“The parable of the talented, each generation / The wonders and the wealth of all nations / Is really chump change once you take into consideration / The living revelation that no soul could escape from / So go on, let a sucker say something / ‘Cause even when they’re saying something, they ain’t saying much,” Bey raps. On “o.G.,” Bey naturally interweaves social consciousness, his religion as a devoted Muslim, and poetry into his music, resulting in verses that has multiple meanings that need more than one listen to decipher. Recorded guerrilla-style in hotel rooms and dressing rooms across the globe, the album sounds vintage and free-flowing like they just let the Madlib beat tape play on repeat. No Fear of Time is fueled by Black Star’s emotional connections to God, shout outs to Brooklyn, grievances with the American political system, and the importance of Black ownership. Both Kweli and Bey sound motivated and excited to rap like they’re back in their 20s. “And there’s nothing wrong with loving what you do and doing it for the love.” That’s the key difference between ’98 Black Star and ’22 Black Star on No Fear of Time : one half is doing it for the love while the other is doing it for the love and making a point. “We started out rhyming in the park, with no money, no tokens,” Kweli said at the time. Before the duo released their own classic album - Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star - in September, a VIBE Next feature from April that same year told the story of how Kweli and Mos’ duo came to be. In 1998, Black Star debuted during a time when artists like DMX, N.O.R.E., Big Pun, OutKast, Master P, Lauryn Hill, and JAY-Z dropped what many consider today as their classic albums. And to be closer to whatever your core is, whether it’s a belief in God, whether it’s a set of morals that you follow.” Available only on Luminary (a subscription podcast platform), the album’s message - according to Kweli - is to remain true to one’s self: “To not let time, money, clout, trends dictate how you move. How does Black Star fit in all this? After many false starts over the years, Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli finally reunited as Black Star to release No Fear of Time, which is entirely produced by Madlib and their first project in 24 years. This subculture has plenty more opportunities to provide commentary and dissect lyrics, making connections from hip-hop’s past, present, and future. Morale & the Big Steppers and Quelle Chris’ DEATHFAME are both dropping on May 13. In the past few weeks, the album releases of Vince Staples, Pusha T, and Action Bronson have brought a renewed respect for lyricism and penmanship, elevating their writing game to a new level. In today’s landscape, there’s a subculture of rap fans who still want albums with a message. Photo Credit: C Flanigan/WireImage On No Fear of Time, Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey - as Black Star - sound motivated and excited to rap like they’re back in their 20s.
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