Definition by Black Star Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling The Profound Commentary on Hip-Hop’s Core
Lyrics
All nice and peace and true, follow me now, we say
Say Hi-Tek yes you’re ruling hip-hop
Say J. Rawls yes you’re ruling hip-hop
Redefinition say you’re ruling hip-hop
Say Black Star come to rock it non
Yo, from the first to the last of it, delivery is passionate
The whole and not the half of it, vocab and not the math of it
Projectile that them blasted with, accurate assassin shit
Me and Kweli close like, Bethlehem and Nazareth
After this you be pressing rewind on top your master disk
Shining like an asterisk for all those that be gatherin’
Connectin’ like a roundhouse from the townhouse to the tenements
Cause all my Brooklyn residents, heavy regiments
Don’t believe, here the evidence, where Brooklyn whoa
See that? Bound to take it all kid, believe that
From where they sellin’ tree at, to where the police be at
Talib Kweli e-Kweli-ty yo tell them where we be at
Brooklyn, New York City where they paint murals of Biggie
In cash we trust cause it’s ghetto fabulous, life look pretty
What a pity. Blunts is still fifty cents, it’s intense
Tree scents is dominant can’t be covered with incense
My presence felt my name is Kweli from the Eternal Reflection
People thinkin’ MC is short hand for Mis Conception
Let me meditate, set it straight, came to the conclusion
That most of these cats is featherweight, let me demonstrate
Walkin’ the streets is like battlin’, be careful with your body
You must know karate or think your soul is bulletproof like Sade
Stop actin’ like a bitch already, be a visionary
And maybe you can see your name in the column of obituary
Third rate teacher readin’ and talkin’ about
“I knew he’d amount to nothin'”
Neighbors like, “He was the quiet type
Who’d have thought they was frontin’?”
Talkin’ and loud like you in RCA, get carted away
With body parts and treys, what a way to start your day
Yo it’s like
One, two, three
Mos Def and Talib Kweli
We came to rock it on to the tip-top
Best alliance in hip-hop, Y-O
I said one two three
It’s kind of dangerous to be a emcee
They shot Tupac and Biggie
Too much violence in hip-hop, Y-O
I said Manhattan keep on makin’ it (Bo!), Brooklyn keep on takin’ it (Bo!)
So relax we’re takin’ it back, Redhook where we’re livin’ at
Plenty cats be strugglin’ not hustlin’ and bubblin’
It ain’t about production and, what else we discussin’?
When the cock crows, my crop grows, enable me to rock flows
Strivin’ for perfection ever since I was a snot-nosed
Colossal, true original B-boy apostle
Standin’ on the rooftop with the, Zulu gestapo
You think you the shit
Somebody in the wings’ll force you to quit
It could be your crew or click
Or some random kid you smoked Buddha with
Consider me the entity within the industry without a history
Of spittin’ the epitome, of stupidity, livin’ my life
Expressin’ my liberty, it gotta be done properly
My name is in the middle of e-Kweli-ty
People follow me and other cats they hear him flow
And assume I’m the real one with lyrics like I’m Cyrano
Still sippin’ wishin’ well water, imported, from Pluto
Three hundred and sixty milliliters for all our believers
In miles or kilometers, most cats, cannot proceed us
In the jungle with the leaders we the lions you the cheaters
A cypher, will complete us if we come through your receivers
You can play us and repeat us and then take us home and read us
(Line for line) Good Jesus, Mos Def and Kweli just
Make a pussy freeze up, thinkin’ we will ease up
One, two, three
Mos Def and Talib Kweli
We came to rock it on to the tip-top
Best alliance in hip-hop, Y-O
I said one two three
It’s kind of dangerous to be a emcee
They shot Tupac and Biggie
Hold your head when the beat drop, Y-O
In the realm of hip-hop, where bravado often overshadows substance, Black Star emerged as a beacon of insight with their song ‘Definition’. Talib Kweli and Mos Def (Yasiin Bey), the star duo behind Black Star, craft a meticulous ode to the authentic, the conscious, and the enduring spirit of true hip-hop. ‘Definition’ is not just a track; it’s a manifesto, a reverent homage to the fallen icons of this culture, Tupac and Biggie, and a clear-eyed critique of the violence overshadowing the genre.
This piece seeks to delve deep into the lyrical pilgrimage that ‘Definition’ takes us on, exploring the duo’s introspective narrative to uncover the hidden layers and poignant messages embedded within the catchy hooks and rhythmically syncopated beats. Through a series of explorative headings, we unravel the essence of what Kweli and Mos Def have defined — the heart and soul of their hip-hop philosophy.
A Journey Through the Roots of Brooklyn
The crux of ‘Definition’ lies within the very geography from which it sprang. Black Star paints a sonic mural of Brooklyn, NY, the same sidewalks that walked the legends they salute. By narrating their own experiences — ranging from serene reflections to struggles on these streets — they anchor their artistry in realism. There’s a double entendre at play; as they walk us through physical locations, they’re simultaneously guiding us through the rich cultural tapestry that has defined their sound and storytelling.
Brooklyn becomes more than a setting; it’s a character, rich with narrative, etched with the legacy of Biggie, a symbol of both the glory and grit of hip-hop. This local connection is essential – it’s not just about representing where you are from, it’s about exalting the place as the crucible where your vision and voice were forged.
Tackling the Twin Towers of Tragedy in Hip-Hop
‘Definition’ isn’t coy about its commentary on violence in hip-hop, directly citing the assassinations of Tupac and Biggie as a dangerous landscape that emcees navigate. This isn’t gratuitous name-dropping. It’s an urgent call-to-arms, a reminder that the very act of sharing one’s voice and vision can be met with fatal resistance, a fact they bemoan as a perversion of the art form’s original intent.
The song warns of the pitfalls waiting for those who mistake hip-hop for a high-stakes battleground for egos rather than a platform for empowerment and community. Black Star’s introspection suggests that the real danger isn’t from without, but from a misstep within — a loss of vision, purpose, and self-awareness.
Deciphering the Hidden Meaning: Hip-Hop’s Call for Integrity
At its heart, ‘Definition’ is a plea for purification, a declaration of hip-hop’s need to reclaim its soul amongst the chaos of commercialism and violence. Black Star’s call for integrity is not an elitist purist view but a reminder of hip-hop’s roots in social commentary and community upliftment. They ask listeners to be visionary, to look beyond the smokescreen of instant gratification and see their contribution to a larger narrative that shapes cultures and lives.
This hidden meaning is the backbone of ‘Definition’: a call to action for artists and listeners alike to recognize and uphold the true value of their voices in the hip-hop sphere, shifting the focus from disposable tracks to lasting, meaningful art.
The Projectiles of Passionate Lyricism
Kweli and Mos Def don’t just describe the state of hip-hop; they embody the solution — wielding their words ‘like a roundhouse from the townhouse to the tenements.’ This is a showcase of skill, an exhibition of how powerful and poignant the spoken word can be when delivered with conviction and clarity. It’s also an education for those ‘featherweight’ emcees that litter the genre, a demonstration by two master craftsmen at work on their path to ‘redefine hip-hop.’
Their passionate delivery underlines the urgency of their message. Each verse is a meticulously crafted projective, loaded with triple entendres, internal rhymes, and a rhythmic complexity that engages both the ear and the intellect.
Quotable Quips: Lyrical Lines to Live By
‘Stop actin’ like a bitch already, be a visionary’ — these words cut deep, not just within the track but within the psyche of anyone engaging with ‘Definition’. Black Star takes aim at the complacency and conformity rampant within the genre, urging their peers to aspire higher, to be trailblazers rather than followers in a saturated market of mediocrity.
It’s not just a directive; it’s a potential epitaph for those lost in the art, for those who could find themselves in the obituary column rather than the annals of history for their contribution to culture and craft. This line, and many others within the song, exist as poetic landmarks, defining what Black Star stands for and challenging all who encounter their message to strive for the same standard of excellence and authenticity.
