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{{Infobox song
{{Infobox Single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
| Name = Definition
| name = Definition
| Cover = Definition.jpg
| cover = Definition.jpg
| alt =
| Artist = [[Black Star (hip hop group)|Black Star]]
| type = single
| from Album = [[Black Star (album)|Black Star]]
| B-side =
| artist = [[Black Star (hip hop group)|Black Star]]
| Released = August 26, 1998
| album = [[Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star]]
| released = August 26, 1998
| Format = [[12-inch single]], [[CD single|CD]], [[Vinyl record|Vinyl]]
| Recorded = Funky Slice Studios; [[Brooklyn, New York|Brooklyn]], [[New York|NY]]
| recorded = 1997–1998<br>Funky Slice Studios; [[Brooklyn, New York|Brooklyn]], [[New York (state)|NY]]
| studio =
| Genre = [[Conscious hip hop|Conscious]] [[hip hop music|hip hop]]
| Length = 3:26
| venue =
| Label = [[Rawkus Records]]
| genre = [[Conscious hip hop]]
| length = 3:26
⚫
| Writer = [[Mos Def|Dante Smith]]<br>[[Talib Kweli|Talib Kweli Greene]]<br>[[Hi-Tek|Tony Cottrell]]
| Producer = [[Hi-Tek]]
| label = [[Rawkus Records]]
⚫
| writer = [[Mos Def|Dante Smith]]<br>[[Talib Kweli|Talib Kweli Greene]]<br>[[Hi-Tek|Tony Cottrell]]
| Certification =
| producer = [[Hi-Tek]]
| Last single =
| prev_title =
| This single = "'''Definition'''"<br>(1998)
| prev_year =
| Next single = "[[Respiration (song)|Respiration]]"<br />(1999)
| next_title = [[Respiration (song)|Respiration]]
| next_year = 1999
}}
}}


'''"Definition"''' is the first single from [[Black Star (hip hop group)|Black Star]]'s [[Black Star (album)|eponymously titled]] 1999 album (see [[1999 in music]]). It is produced by [[Hi-Tek]], who [[sampling (music)|samples]] "The P Is Free" by [[Boogie Down Productions]] for the track's beat. In addition, the song's chorus [[interpolation (music)|interpolates]] "Stop the Violence" by Boogie Down Production's. The chorus and the song's lyrics in general deal with the necessity to stop violence in hip hop. The song is an [[underground hip hop|underground]] hit, but it still reached #60 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] chart. It is featured on multiples compilations such as ''[[Best of Decade I: 1995-2005]]'', [[Rawkus Records]]' greatest hits album. [[Allmusic]] writer Jason Kaufman considers it to be a "flawless" track.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web | last = Kaufman | first = Jason | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:rd9hs37ia3rg | title = Black Star Review at Allmusic | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = June 14, 2007}}</ref>
"'''Definition'''" is the first single from [[Black Star (hip hop group)|Black Star]]'s [[Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star|eponymously titled]] 1998 album (see [[1998 in music]]). It is produced by [[Hi-Tek]], who [[sampling (music)|samples]] "The P Is Free" by [[Boogie Down Productions]] for the track's beat. In addition, the song's chorus [[Interpolation (popular music)|interpolates]] "Stop the Violence" by Boogie Down Productions. The chorus and the song's lyrics in general deal with the necessity to stop violence in hip hop. An [[underground hip hop|underground]] hit, the song still reached #60 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart. It is featured on multiples compilations such as ''[[Best of Decade I: 1995–2005]]'', [[Rawkus Records]]' greatest hits album. [[AllMusic]] writer Jason Kaufman considers it to be a "flawless" track.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web | last = Kaufman | first = Jason | url = {{Allmusic|class=album|id=r377081|pure_url=yes}} | title = Black Star Review at Allmusic | format = | publisher = | accessdate = June 14, 2007}}</ref>


A [[reprise]] of "Definition" named "RE:DEFinition" can be found on ''Black Star''.
A [[reprise]] of "Definition" titled "RE: DEFinition" can be found on the ''Black Star'' album.

It also appears on [[MTV Classic (U.S. TV network)|MTV Classic]]'s 90's Nation and [[Yo! MTV Raps#MTV Classic|Yo! Hip Hop Mix]].


==Track list==
==Track list==

===A-side===
===A-side===
# "Definition" (Radio Version)
# "Definition" (Radio Version)
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!Chart (1998)
!Chart (1998)
!Peak<br />position
!Peak<br />position
|-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Hot 100]]
|align="center"|60
|-
|-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks]]
|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks]]
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{{Mos Def}}
{{Mos Def}}
{{Talib Kweli}}
{{Talib Kweli}}

{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Definition (Song)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Definition (Song)}}
[[Category:1998 singles]]
[[Category:1998 singles]]
[[Category:Black Star songs]]
[[Category:Protest songs]]
[[Category:Black Star (group) songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Mos Def]]
[[Category:Songs written by Talib Kweli]]
[[Category:Songs written by Hi-Tek]]
[[Category:1998 songs]]
[[Category:Rawkus Records singles]]

Latest revision as of 05:09, 20 May 2024

"Definition"
Single by Black Star
from the album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
ReleasedAugust 26, 1998
Recorded1997–1998
Funky Slice Studios; Brooklyn, NY
GenreConscious hip hop
Length3:26
LabelRawkus Records
Songwriter(s)Dante Smith
Talib Kweli Greene
Tony Cottrell
Producer(s)Hi-Tek
Black Star singles chronology
"Definition"
(1998) 		"Respiration"
(1999)

"Definition" is the first single from Black Star's eponymously titled 1998 album (see 1998 in music). It is produced by Hi-Tek, who samples "The P Is Free" by Boogie Down Productions for the track's beat. In addition, the song's chorus interpolates "Stop the Violence" by Boogie Down Productions. The chorus and the song's lyrics in general deal with the necessity to stop violence in hip hop. An underground hit, the song still reached #60 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It is featured on multiples compilations such as Best of Decade I: 1995–2005, Rawkus Records' greatest hits album. AllMusic writer Jason Kaufman considers it to be a "flawless" track.[1]

A reprise of "Definition" titled "RE: DEFinition" can be found on the Black Star album.

It also appears on MTV Classic's 90's Nation and Yo! Hip Hop Mix.

Track list

[edit]

A-side

[edit]
  1. "Definition" (Radio Version)
  2. "Definition" (What We Really Said)
  3. "Definition" (Instrumental to Your Development)

B-side

[edit]
  1. "Twice Inna Lifetime" (Radiohead Version)
  2. "Twice Inna Lifetime" (Streethead Version)
  3. "Twice Inna Lifetime" (Instrumentally Yours)

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1998) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 60
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 31
U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Singles 3

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kaufman, Jason. "Black Star Review at Allmusic". Retrieved June 14, 2007.

See also

[edit]
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