Respiration (song)
Encyclopedia
"Respiration" is the second single from Black Star
's eponymously titled 1998 album (see 1998 in music
). It features guest rapping from Common
and guitar playing by DeChown Jenkins. It also features a Hi-Tek
produced beat that samples
"The Fox" by Don Randi. In addition, the song's introduction samples a monologue
from the hip hop documentary Style Wars
. It is found on Best of Decade I: 1995-2005
, a compilation of Rawkus Records
' best songs. It can also be found on Howie B's compilation album Another Late Night: Howie B
.
The lyrics of the album version of "Respiration" are a melancholy ode to city life. Whereas cities are often derided as inorganic, the song makes many references to features of organic life such as breathing, eating, and sleeping. However, most of these speak to a dark reality of life in the city. Mos Def compares the New York City to an apple, but not necessarily the benign "Big Apple" of myth: "the shiny apple is bruised but sweet/and if you choose to eat/you could lose your teeth." Talib Kweli talks about "breathing in deep city breaths/sitting on shitty steps/we stooped to new lows, hell froze/the night the city slept." In another line, Kweli gives life and flight to the aspirations of city dwellers, most of which go unrealized: "you look up in the sky for God/and what you see besides the smog/are broken dreams flying away on the wings of the obscene." In his verse, Common, who talks about Chicago, not New York City, remarks on how the city can represent the only environment many individuals will ever know: "I asked my man how he thought traveling the world sounds/Found it hard to imagine, he hadn't ever been past downtown."
Two remix
es were made for "Respiration": 'Flying High Mix' contains production by Pete Rock
and a verse by Black Thought
of The Roots
. Another remix found on the Hip Hop Classics Vol. 1 compilation album also features Pete Rock production, but has a guest verse by Common instead of Black Thought.
Black Star (hip hop group)
Black Star is a hip hop duo composed of Mos Def and Talib Kweli.-History:Black Star arose from the underground movement of the late 1990s, which was in large part due to Rawkus Records, an independent record label stationed in New York City. They released one self titled album...
's eponymously titled 1998 album (see 1998 in music
1998 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia...
). It features guest rapping from Common
Common (rapper)
Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an American hip-hop artist and actor....
and guitar playing by DeChown Jenkins. It also features a Hi-Tek
Hi-Tek
Tony Cottrell, better known as Hi-Tek, is an American record producer and rapper from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is best known for his work with Talib Kweli on his Reflection Eternal album and on Black Star...
produced beat that samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
"The Fox" by Don Randi. In addition, the song's introduction samples a monologue
Monologue
In theatre, a monologue is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience. Monologues are common across the range of dramatic media...
from the hip hop documentary Style Wars
Style Wars
Style Wars is a 1983 documentary on hip hop culture, directed by Tony Silver and produced by Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant. The film has an emphasis on graffiti, although bboying and rapping are covered to a lesser extent...
. It is found on Best of Decade I: 1995-2005
Best of Decade I: 1995-2005
Best of Decade I: 1995–2005 is a compilation album, featuring singles released on Rawkus Records during their first ten years. The compilation revolves around the label's star Mos Def, who appears on eight of the fifteen tracks...
, a compilation of Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records is an American hip-hop record label known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Rawkus started in 1996 with initial releases ranging from hip-hop to drum and bass...
' best songs. It can also be found on Howie B's compilation album Another Late Night: Howie B
Another Late Night: Howie B
Another Late Night: Howie B is a DJ mix album, mixed by Howie B. It was the second in the Another Late Night series and was released by Late Night Tales on 24 July 2001.-Track listing:# "What It Is?" - The Undisputed Truth...
.
The lyrics of the album version of "Respiration" are a melancholy ode to city life. Whereas cities are often derided as inorganic, the song makes many references to features of organic life such as breathing, eating, and sleeping. However, most of these speak to a dark reality of life in the city. Mos Def compares the New York City to an apple, but not necessarily the benign "Big Apple" of myth: "the shiny apple is bruised but sweet/and if you choose to eat/you could lose your teeth." Talib Kweli talks about "breathing in deep city breaths/sitting on shitty steps/we stooped to new lows, hell froze/the night the city slept." In another line, Kweli gives life and flight to the aspirations of city dwellers, most of which go unrealized: "you look up in the sky for God/and what you see besides the smog/are broken dreams flying away on the wings of the obscene." In his verse, Common, who talks about Chicago, not New York City, remarks on how the city can represent the only environment many individuals will ever know: "I asked my man how he thought traveling the world sounds/Found it hard to imagine, he hadn't ever been past downtown."
Two remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es were made for "Respiration": 'Flying High Mix' contains production by Pete Rock
Pete Rock
Peter Phillips , better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth...
and a verse by Black Thought
Black Thought
Tariq Trotter , better known as Black Thought, is an American hip-hop artist who is the lead MC of the Philadelphia-based hip hop group The Roots and occasional actor...
of The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
. Another remix found on the Hip Hop Classics Vol. 1 compilation album also features Pete Rock production, but has a guest verse by Common instead of Black Thought.
B-Side
- "Respiration (Flying High Radio Mix)"
- "Respiration (Flying High Main Mix)"
- "Respiration (Flying High Instrumental)"