Journal 9 by Nick Giokas

            Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star is a new type of hip-hop that I think transcends the genre.  Rappers like Mos Def and Talib are relatively new to the hip- hop scene starting their careers in 1996 and 1995 respectively.  Both were rappers before that time but there public recognition began around that time.  Coming off an era of gangsta rap and hardcore rappers, Mos Def and Talib brought about a new alternative hip-hop.  The gangsta rap that came before Black Star involved lyrics that promoted violence, misogyny, and extreme consumerism.  Money was a main influence on those rappers as they made it apparent in most of their songs.  Mos Def and Talib decided to take a different route with Black Star, exploring the issues of violence, consumerism, and the rap genre as a whole.

            The album begins with the song “Astronomy” in which the word “black” is used in very different ways then its original meaning.  In the song the word black is used in a positive context, different than many rappers use the word.  Even though a majority of the rappers of the time were African American very few used the word “black” in such a positive way as Mos Def and Talib.  This song takes a stand on racism in the music industry that is brought about by others and by the rappers themselves.  The next couple songs cover the other main issue in rap music, which is violence.  Songs like “definition” contain a strong anti violence message.  This song covers the topic of famous rappers deaths such as Biggie and Tupac, which were a result of a rap feud at the time.  Both rappers fueled the feud with their songs and constantly egged each other on until both of them ended up dead.  Songs such as “definition” fight against the hip-hop genre with a different message then that rappers that evolved hip-hop preach.  The last main song with a good message is the fifth song Children’s Story in which the main idea is dealing with consumerism in modern day music.  The song describes a story in how hip-hop became a money-oriented genre.  Overall the album covers many issues that modern hip-hop chooses to ignore.  Coming from rough beginnings both Mos and Talib grew out of the culture of violence and consumerism and chose to speak out against it.