If I were destined to spend my dying days on a desert island, and told I could only bring with me ten albums, BlackStar's 1998 debut (Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star) would be one of the first ones I'd think of to bring. Respiration is easily the strongest tracks and clearly why it was seen to've been released as a single.

While most would preach: "It's all about the Pete Rock Flying High mix, bruv", I'd argue that even a production genius such as Mr. Rock would find it hard to better that which is already perfect in every way: Talib Kweli, Mos Def and Common, the thinking person's MC's of choice; before the back-packing, train-set colleting fraternity had mutated and menstruated out the annoying term, "conscious rapper" – Talib, Mos and CommSense are mesmerising with each and every line of this ode to city life. Each has a definitive, decisive and destructive presence on the mike. Each delivers their distinctive flow like a torrential force, conveying with conviction their clever wordplay and witticisms'.
Mos's metaphoric analogy of New York as an apple is genius: "The shiny apple is bruised but sweet and if you choose to eat you could lose your teeth." Talib's life and flight of a city dwellers aspirations are thought provoking: "You look up in the sky for God and what you see behind the smog are broken dreams flying away on the wings of the obscene." And Common's observation is one of a city person often only ever experiencing that environment: ""I asked my guy how he thought traveling the world sound. He found it hard to believe, he hadn't ever been past downtown." Not punch-lines, exactly, but certainly a jab and hook or two that would wobble David Haye's knees. And that's without mentioning Hi-Tek's skillful production saucery, working his magic in this potion of a finely chopped Don Randi's 'The Fox' blended with a buoyant beat that bobs along with a steady current that pulls along these fine poets substance filled social commentary with ease.
I like this record. I like this record a lot!