Three words: Blackstar is back! Who is Blackstar you ask? Back in the late 1990s, rappers Mos Def (currently known as Yasiin Bay) and Talib Kweli got together to form the rap duo known as Blackstar. This group was more than just a great rap group from Brooklyn. The conscious rhymes and stellar production (DJ Hi-Tek, The Beatminerz, and 88 Keys to name a few) of this group's hit records represented a bold movement in positivity in hip hop at the time; a 'fire in the dark' as Mos Def would say in the wake of the shootings of rappers Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. Blackstar was also one of the major groups to put Rawkus Records on the map, a dominant label in the 90s underground hip hop scene. The first (and only) full length album this rap duo produced, titled Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, dropped back in August 1998 and ever since has launched the careers of both of these emcees. Since that first album release, many rap fans were left to wonder where Blackstar went and would they ever return to the spotlight?
Well, the wait is finally over. While on tour for the legendary Rock the Bells tour this past summer of 2011, both emcees confirmed that Blackstar would be reuniting and are working on an album for an early 2012 release. Inspired by that news on this Throwback Thursday, I decided to highlight one of my favorite Blackstar records called 'Definition.' Blackstar has also released its first single (been waiting a long time to say that) called 'Fix Up,' which they debuted on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report. This will be the first offering from the rap duo in over 13 years, so it will definitely be interesting to see how Blackstar fairs in a new era of hip hop. Blackstar, welcome home. We solute you.
BlackStar's Definition Video
BlackStar's Debut of 'Fix Up' on The Colbert Report
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