Dad says "THIS IS HIP HOP!" hearing Black Star - Respiration | Mos Def & Talib Kweli

[@frontroom]

click here to watch reactions Big Pun, Raekwon, Lupe Fiasco, etc: www.patreon.com/collection/414865

[@garyoak4175]

You guys are always on point with these classics.

[@bobbydeazy]

Blackstar also includes Hi-tek the producer. Least that’s how I saw it, as Reflection Eternal was also him and Talib. Mos def imagery in this track is one of the greatest poetic rap verses ever.

[@prolifik5]

@@bobbydeazy I don't think so, Black Star had production from a few different people.

[@bobbydeazy]

@@prolifik5 this is true just mostly hi tek.

[@josephmedeiros6559]

Please do Talibs Reflection Eternal Album!

[@NOBUxDrillz]

Mos Def is one of my favorite lyricist of all time, and he doesn't get the flowers he deserves

[@loki2240]

Because most dudes don't want to be him and most females don't want to sleep with him. It's been an issue with all intellectual male rappers who "haven't been hood enough" (which has essentially meant rapping about drugs and/or violence).

[@2Faded247]

💯💯

[@humble_haplo]

Amen

[@NQuiroz17]

It's awesome how you turned your Dad into a Hip-hop head. Awesome way to bond

[@Sunmoonandstars123]

Dad's face when the beat dropped! He's a true head.

[@holizmoyombo4686]

"THIIIIS is Hip-Hop!" brought so much joy to me to hear. You and Dad get it

[@travisstamp7428]

Traded the New Balance for a pair of Timbs!

[@JoshToksPop85]

This is something I tried and failed to do in 1998

[@vaughnstephanus1217]

"This is Hip Hop, This is Hip Hop". Your dad has come a long way by showing him all the classic hip hop. This is the best father son music channel. Kai you have great taste and it's amazing to see your dad become a fan of hip hop like this.

[@kaikhari9599]

Mos is a LYRICAL MASTERMIND!!! "Blastin' holes in the night til she bled sunshine" 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@maxwellsamuel3255]

The visual is insane😭😭🔥🔥🔥

[@shotbyfabi]

Mos Def in my opinion is the closest to being the definition of Hip-Hop in one emcee. He's done it all, and can do it all. From lyrics to choruses, to delivery, freestyle, cyphers, underground and commercial, singing. EVERYTHING.

[@shannonsmith7634]

Putting dad on to one of the best songs in HISTORY 🔥🔥🔥❤

[@moebetta08]

The Blackstar album is one of my top ten all time favorites of any genre. It’s a timeless classic that always feels fresh no matter how many times you’ve heard it. Absolute masterpiece.

[@loutzzzz]

Facts brother

[@micbizzle]

Gotta listen to the whole black star. Put your dad on rawkus records. These guys have all been rapping together since they were kids. Hi tek and kweli are a group as well.

[@stat124]

The look on your face while showing your dad this is the same face my brother had when he let me hear this for the first time.

[@brotherafrika]

The Remix with Black Thought is ILL too!

[@chrisrios802]

Goosebumps when pops said "this is Hip-Hop!"

[@MichaelCouture87]

I lost my twin brother recently, and this album held a special place for both of us. 'Thieves In The Night' probably being the favorite track, but 'Respiration' is also great (check out the remix as well). We both bonded over this channel as well...love the relationship you guys have and the music you select! I'd definitely recommend more Talib reactions! 'Good Mourning', 'Ghetto Show' (feat Common), 'The Blast' (have you already reacted to that?), etc... are all great places to start.

[@frontroom]

Real sorry to hear about your brother. Hoping good thoughts of him are giving you strength. - Kai's dad

[@MichaelCouture87]

@@frontroom Thank you! Good memories are definitely keeping me going, as well as the little things (like your channel and the reactions to music we also love). A few weeks ago my mom was listening to her old CDs, and among them was a blank one she threw on assuming it was a mix of her music. It happened to be an old Talib Kweli mix my brother must've made years ago...needless to say, she randomly became a fan (and she's not into hip-hop at all). I wish you guys and this channel much success! It means a lot to a lot of people.

[@GodlessG0D]

Lyrical Hip-Hop again! Thank you!! Just thought I'd add that "the beast" represents the criminal justice system (cops/ judges/court/jail/prison, etc.)... In this example, the police, and how they radio communicate (chirp) to the "ghetto bird" which is the police helicopter.

[@frontroom]

Thanks! Would’ve never guessed

[@GodlessG0D]

@frontroom Yeah, Ice Cube has a West Coast classic titled "Ghetto Bird", and the beast is referenced in countless Hip-Hop songs like The Fugees track "The Beast".

[@verbone]

@@frontroom The beast, in this context, is police. So picture police creeping through the hood, communicating with police helicopters overheard and the fear they instill in some neighborhoods.

[@Msboochie2]

⁠@@frontroomThe ”Beast” in this scenario, refers to the cops on their beat. Old school good walked through their assigned neighborhood, known as a best. The ” plunger” refers to the infamous crimes committed against an immigrant by an officer of the 72nd Precinct. Where a police officer savagely sodomized a man who was a Hatian immigrant, with a plunger from the police bathroom. There's so much NYC history in their music, that we can sometimes forget everyone doesn't know.

[@Msboochie2]

@@GodlessG0D I was going to add KRS-One ” Sound of da Police”.. Whoop, whoop! That's the sound of the beast!

[@downforanything1265]

If you guys wondered what the intro was talking about it’s cut from the first documentary on graffiti in the 70s and 80s New York called Style Wars. Skeme is talking about the train he had painted the night before

[@frontroom]

Thanks for that. - Kai's dad

[@Mikeonthemic80]

A lot of Skyzoo's music really gives me Mos Def vibes

[@nastynate1028]

“…make the bread leaven”=literally bread rising, but also making money… bread being money… great double entendre “Hard knuckles on the second(2nd) hands of working class watches” is my favorite one on this track tho… meaning second hands on a watch, but then also 2nd hand, like handed down… real hiphop is the realest

[@bigredcotter]

Truly one of the greatest rap songs ever. Now do the remix!!

[@brandonshaw5882]

Easily one of my top 5 favorite hip hop albums all time! Mos and Kweli are lyrical geniuses! Thanks for covering this one!!

[@lexxon11]

The bond you and your father have is a example of positive Father-Son relationships ! Bendiciones de cielo!!!!

[@Camille4Real]

@21:04 "ghetto birds" is slang for helicopters. Usually police helicopters searching for suspects in the neighborhood.

[@ramman411970]

100% correct

[@dioni79]

Appreciation for music is so beautiful. It can make you shed a tear.

[@turtle4614]

This song! Have never stopped banging this one!

[@blackmist1981]

This is one of the pinnacles of True Lyricism. Not a single throw away bar

[@lestatx2]

I once ran around Newark with Mos' grandfather. He was kind as he was cool.

[@thexyzhead]

GKMC and TPAB pls! WE'VE BEEN WAITING TOO LONG!

[@CHILLIJRSecondchannel]

Your right. We need that

[@tellitubbie8]

Yesss, please @frontroom 🙏

[@shinebabyshine.]

One of the best hip hop songs of all time. The feel of this song is like no other ❤

[@texwilliamson4692]

Hearing Pops say This is hip hop made my year.

[@johnsullivano4470]

Bro the joy when the bass hits 😆 love it

[@shawnptheaborigine1459]

Dude I’m 54 so I still have this cd I remember when this came out I worked about 30 mins away from where I use to live and I use to just bump this every day on the way to work and back. Good shit🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@tanyalc]

Thieves in the Night by Black Star is my favorite song of all time. Hope you guys react to it one day 🙏

[@yaonabi]

one of the greatest songs EVER!

[@emanuelandrewsiii4160]

Definitely one of my favorite tracks of all time. Of course this albums is littered with gems. Thieves N Da Night is one I could listen to all day. I was introduced to this album back in 2000. I may have listened to it, without skipping, more than 1000 times.

[@seansuperflymason]

YESSSSSSS SO GLAD YOU DID THIS ONE!! Easily my favorite Hip Hop 🙌 song of all time and I consider it probably the Best Rap song of all time! ❤ great video

[@frontroom]

Can't argue with you on that. Thanks for watching - Kai's dad

[@seansuperflymason]

@frontroom Thanks for making these videos, really inspiring for me to try to get closer with my Dad too as we always bonded over music 🎶 Great channel 👍 👏 You and Kai are dope!

[@bobbydeazy]

This song might be one of the greatest hip hop tracks and albums v few people appreciate!

[@JungleFromHempstead-qv7kz]

22:01 that was Spike Lee’s 2nd movie …and its name is Do The Right Thing……His first movie is “She’s Gotta Have It” …check it out!!!

[@zeelao9324]

Kweli is a Swahii word meaning truth.

[@JustDeJane]

“This is hip hop!” He felt it.

[@LordZevv]

This song belongs in a museum as an example of what TRUE HIP-HOP is supposed to be. The combination of poetry always gives me goosebumps everyone i listen to this track. 🔥🔥🔥

[@JungleFromHempstead-qv7kz]

Good selection guys…this album is nothing short of amazing

[@kingmarkseven17]

Respiration is such an amazing and beautiful song. Great reaction! BTW.. A GHETTO BIRD is a police chopper 🚁 The beast (police) communicates with it while it's in the air.

[@Pooz30]

This is the most perfect song in hip hop history.

[@Adamsilvernail1881]

One of the most classic Hip Hop albums of all time, in my opinion.

[@adrianpeart]

Simply one of the best Hip-Hop tracks of all time

[@verbone]

The woman is singing, "Listen, the city is breathing." If you've been here, you know NYC has its own pulse, its own contained world. I'm sure other large, culturally cities have similar pulses. It almost feels like the city is alive, fueled by the energy of 8 million of us. Also, the intro is from Wild Style, a must watch movie for any and all hip hop heads (even if graffiti isn't your thing). Edit: Also, the "plungers" line - and someone can correct me if I'm wrong - talks about taking risks and succumbing to prison/death, which are too often the outcomes in some areas. More specifically, the "painted by numbers" line I believe is alluding to people succumbing to outcomes that the system, e.g., poverty, etc., can lead people to. It's a theme he used throughout the verse.

[@AficionadoOfArt]

Escuchela……la ciudad respirando……..chills every time……….❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ashbeeharry]

Next RE:DEFINITION plz, the track where Mos Def took it up a level 🤯

[@quietdogbitehard]

I truly believe that this is the greatest hip hop song ever made.

[@p4rt_t1me_g0d]

Now you have to do the remix featuring none other than Black Thought. Speaking of Black Thought, you should do his Funk Master Flex freestyle, it's crazy!

[@tysonroberts9887]

Ur Dad is a mother F ing OG 👊 he called out common the corner song hella good 💯💯 🔥🔥 great job

[@ADAMdinho1]

Knew that Dad would love Mos Def & Talib Kweli

[@Kasu-AL]

Great reaction. This is a classic for sure. This was a great time to be a hip hop fan but I guess every generation has their moment

[@HTrot]

The remix of this with Black Thought is next level!!

[@wingullward]

This is one of my boyfriend's favorite songs ❤ so excited to watch this with him

[@chriswade404]

I saw them perform the whole album in order at The House of Blues. Amazing

[@basick86]

wow... cant believe you did this revolutionary rap classic.

[@OfficialFastBreak]

Skys the Limit by The Notorious B.I.G or Hypnotize (If you choose Hypnotize don't listen to the video, as the effects and sounds of the video scenery will reduce the whole song)

[@imrana555]

One of my favorite songs of all time! I can't choose a favorite couplet, but Mos' verse is impeccable. The vivid imagery, his flow and inflections, just everything about his verse is amazing. Great reaction! I especially appreciated your breakdown of the 'seconds hands of working class' line. I've listened to this song a million and one times and you brought new imagery to that line for me! Cheers!!

[@frontroom]

Thanks for watching.

[@Sunmoonandstars123]

Yayyyyyyyyy! One of my favorite hiphop albums of all time!

[@loki2240]

Just a heads up, leavened bread is bread that has been risen (usually with yeast). In contrast, unleavened bread hasn't been risen - a "flat" bread.

[@frontroom]

@@loki2240 thank you for the info!

[@ChazBrown22]

Great song

[@waymonbrown]

3 Song Recommends ~ Lupe: I'm Beamin or Dumb It Down 👍 Wu Tang: Triumph 👍 Busta Rhymes: Everything Remains Raw 👍 3 Album Recommends ~ Common: Like Water for Chocolate 👍 The Game: Jesus Piece 👍 Rick Ross: God Forgives, I Don't 👍

[@jeezie80]

Y'all should do the whole album!!

[@katec8796]

Mos Def is in my top 3-5 favorite rappers of all time - he's utterly sublime ;)

[@nicolawalton3510]

I’ve just seen talib kweli live in uk he was awesome ❤

[@globalnomad7]

Great selection! Your dad should listen to Black Thoughts Funk Master Flex Freestyle, I think he would appreciate it.

[@lrgreen1009]

When my nephew was in 9th grade (in 03) his English teacher took his rhyme book and told him he shouldn't me listening to rap. I sent her a copy of Hater Players from BlackStar. She gave him his book back and thanked me. 🙂 Anyone who loves words/poetry/literature should love BlackStar.

[@bigernmacrackin6176]

Definition is going to blow his mind lol

[@tee2008j]

Dez Aka Dezzy Dez Aka DJ Kay Slay may you continue to Rest In Eternal Paradise for the intro...

[@reno2859]

"THIS is Hip Hop!" Yooooooooo!!! You're dad's a Hip Hop head!!! 🔥

[@Jamm0_19]

Respiration and Redefinition are some of if not Mos Def’s hardest songs

[@tahajfirst6836]

I think the "sigh before it died" also refers to the "hiss" sound a train makes after coming to a stop and releasing the pressure from the brakes...just a guess, but it's what I've always thought of

[@albatrossbos]

Dad was so amped to get Common!

[@WARR1OR100]

Dr.dre and ice cube natural born killaz

[@manzell]

Remix version even better. Saw Talib and Hi-Tek in Cincinnati in 2001. At the time I didn't realize how special that was!

[@Progressive.G]

This man's dad knows more about hip hop than 99% of the rappers out today

[@j.r.stewart8450]

A masterpiece. Forever. 🤘🏻

[@paradoxicalegg6112]

AHHHH please do some MF DOOM

[@holizmoyombo4686]

"keeping it real will make you a casualty of abnormal normality-- Killers born naturally like Mickey and Mallory; Not knowing the ways will get you capped -- like an NBA salary" NBA is a salary capped league and Mickey and Mallory are the main characters in Quentin Tarantino's film, "Natural Born Killers"

[@MrRasheed7]

Mos Def is your favorite rapper's favorite rapper. I had to look up the word "inscrutable" because of this guy...

[@ikethompson9812]

🔥 great song

[@mcca555]

You need to do Re:Definition. Absolute banger of a track.

[@frontroom]

I honestly prefer it to Definition - unlike most people, I think

[@joshuaangulo3411]

This song is amazing. Most def is top 5 🔥

[@AyeeDeeMadeIt]

6:05 is like he unlocked the final piece of understanding in hip hop

[@newvillain_1]

loves this!!

[@NJbakintheday]

"A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" well known novel by Betty Smith about life in a Brooklyn tenement.

[@frontroom]

Thanks for that. (Kai's dad)

[@S0DAPOPINSKI1979]

The New Danger is one of the most underrated rap albums ever

[@pastense]

Wow, this literally making me tear up 🥲 It’s so cool to see a boomer being captivated by some of the best hip hop in existence! This is almost Shakespearean-level poetry. Bought this CD twice because I played the sh!t outta the first one lol. Yall gotta hear the remix which features the legendary Black Thought instead of Common. Identical hook, but different beat and different lyrics. And still DOPE! “Keepin it real will make you a casualty of abnormal normality.” My favorite bar from Kweli Also, “ghetto birds” is the sound of police sirens

[@TheJerbol]

'Hard knuckles on the second hand of working class watches' What a brilliant line

[@a_lacan6870]

"You on the wrong side of the track, lookin' visibly shaken/ Takin' them plungers, plugin' to death that's paint by the numbers" is about shooting up with a needle. "For trees to grow in Brooklyn, seeds need to be planted" is a reference to a book or film titled A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.

[@MFGeedorah47]

This album has some absolutely insane gems in it

[@damondej]

This should have 100K views, pisses me off.

[@frontroom]

😂❤️

[@Adversital]

Thieves in the night pls!

[@txzbelle75]

They're both in my Top 10!

[@malcolmclanton6216]

“This is Hip Hop”✌🏾💙

[@Jordanthetwin]

Check out the remix with Black Thought from The Roots

[@stat124]

Pops is right! This is Hip Hop!!!

[@danielnyundo1180]

Listenin' to shorties cuss long Young girls with weak minds but they butt strong His touching on girls that emphasis more on their body features instead of mental ability.

[@747Cone]

Great reaction, you gotta do Theives in the Night from the same Blackstar album. A masterpiece imo

[@ktpkennedy]

Since you appreciate the lyricism of this track, may I recommend "Thieves In the Night" from the same album. That song might have my favorite Mos Def verse.

[@anthonyv6962]

plunger = the cap pushed on spray-paint can that allows the spray out

[@tomdalauro168]

It's also a double entendre in that he's talking about Dialo who was assaulted by NYPD with a broom stick...