Talib Kweli

Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star

Chockablock Full of B-Boy Anthems, However, Not A Classic

Review Score:

(6/10)
Mos Def and Talib Kweli's debut, "Black Star", defines underground hip-hop - which at times can work for and against the LP. In terms of production, DJ Hi-Tek and Shawn J. Period provide amateurish and underwhelming beats ("Intro," "K.O.S." "B-Boys Will B Boys"), while J-Rocc produces the crown jewel of the LP, "Brown Skin Lady." On the lyrical tip, Mos and Kweli spit with the heart of a thousand emcees, and while Mos rips just about every verse to shreds, Kweli was clearly still trying to find his niche in terms of flow. The subject matter is limited - wack emcees get dissed ("Children's Story") while fine ladies get profiled ("Brown Skin Lady") - but the intricate rhymes ("Definition") and raw energy ("Respiration") are what make the album so solid. This is a dope hip-hop album thats perfect for breakdancing or smoking blunts to, however, don't get caught up in the hype that its a classic, or you'll be seriously disappointed. 3.5 Mics.

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