Black Star Respiration Guide

: Samples a monologue from the 1983 graffiti documentary Style Wars , setting a gritty, authentic New York tone.

: Focuses on the duality of the city. He compares New York to a "bruised but sweet" apple, warning that those who "choose to eat" might lose their teeth—a metaphor for the dangers beneath the city's surface. Black Star Respiration

Respiration - song and lyrics by Black Star, Common - Spotify : Samples a monologue from the 1983 graffiti

: Listen to the album version or the official music video on YouTube. Respiration - song and lyrics by Black Star,

"Respiration" is a critically acclaimed 1998 hip-hop single by the duo (rappers Mos Def, now known as Yasiin Bey, and Talib Kweli), featuring a guest verse from Common . Produced by Hi-Tek, it is celebrated for its poetic, melancholy exploration of city life, comparing the concrete landscape to a living, breathing organism. Song Breakdown & Meanings