Classic Verse: Black Star’s “Definition” (Video)

Here's my new test for a classic verse. If you're at a concert when the rappers launches into the verse and the entire crowd, I mean the entire crowd, knows every word, to the point where the rapper can pull that move where they just stand there and hold the microphone to the crowd, that's a classic verse. If you've ever been to a Mos Def, Talib Kweli and/or Black Star show, you know that's exactly what happens when "Definition" comes on. Sing it with me now: "One, two, three, it's kind of dangerous to be an emcee-e-e..." See more...



"Yo, from the first to the last of it, delivery is passionate
The whole and not the half of it, vocab and not the math of it
Projectile that them blasted with, accurate assassin shit
Me and Kweli close like, Bethlehem and Nazareth
After this you be pressing rewind on top your master disk
Shining like an asterisk for all those that be gatherin
Connectin like a roundhouse from the townhouse to the tenaments
Cause all my Brooklyn residents, march in heavy regiments
Don't believe, here the evidence, where Brooklyn WHAAAAAAAoohhhh
See that? Bound to take it all kid, believe that
From where they sellin tree at, to where the police be at
Talib Kweli equality yo tell them where we be at."

In fairness to Talib Kweli the man kills his verses too, but let's be honest, it's Mos' opening bid that's really the classic. While I sadly can't say this now, there was a time (when "Definition" came out actually) when you couldn't be taken seriously if you didn't include Mos in the the best rappers alive list, and this verse shows exactly why. Not only is it lyrically dense and dope, his command of flow and delivery are unparalleled. John Coltrane on the mic, that was the level Mos was at during his prime, and it just doesn't get any better than this verse (except for maybe "Ms. Fat Booty", which is also worthy of consideration here). What more can I really say but: "Manhattan keep on making it, Brooklyn keep on taking it."

If you’ve got a classic verse let me know at nathan(@)refinedhype.com.