16. Black Star (Mos Def & Talib Kweli with Hi-Tek)
The Vibe: The Underground Intellectuals. Technically a duo of MCs, but their sound was defined by Hi-Tek, their “de facto” DJ and producer. They arrived in 1998 to save hip-hop’s soul during the “Shiny Suit” era. Hi-Tek’s warm, soulful, boom-tap production was the perfect canvas for Mos and Kweli’s poetic social commentary.
- Essential Track: “Definition”
- Blog Fact: The album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star was recorded at the height of the Rawkus Records era, the ultimate peak for “Conscious” underground hip-hop.
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