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.
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!!
+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.
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.
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.
right? we get those super weird and surreal shows here in the north sometimes, like... how the fuck am I at a Pendulum show in one of the smallest clubs in town with 100? ppl... its sweaty and dank downstairs and since its November outside? ITS FUCKING FREEZING.
"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 🙏🏼
Before smoking PURPLE, there was the PURPLE TAPE. Way years ahead of its time. Beats, lyrics, stories, and emcees really bringing their own version of HIP HOP. ORIGINALITY AT ITS FINEST. WUUUUU FOR EVER.
@@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.
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!
"It's a paradox we call reality So keepin' it real will make you a casualty of abnormal normality" That's gotta be one of the sickest verses in the history of hip-hop.
+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.
4 of my favourite people made on of the greatest songs ever made. Mos Def, Common, Talib Kweli and HiTek. BlackStar is my favourite Hip Hop album of all time. It's perfect in every single way. 🙏🏽
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
@@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.
"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"
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
“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
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...
@@KomenCents I found this song on Hip Hop Evolution (amazing series on netflix) and I've been listening to these artists nonstop for weeks. I'm ashamed to say a year ago I didn't know this song existed. Truly amazing, lyrically, musically, it's a masterpiece.
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.
Beautiful to know there are black boys were once extremely conscious of what they produced and delivered in Hip-Hop. No girls shaking their asses or flashy cars just pure lyricists.
@@UNDERGROUNDskateco or... Maybe you should have read the lyrics, then played the song. Anyway, I completely understand it soaring over their heads. Easily. Kudos to you for trying.
+j-imperial: That's what kills me about RADIO EDITS...like it would kill the radio programmers to play those extra 20-30 seconds. Not to mention, the radio never gave a fuck about this song, especially when they're too busy shoving P-Diddy and Masta P down our throats, so why bother making this a radio edit at all?
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.
Words can't express how much I cherish those times now, although I didn't realize how good we had it then. I just graduated HS, and leaving for college. This CD was my theme music!
If u don't use the word "Pu$$y","A$$","Fcuk" or "B!tch" more than 10 times u do not Qualify for advertisement in the Hip Hop catalogues. Only the True Hip Hop Listeners will search for this kind of music.
mrpostman730 yeah i remember. it was #1 on Rap City for 7 or 8 wks (maybe longer). Was surprising cuz this was the time when dirty south music (Master P, JT Money) was popular. Fundamental Hip Hop lived
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!
I don't understand why people feel the need to hate on drake all the time. Some of commons newer stuff don't really sound like "hip hop". Things change with time. Electric circus and universal mind control are some of the most experimental things you'll hear.
