BLACK STAR – Respiration (1998)

Black Star is an American hip hop duo formed in 1996, from Brooklyn, New York City. The duo is composed of rappers Yasiin Bey (more commonly known by his former stage name Mos Def) and Talib Kweli. The duo is named after The Black Star Line, a shipping company founded by Marcus Garvey. Their critically-acclaimed debut album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star was released on September 29, 1998. After decades of only releasing singles and appearing on compilations, Black Star released their sophomore studio album No Fear of Time May 3, 2022 on the podcasting platform Luminary.

Escuchela

The new moon rode high in the crown of the metropolis Shining, like who on top of this? People was hustling, arguing and bustling Gangsters of Gotham hardcore hustling I’m wrestling with words and ideas My ears is picky, seeking what will transmit The scribes can apply to transcript, yo

This ain’t no time where the usual is suitable Tonight alive, let’s describe the inscrutable The indisputable (what?), We New York the narcotic Strength in metal and fiber optics Where mercenaries is paid to trade hot stock tips For profits, thirsty criminals take pockets Hard knuckles on the second hands of working class watches Skyscrapers is colossus, the cost of living is preposterous

Stay alive, you play or die, no options No Batman and Robin (what?) Can’t tell between the cops and the robbers They both partners, they all heartless With no conscience, backstreets stay darkened Where unbeliever hearts stay hardened My eagle talons stay sharpened, like city lights stay throbbing

You either make a way or stay sobbing, the shiny apple Is bruised but sweet and if you choose to eat You could lose your teeth, many crews retreat Nightly news repeat, who got shot down and locked down Spotlight to savages, NASDAQ averages My narrative, rose to explain this existence Amidst the harbor lights which remain in the distance

So much on my mind that it can’t recline Blasting holes in the night ’til she bled sunshine Breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine Breathe out, weed smoke retrace the skyline Yo, don’t the bass ride out like an ancient mating call? I can’t take it y’all, I can feel the city breathing Chest heaving, against the flesh of the evening Sigh before we die like the last train leaving

Escuchela, respirando como yo Ojos sinceros, escondiendo pena y temor El silencio de mentira, tocando al hogar Escapando sentimientos entre ella y yo

Yo, on The Amen, corner I stood lookin’ at my former hood Felt the spirit in the wind, knew my friend was gone for good Threw dirt on the casket, the hurt, I couldn’t mask it Mixing down emotions, struggle I hadn’t mastered I choreograph seven steps to Heaven (what?) Inhale waitin’ to exhale and make the bread leaven Veteran of a Cold War, it’s Chica-I-go for What I know or what’s known So some days I take the bus home (yeah), just to touch home

From the crib, I spend months gone Sat by the window with a clutched dome Listening to shawties cuss long Young girls with weak minds, but they butt strong Tried to call, or at least beep the Lord but didn’t have a touch-tone It’s a dog-eat-dog world, you gotta mush on Some of this land I must own, outta the city, they want us gone Tearin’ down the ‘jects, creating plush homes

My circumstance is between Cabrini and Love Jones Surrounded by hate, yet I love home Asked my guy how he thought travelin’ the world sound Found it hard to imagine he hadn’t been past Downtown It’s deep, I heard the city breathe in its sleep Of reality, I touch, but for me, it’s hard to keep It’s deep, I heard my man breathe in his sleep Of reality, I touch, but for me, it’s hard to keep

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 Yo, how the bass ride out like an ancient mating call? I can’t take it, y’all! I can feel the city breathin’ Chest heavin’, against the flesh of the evenin’ Kiss the odds goodbye, I’m on the last train leaving