By Odeisel
Black Star’s one and done catalog has been made legendary by the finite supply and infinite demand for their product. Their debut is as good as gold in the hearts of the underground and their solo exploits have only served to make their absence as a duo more conspicuous. Fans gobble up every morsel as they release just enough stuff to make you hunger for more like you were Lloyd Banks. Here is another of those morsels, the Oh No produced gem, “You Already Knew.” Talib Kweli and the artist formerly known as Mos Def (Yasiin Bey) just don’t have the same ring, does it”) bring next level rhymes over crisp production like it was still the 1-9-9-9.
The track is the first off a coming mixtape where the duo pay homage to the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin. Her voice is chipmunked and beautifully woven into the fabric of the track along with charmingly placed softly sung vocal arrangements. They work perfectly against a dense drum and a moody backdrop. Oh No is oh snap on this beat.
They come out the gate swinging as Mos melds PE’s hardest with the power of God toppling the evil of Babylon. With such lofty reach, it’s no wonder that the people can’t get enough. That trademark syrupy slurred deep dish delivery that has endeared him to ladies and gents alike is in rare form.
Talib Kweli is at his very best, going hard at Rick Perry and John Kerry, lumping Republicans and Democrats in the same boat and delivers tight political allegory while keeping it earthy binding that talk with his personal life. “People used to give my mama a hard time, now the President is Black and his name is hard as mine,” notes Kweli in that age old debate about Black people naming their kids unconventional names.
The song is dope and more evidence that these two could have had one of the greatest group runs ever. We’ll settle for the kibbles and bits. “You Already Knew.”
Black Star “You Already Knew” by 3DDistro
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