Chicago who haven’t been pass downtown, that was so true when I first heard this song. All 3 killed it, this is timeless.
Mos Def bodied this.
as usual.
Incredible flow
hes one of the goats for sure
Mos Bodies Everything son
Love me some Mos Def!
There's a paradox we call reality
So keepin it real will make you a casualty
Of abnormal normality
Love that part
"Of reality I touch, but for me it's hard to keep" - COMMON
Word to Life
Ahtnamas2 Dope
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Poetry rap hits different
Who here in 2027
Brooklyn and Chicago connection is flawless! Hip-hop forever
New York and Chicago connection is special period.
Mos Def's verse on this song is probably one of the most beautifully written and performed piece of poetry I've ever heard. If I had to pick one song to illustrate the beauty and artistry of hip hop this would be it. Other notable songs I would recommend are The Roots "Act Too: The Love Of My Life", Common "Nag Champa", Slum Village "Fall In Love", etc.
Just came to the comment section to look for somebody who feels the same as me. Every time I listen to this song I can't help but be amazed at Mos Def's verse. It's just so beautiful and poetic. The rhyme schemes are there, the content is there, and then his amazing voice and that delivery. To me it's one of the greatest verses of all time. Together with the hook since it blends so well with the verse.
Those are indisputable classics. “Act Too” is on my favorite song of all time in any genre list, and “Nag” and “Fall in Love” are on every playlist I make
And Mos’ verse is a hell of an opener. He paints the greatest verbal illustration I’ve heard- And it IS pure poetry
Fall In Love actually has on of my favorite instrumentals ever.
Put 'thieves in the night' in there
What a masterpiece this track is.
100%Intelligent black mind
dislikes on pure hip hop is blasphemy. This song is iconic.
some people don't want to think
Over 1.4k dislikes in 2019...who are these people
@@GeraldHarris-cf2zh 1.4k wannabe mumble rappers.
Hip hop sucks today!!!classic!!!..😉
*If you miss that 90s sound then peep my tracks out...I specialize in making 90s-style hip hop...!!!👍🏾🎤🎧💿🎼🔥*
This was the very first mp3 I downloaded off of Napster. Believe that.
Props, OG!
That's what's up!
2022 and this is still my FAVORITE song of all time...truest of all HIP HOP
Say word son
Common came through repping the Chi the right way with the fur and lyrics NY will always respect you 💪🏽🔥
Mos Def made the greatest ad lib vocal ever at 3:02
Bro that shit was crazy
What did he say
"Sometimes I take the bus home, just to touch home". That's too real.
What does he mean with touching home?
@@helioszxc basically to feel how it feels in his hometown. Or how it felt before the game and money. That's what I inferred from it. Peace!
@@brianbadonde9251 ah i see.makes sense.thanks for the reply
Migos get in there. Lol💯🕯🔥🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤✌✌
@@anthonyali7309 migos?😂😂😂
Best song on the album. But more importantly. ONE OF THE BEST TRACK EVER WRITTEN.
So much on my mind, I just 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
"..gets you capped like the NBA salary." these guys are poets.
I always think that's the only rubbish line in the whole track
@@alexandrahopkinson1748 the only line eh? Damn, I must be an absolute clown shoe. Thank you for pointing out my idiot understanding of sports referenced lyrics.
this is kind of songs I feel like no one will ever do again
piotrekzproductions This were others time that will never return.
piotrekzproductions substantial, jdilla, black lotus, nujabes, five deez. check em out
The is how hip hop should make you feel. GOOD!
I M DeDaluS__ you can find stuff that makes you feel like this, hard part is finding someone to enjoy it with.
Naw you just gotta dig
Hip hop doesn’t get much better than this
Mos def is in my top 2
Love this song. Listened to it so much while driving, one day I looked in the mirror and watched my 3 kids mouthing this word for word. Best feeling ever. “I can’t take it y’all, I could feel the city breathing”
Preppin' 'em for the struggle. Good parenting
Whaaaaaat??? This is beautiful,man. Yo!
I would've shed a tear of joy. Job's done.
Mos Def killed this
Mos aint dropped a wack verse his entire life. He couldnt even if he tried
Word, common said, "surrounded by hate, yet I love home." Deep bars 🔥🔥🔥🔥
El Hip Hop vivirá mientras sigamos escuchando estas obras musicales callejeras. Saludos desde Chile hermanos!
Geshem Israel Geshem Israel elehenu Adonai Hashem. I was born March 11th in Bethlehem 61 years ago.
This song brings tears to my eyes, makes me think how good hip-hop used to be.
And will be again.
Me too my friend
So funny, I was just thinking the same thing. Tears to my eyes as well.
it's still good, you just gotta listen to the right people
Same
maybe one of the best hip-hop tracks ever recorded....
I agree
+asa zimbabwe Maybe? Three of the best ever, in their prime, dropping some absolute knowledge over a heavy beat. I'd say definitely one of the best. I love all the verses, but Common just drops some soul music on here.
+asa zimbabwe thieves in the night too
It's definitely in the argument. And I don't say that lightly
Right next to platinum plus by Big L and Big Daddy Kane
This album is absolutely incredible
This song will last the test of time. Common's piece is such a unique piece of art. A true picture of inner city life. I am grateful to have heard this when it initially dropped. A teen in the projects trying to understand everything that I was being exposed to. This is greatness. 👏🏾✊🏾
God level hip hop. Where everything is perfect. The is incredible, Talib, Mos Def and Common weave an amazing narrative that paints a great picture of the street of New York and the people within. Everyone who contributed to this song helped to craft a truly timeless gem. I was so blessed to hear this at such a young age. It made me realize we are the curators and protectors of this culture. It's important to share these songs and if your a hip hop artist like me it's important to keep this culture strong and forever vibrant. Peace to you all.
,,,MOVE...,,,
Real talk. This is one of the songs I often play when people question the talent of hip hop when they usually haven't been exposed to real lyricist.
The culture has been shit on by this new generation. This is the realest it was ever gonna get. The only ones keeping it even close is rappers like Cole and Kendrick. Otherwise it’s RIP.
Blackstar - Brown Skin Lady // m.ruclips.net/video/0s9tj_UDzaE/видео.html
@@LeonExile05 ruclips.net/video/FtPMctl5nkc/видео.html #APREME
Commons verse is really underrated makes me shed a tear every time.
What makes you think his verse is underrated? All three of them shined.
@@tutuletters6664 I’ve seen videos glorifying Mos defs verse all over social media but I’ve never heard no one talk about Commons. That’s why.
@@neneolivares6743 That's because Mos had the best verse, and he deserves that. Doesn't mean that Com's verse is a sleeper or anything. It's just like on the Tribe song, What's The Scenario. Busta had the best verse, though everyone on the song had great verses.
I always nod no but it's true
Chicago finests
Mos is one of the most underrated rappers ever...
All 3 are better than anyone in the 2020s
Underappreciated too
"Hey don't da bass ride out like an ancient mating call ?" - Mos Def 🎉❤
All about that black and white
Grey hip hop original areas
Nostalgic feeling
The three wise men of hip hop
Them £ beautiful New York City. Love it Miss It I'm Mos Def .
At the end of the day, all will be as God wills. There will be no alterations beyond Gods premises, there will be no confusion among us. What is Love but conscious intent to Love, even in the face of our own ugliness.
Who’s banging this on 2020?? TUUNEEE
I feel so old, I remember how young I was when this first dropped... and now we listen to Mumble music... tsk tsk tsk
Right here bro 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤
his best album
Right here
2020 February 10th 3am we herrrrr
Top 5 track of all time
Listen, the city is breathing 🙏🏽
One of my top albums of all times. They got so slept on at the time because of all the Bling Bling Rap going on...but real heads knew.
Def what a rapper, Kweli and Common rip it up as usual but fuck me Def is unbelievable
He's the Illest of all Villains. Everyone loves DOOM
WORD
He's MOSt DEFinitely one of the best. Undisputed.
ari haha very nice
FACTS
“I can feel the city breathing, chest heaving, against the flesh of evening, sign before I die like the last train leaving” this verse will stay in my soul for the rest of my life!
👌
"So much on my mind that I can't recline, blasting holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine" Wow this is deep. Basically Saying he's got a lot on his mind so he can't sleep, and on top of that there's gunshots until dawn. Also blasting holes could mean his eyes being open in the night until dawn. This song is a masterpiece
"sigh" before I die... In train stations the sound of steam leaving the trains sound like a sigh
Kweli's next 4 bars tho..best ever
That's too much talent on one track 😁👍
Happy to have experienced this gem back then. Much love from Germany and peace to Palestine ❤️❤️
"look in the skies for God, what you see besides the smog
is broken dreams flying away on the wings of the obscene"
unbelievable levels of poetry in this masterpiece
Talib's verse is one of the best in hip hop for all time.
"It's a paradox we call reality, where keeping it real will make you a casualty of abnormal normality"
That's practically a philosophical paper on existentialism reduced to one line.
Exactly. That part alone is the part I think of when I say Talib Kweli's verse is the best on this track.
"Some cats be MCing to illustrate what we be seeing. Hard to be a spiritual being when shit is shaking 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"
Killer. Kweli stay in the top 5.
swearing you got pull, when the only pull you got is the wool over your eyes, getting knowledge in jail like a blessing in disguise
“Blasting holes in the night ‘til she bled sunshine.”
In 2003, Complex interviewed Mos Def and David Bowie. Bowie said this line was one of the most beautiful he ever heard in a song. Needless to say, Bowie knew a thing or two about song writing...
LeBrigand Thats dope!
@@lebrigand4115it's through his ear and understanding of songwriting we got Luther Vandross, everyone overlooked Luther till David Bowie came through
Dis timeless ✌🏾 Brooklyn and Chi city
Hip hop needs to come back to this
My nigga Common said "young girls w/ weak minds but they butt strong", he said "ask my guy how traveling the world sound, then thought it was hard to imagine if he had been past downtown", incredibly deep, that's a true South Side Chicago nigga for you that's really from the hood. We see this shit everyday here on the South Side, everyday. It's thousands of Chicago niggas on the South, West, and East side of the city that ain't never been downtown cause they "stuck in the trap". That's real shit right there.One of the realest songs known to man. Some of the realest artists known to man.
That's not limited to Southside Chicago though. That is true for a lot of hood dudes all over America. Most don't have the financial means or courage to travel to places and spaces they are unfamiliar with.
The World is a hood lifestraight yes I certainly agree. However I am only referring to what I have seen here in Chi.
The Truth OhI feel you. The same can be said of New Haven, where I'm from or a lot of places. Most are limited in their means of travel.
The Truth
Same in Milwaukee. The majority of Blacks and Browns on the North, East & South Side of Milwaukee is struggling.
The Truth Educate your brothers and get them to see more than being inside the fishbowl. Different city but Richmond and Petersburg the same way. Reach and teach my man.
The beat on this track is honestly top 3 beats of all time. Not only does it sound amazing, but it fits in with the narrative. The voicing of the 2 guitar chords sound with they're breathing in and out, which plays into the concept of the song about a living, breathing city. Pure perfection.
Amazing production no doubt. It has a very melancholy and vintage feel to it.
Hi-Tek produced it
Fucken editeddddd .. junkkkk
Well said, it's hard to put words on the real, like this #speachless
Less is more, this beat is a masterpiece
shit like this reminds me why i’m a fan of hip hop
Absolutely insane hook, so creative. Rappers don't use this level of brain power anymore.
One of the BEST Hip Hop Songs, Videos, ever recorded.
Don't trust anyone that doesn't feel this song and love it. Timeless classic.
for some reason this song puts me right where i need to be
Sometimes I take the bus gone just to touch home felt that Common 🗣️💯
This is the blueprint for hip-hop
Hip Hop for thinkers!
This track really evokes the time it was recorded. The feeling of the time and the city life.
Still amazed by the quality of Hip Hop here...lost Hip Hop in France, is he still here in our world today ? Peace
You folks on this comment thread have no idea how i feel reading your comments whilst listening to this lyrical masterpiece from 3 of the most gifted cyphaheads to ever spit magic onto a mic.
Peace profound, God bless you all... All the way from Zimbabwe!
Ashe' .....
Haha I am doing the same thing
Thank you Brother from another Mother. True Hip Hop will always Snatche one's Soul and carrie it to a place called Paradise. Peace!!!
Mos def was mos definitely ahead of his time this right here depicts on whats going on today everyday. Whos still jammin to this in 2020?!
From 98 to today. I had Black*Star on CD from early on. Think I got it at Target, IIRC. Definition and Re:definition were on heavy rotation on 102 Jamz down here in North Carolina. My favorite track was the posse cut near the end of the album, but I didn't sleep on Respiration either, this track is timeless!
Street prophet
2021…….
I remember getting this CD with money I made from one of my first jobs. I listened in awe, mesmerized by the pictures it painted.
90s was the greatest decade for rap. So much competition back then.
Every time I'm feeling down, here these lyrics lay for me.
"it's a paradox called reality"
In 2024 this song still RINGS TRUE! All Time CLASSIC
The begining hits different for us Spanish speakers ✨
Nice
Right