Black Star

Formation

Black Star is the Brooklyn duo of Mos Def (now Yasiin Bey) and Talib Kweli. Mos Def is associated with Bedford-Stuyvesant and Kweli grew up in Park Slope. Sources date the pairing to 1996 or 1997. The duo took its name from the Black Star Line, the shipping company founded by Marcus Garvey. Both members were signed to Rawkus Records, the New York independent label at the center of the late-1990s underground rap scene, and the group is linked to the Native Tongues lineage.

Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star

The duo's debut album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, was released on September 29, 1998, through Rawkus and Priority. Producers included Hi-Tek, 88-Keys, J. Rawls, Shawn J. Period, Ge-ology and Da Beatminerz. The album reached No. 53 on the Billboard 200 and No. 13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Its lead single, "Definition," was produced by Hi-Tek, samples Boogie Down Productions' "The P Is Free" and interpolates BDP's "Stop the Violence" in its chorus. It peaked at No. 60 on the Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. A second single, "Respiration," featuring Common, followed in February 1999. Spin gave the album 10 out of 10, and it placed 24th in the Village Voice's 1998 Pazz & Jop critics' poll.

Solo Years

After the album, both members concentrated on solo work. Mos Def released Black on Both Sides (1999) and The New Danger (2004), and also acted in film and television. Kweli released Train of Thought (2000) with Hi-Tek as Reflection Eternal, followed by his solo album Quality (2002). The two continued to appear together over the years, including co-organizing the "Hip Hop for Respect" project in 2000.

No Fear of Time

Black Star's second album, No Fear of Time, was produced entirely by Madlib and released on May 3, 2022. It was first available only on the podcast platform Luminary and was later released on Bandcamp on June 20, 2023. On November 12, 2022, the duo performed on Saturday Night Live in an episode hosted by Dave Chappelle, who also co-hosted The Midnight Miracle podcast with both members.