Analysis Of Mos Def's Black Star

Black Star, composed of MC’s Mos Def and Talib Kweli, are joined by fellow rapper Common in their 1998 song “Respiration” to expose the decaying urban and societal conditions in their respective cities of Brooklyn and Chicago. Each artist paints a brilliant picture of their surroundings and deals with various issues which plague their communities. Mos Def’s verse is particularly well-written; in it he highlights the growing economic inequality, daily struggles of the inner city poor, and the overriding nature of the his city. Mos Def begins his verse with a beautiful, vivid description of the New York skyline. With the line, “the new moon rode high in the crown of the metropolis,” he establishes the dominance and almost royal nature of the

This also has a double meaning as thick skin can physically mean weathered, calloused hands from manual labor or metaphorically that New York’s residents are toughened mentally due to hardships. The second meaning implies that the “working class” people are dealt “second hand” items, such as “watches,” from the rich. The 1% accounts for the majority of the capital in America and the rest are left to fight among themselves for what is left. Yet another interpretation is that as the “second hand” ticks, the “working class” becomes increasingly hardened from

However, it is “bruised,” as it is filled with strife and people struggling to survive. The City is also “sweet,” as many people have a certain attraction towards it which is not easily resisted. Mos Def is saying that if you fall into the trap of the superficial glamour of the city, you will end up falling prey to the city’s rough and trying underside. There is also certainly a reference to the Garden of Eden and the forbidden fruit with this line. All knowledge, good and bad, is represented by the forbidden apple. Once eaten, man became “fallen” and subject to the struggles of Earthly life. Similarly, knowledge and all other pursuits are tempting, yet dangerous as they often lead us to unpleasant