“Soul glow even when light is absent/ Sho nuff/ Kweli and Mos Def the craftsmiths”
Could 2011 be the long-awaited album return of Black Star? It’s not like the acclaimed duo hasn’t worked with each other over the years. But the magic that was their 1998 debut calls for a proper follow-up. This radio snippet possibly hints at what might be in store. Only Mos Def’s verse is featured. He rocks over a Blaxpoitation-themed sample from Madlib, complete with funky trumpets and occasional street corner crooning. The flow is immaculate, and gives off a distinct freestyle tone. There’s no narrative, just “rapping for rapping’s sake,” or better yet, an endeavor to display skill. There’s some short gems if you pull yourself out of the flow and dissect the lyrics line by line.
On a quest/To manifest/ The unimagined, jack/ What they’re dealing with is weak derivatives/ You feenin’ for benjamins/ With sick deliverance/ The world that we living in/ Sick with ignorance/ Insolence/ Belligerence/ Stock market dividends…
It’s so smooth that you don’t notice he goes in for nearly two minutes. Let’s hope the entire version leaks soon. I can’t even imagine the entire project Mos and Talib might be sitting on.
BLACK STAR “UNTITLED” [PRODUCED BY MADLIB]
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 