Black Star
Hip-Hop/Rap
The next Black Star concert is scheduled for Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at Carriageworks Farmers Market in Eveleigh, Australia. See all 3 upcoming concerts
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About Black Star
Hometown
Brooklyn, NY, United States
Formed
1997
Genre
Hip-Hop/Rap
Few rap duos are as revered as Black Star, the short-lived union of Mos Def (now Yasiin Bey) and Talib Kweli. The Brooklynites bridged the gap between the conscious rap of their Native Tongues predecessors and the battle-ready bars of their late ’90s peers in New York’s sprawling underground rap scene, spitting rhymes full of inventive wordplay alongside celebrations of Black culture and critical examinations of social issues over modern, jazz-rooted boom bap. Raised in neighboring Brooklyn boroughs, they sharpened their skills in competitive open mics and park cyphers before signing with underground champions Rawkus Records for 1998’s Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star. With songs like the party-rocking “Definition,” the tender ode “Brown Skin Lady,” and the brilliant reimagining of Slick Rick’s “Children’s Story,” the retro-leaning debut proved people wanted an intellectual alternative to the flashy commercial hip-hop then ruling the radio. After releasing one record, the pair parted ways for successful solo careers both in and outside of music—Yasiin Bey as an actor and Kweli as a talk show host. However, in 2022, the duo surprised fans when they announced a sophomore album, No Fear of Time, planned for release later that year.
Members of Black Star include, or have included, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Phil Lewis and more.
Musical InfluencesBlack Star's musical influences include Jungle Brothers, Organized Konfusion, Gil Scott-Heron and more.
Influenced by Black StarBlack Star has influenced the music of Hairo G, SADGASM 悲しい, FRITOGANG and more.
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