Black Star Respiration [Top · 2026]

: The beat is built around a sample of "The Fox" by Don Randi.

"Respiration" is a critically acclaimed 1998 hip-hop single by the duo (rappers Mos Def, now known as Yasiin Bey, and Talib Kweli), featuring a guest verse from Common . Produced by Hi-Tek, it is celebrated for its poetic, melancholy exploration of city life, comparing the concrete landscape to a living, breathing organism. Song Breakdown & Meanings Black Star Respiration

: It is the second single from the duo's only studio album of that era, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star . How to Listen : The beat is built around a sample

: Focuses on the duality of the city. He compares New York to a "bruised but sweet" apple, warning that those who "choose to eat" might lose their teeth—a metaphor for the dangers beneath the city's surface. Song Breakdown & Meanings : It is the

Respiration - song and lyrics by Black Star, Common - Spotify