Rawkus Records carved out a very important niche in hip-hop during the mid-to-late 1990s. As rap became more national and commercial, there surfaced a need for new artists and groups that adhered to traditional traits. That’s where the New York-based label fit right in.

Three years after Rawkus’ 1995 founding, two of its artists – Mos Def and Talib Kweli – united to create one of the imprint’s most celebrated works. On September 29, 1998, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star was born, providing the hip-hop world with one of its strongest duo debuts.

It’s clear that the influences that came before Mos and Talib, like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul, played heavily on their minds. Both artists were heavily involved in Brooklyn and the larger Big Apple underground scenes before forming Black Star. They then linked with Cincinnati’s Hi-Tek, who provided much of the production for the album.

Black Star was recorded over nine months and proved impressively cohesive for a duo who had previously worked together in a limited capacity. It’s soulful, educational, and timeless – attributes each emcee would become known to carry throughout their perspective solo careers.

“Definition,” the LP’s first single, has Mos and Talib paying homage to Brooklyn and hip-hop’s Golden Age. Boogie Down Productions’ “The P Is Free” and “Stop the Violence” are flawlessly sampled by Tek. It transitions perfectly into the instant remix “Re: Definition,” which has Mos boasting about his uniqueness as an emcee.

Much like The Roots’ “What They Do” from two years earlier, Mos uses his solo track “Children’s Story” to deplore the music industry, particularly the state of hip-hop and its perceived lack of creativity at the time. In a dichotomy of sorts, Kweli employs “K.O.S. (Determination),” his solo cut, to encourage his fans to value education and greater knowledge of the world surrounding them.

“Hater Players” provides additional commentary, as the duo casts shade on rappers receiving commercial attention and praise – not based on their skills but personal appeal. “Some heads approach like I’m the one to base with / Clowns about to scream and shout but don't say s**t,” raps Mos Def. “I ain’t your student so I ain’t to be tested / I'm majestic, I represent my strength without effort.” Mind you, this is when hip-hop had some sort of accountability.

Black Star’s second single, “Respiration,” is perhaps the most critically acclaimed on the project and has Common on the opening. The trio uses the song to describe numerous American cities and their vibrancy. Hi-Tek builds gorgeous jazzy instrumentals that progress through the song’s verses.

In addition to being a classic album, Black Star would help launch successful solo careers for both Talib and Mos (who would later go by the moniker Yasin Bey). A year later, the latter would release Black on Both Sides – another indie hip-hop album under the Rawkus tree. A year after that, Kweli and Tek dropped Train of Thought. Eventually, they would reunite as Black Star for 2022’s No Fear of Time, which helped remind everyone of the chemistry the two rap legends have together.

Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star may perhaps be best remembered as a standout of its time, simply due to its refusal to bend to the sonic and lyrical pressures of its day. And while it’s a launching pad for both Mos and Talib, many still consider it the best work either emcee dropped during their careers. It’s Brooklyn, but also features many Midwestern flavors and the soul/funk sampling that comes from it. It’s simply a perfect hip-hop album that remains timeless to this day.