I once drove for Common when he was in Sydney (touring with Kweli). I didn't mention a thing about knowing his music the whole day and night I was with him. Out of everyone I've driven for he was the most respectful and got us ALL in after hours at a very swanky bar on Crown Street (most artists just let the drivers sit in the car). Kweli took an Uber home even though he had a driver arranged lol. Anyway, Common was exhausted by the end of the night, as was I, he had just gotten off a plane and played a show, then had beautiful women approaching him from every direction all night. I finally decided to mention that I listed to Respiration a lot, especially during the winter, and that his verse was one of my favourites ever. His face immediately lit up and gave me a really genuine thank you and said that that's one of his favourite verses he's ever done, he looked me in the eyes and finally realised I was a fan of his and asked me if I wanted to take a photo. I looked at my boss who nodded his approval and said yes that would really make my night. Thank you Black Star!

@MrEdgerr

Жыл бұрын

Incredible story! Thank you for sharing!

@jayoli7073

Жыл бұрын

Talib loves Ubers lol...He takes them all the time.

@JordanIsaac1

Жыл бұрын

Dope story g! Glad you got dat experience. I love hearing hip-hop stories

@neilifill4819

Жыл бұрын

Cool story!

@nervousallday

Жыл бұрын

Common was staying at a hotel where I used to work. I didn't know he was staying there. When I walked by a room with an open door, I usually stop and ask the guests inside if that is what they want and would they like me to close it. I saw Common and one of his people in the room relaxing. I respectfully asked if he would like me to close the door and he explained that it was like that on purpose because he was waiting for a friend to stop by. When I mentioned that I was a fan of his music (I pretty much know Resurrection, ODIWAMS, and LWFC by heart), he actually invited me inside to chat. I had a chance to converse with him about music for about 30 minutes. He was super cool. I had to contain myself to keep from acting like a total fan, but he was so down to earth, it was like talking to an old friend. I saw and met a lot of celebrities when I worked for that hotel. Most of them were pretty cool, they just wanted their space. He, and Dave Chappelle, were easily two of the coolest guests I ever had a chance to meet and I will always be fond of those memories.

Please make the 2 hour version of this. I want you to talk about everything. Don’t leave any stones unturned!!!!

@diggingthegreats

Жыл бұрын

🔥🔥

@veiledrecalcitrance4314

Жыл бұрын

I second this request!

@rayneozier

Жыл бұрын

Hear, hear🔥

@iksaxophone

Жыл бұрын

Yea @diggingthegreats I think the world is ready for the long-form material, bring it onnn

@BruceKendallMartinJr

Жыл бұрын

We are all about that...bless us

Yasiin Bey's verse on "Thieves in the Night" might be my favorite hip-hop verse of all time

@TerryBorderline

Жыл бұрын

Mine as well! I wrote a whole essay about that song in highschool 13 years ago

Listening to this album aged 42 sounds just as fresh when I got it in 1998......

This album was way ahead of its time and has aged very well. This one still get occasional play.

I bought this album and Pete Rock's Soul Survivor on the same day. Both were the last two cassette music tapes I ever bought (Like most people I moved on to CDs, P2P file sharing, and now streaming...I also just starting recollecting vinyl). To say they both satisfied my music soul then and now are understatements. Much respect!

@nervousallday

Жыл бұрын

I still break out the Soul Survivor at least once a year. I loved the way PR matched the beats to fit the artists and I think it is still one of the illest things he ever done to this day.

I remember my roommate in college use to play this album from sun up to sundown. It was cool at first but I started dreaming the lyrics and had to buy him headphones!

@diggingthegreats

Жыл бұрын

😂😂

One of the GREATEST albums of all times.

@italiancapo7

Жыл бұрын

I wouldn’t go that far. Kweli has some classic solo albums better than Blackstar including his work with Hi-Tek.

@kagisonkabini2021

Жыл бұрын

@@italiancapo7 that's why everyone has different tastes in music. What I perceive and what you perceive might not always align.

@IncanTek24

23 күн бұрын

@@italiancapo7 what is Kweli's best album?

These two are criminally underrated. Stellar as usual, Digs ! Really appreciate all the work !

@diggingthegreats

Жыл бұрын

Agreed! They’re both next level

@GrimyGrafhic

Жыл бұрын

They are not underrated. They are rated very high by the people they made the musics for. Their music is not for the mainstream so it can seem like they so get more props from outsiders but that’s not what they wanted. To get that recognition you’re saying they deserve, they would have to make different hip hop.

@Driftved

Жыл бұрын

oh hell yea.. Mos Def is one of my personal top goats

@nervousallday

Жыл бұрын

@@GrimyGrafhic For real, I mean Hov even voiced his admiration for Kweli and Common on "Moment of Clarity". They had a certain lane and they stayed in it. I attended plenty of shows where they performed and they never had a problem selling tickets.

These hiphop videos are beautifully produced and very, very necessary out here among all this foolishness. Keep up this beautiful work.

@diggingthegreats

Жыл бұрын

🙏🙏

@fbaallied

Жыл бұрын

I know! So-called ''Hip-hop" channels would rather post content about drama.

In 9th grade English my teacher played us thieves in the night and told us to write an essay about its themes in conjunction with the book we were reading as a class at the time. Since then this album has always had a special place in my heart. Awesome vid as usual.

@frightenedsoul

Жыл бұрын

Wish I’d had teachers that cool. Never really had one include music after middle school that I can remember.

@mukaiba1

Жыл бұрын

Thieve in the Night is a hidden gem! The depth that they went to in that track amazes me to this day!

@Papoose316

Жыл бұрын

Give me the fortune keep the fame said my man Louis, I agreed know what he means because we live the truest lie. 🖤

I’m 43 so the 90’s was my time. Love the old school hip hop, soul/neo-soul content you’re doing. Good shit

Black Star is probably in my Top 3 albums all-time - I still listen to it regularly. Respiration and KOS are my faves, but Thieves in the Night is a hidden gem! So glad this album is getting its flowers!

I discovered this album while trippin on acid. It was respiration actually that I first heard. Ohhhh the chills. The instrumental alone gave me goosebumps, and this strange feeling I couldn't describe even now. Then the lyrics hit. This is a true piece of art and one of the best hip hop albums ever made

This guy should hit 500,000 subs in a year. His videos hitttttt!

It's crazy cause the content stands alone as great. But bro is in the comments talking about the music. Liking the comments. It's only up from here. If your the only person to see this know, YOUR GOING TO THE STRATOSPHERE 💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿

@diggingthegreats

Жыл бұрын

Aww man thank you! This is some of my favorite music ever, so I’ll take any chance I get to talk about it!

One of the best albums around. My favorite track has to be Hater Players, Mos' verse has some incredible imagery. Also those Apani adlibs and bass!

Dude I found this channel on some late night shit and it’s been a blessing man! I was born in 95 so a lot of the music you discuss I wasn’t able to understand in real time. The way you break things down let’s us go listen to this music and it’s a WHOLE new experience.

Love these hip hop history videos!!! That Black Star album STILL gives me life more than 20 years later.

Amazing album, and if anyone hasn't checked out Talib's podcast People's Party, you should. He is one hell of an interviewer and the stories from hip hop you get are priceless.

This channel has the most comprehensive, well-researched, well-selected musical references in the game. Wow. And the video graphics are also extremely well done. I'm a huge fan of Mos & Talib and have been lucky to see them live several times. This video is just so so good!

Man the skills they had were way ahead of time...Real MCs of Hip hop...paving way for thousands of artists to follow 🔥🔥🔥

the production quality on these videos is insane man

@diggingthegreats

Жыл бұрын

Gotta do it up right! The music deserves it!

The greatest hip hop album IMO… absolute masterpiece and still reach for regularly now. Mos Defs verse on Respiration a lesson is penmanship… you don’t get verses like that anymore..

Gotta be pound for pound the best channel on youtube, keep doing what you doing and youll blow up in no time, thanks.

Elles sont super tes vidéos, continue comme ça frère 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 from Paris, 🇫🇷

Thank you for this. Black Star is my fave hiphop album of all time. So glad you breakadawn for us!

Your work just keeps getting better and better. Thanks for this one!

@diggingthegreats

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much 🙏

I feel like I am in a history class that I am enjoying. Excellent work.

I didn't hear this album until maybe 2005-06 but was instantly one of my favorites and still is to this day. I recite some verses from this almost daily for over 15 years

This video flew by in a minute! I’m super happy seeing your channel grows in thousands each time I check the videos. Keep up the amazing work and thank you!

The fact that I’ve been binging your channel the whole day and listened to Mos Def’s Black On Both Sides You putting out this video is craaaazy

We need part 2 now with no fear of time.

You present everything so well! Thanks for all the dope videos man 🙏

Super impressed at how much info you‘ve packed into 11 minutes without overwhelming us! Also love that you give props to the likes of Weldon Irvine and Vinia. Keep up the dope work! 👌

Stumbled across your channel a couple of days ago and I think it’s now my favourite thing on KZread. Good work sir. Haven’t listened to this album in awhile, been blasting it this morning.

this channel is fkn *GOLDEN* so glad i found it

Always good to see a new post!! Great stuff as always

Sir you have no idea how happy this makes me. I played this album which I had on cd non stop since the day I bought it at Media Play. I believe was 15 or 16 when this came out. I didn't get to see Yasiin and Talib perform it until 2006. I seen them live at the legendary concert venue Toads Place in New Haven CT. I bought the tickets online from my community college's library computer, and I found out the day of by chance, that was God 4 real. I drove in rain 🌧. Thr rain was coming down in sheets to the point I couldn't see anything but the car in front of me tail lights. I drove about an hour or so until I got there. I parked in some random place that to this day I get letters for a parking ticket I never paid. Anyways it wad epic!!!, I met Talib got to tell him how much the album meant to me, I was front row. I met MOP, and Pharoahmonch, I met Dj Preservation also. We had a blast at the after party thrown by the event's promoters, drinks were free!!!. That concert was everything I ever wanted. They sounded just like they did on the record. Unfortunately, Mos didn't do a meet and greet but that's OK, seeing him was all I needed.

I’ve been watching your channel for about 3 weeks now, easily one of my favourite channels rn

@diggingthegreats

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! 🙏 having a lot of fun and glad you’re enjoying it!

Man, KZread is on a whole new level today! Great stuff, keep doing what you love because this is awesome and informative.

Man, it's like you're reading my mind. I was just watching one of your videos the other day thinking, "He should totally do an episode on Black Star". Top notch stuff right here. Congrats.

I love this channel, its keep hitting 1 for 1 on all of the stuff I love.

Still my favourite hip hop record. Sounds incredible to this day, and the boys are absolutely on fire. Just discovered this channel recently and been devouring your back catalogue; keep on keeping on, dude 🔥

@diggingthegreats

Жыл бұрын

They’re both on another level on this album - insane!

@FutureExitsMedia

Жыл бұрын

@@diggingthegreats as much as I dig their solo work, I don't think either have been better since this record. Totally biased of course cos it's my personal favourite 😅

Great video as always. Such an amazing album. I’m glad you included the Respiration remix (my favorite song ever.)

ZOMG, BDP! I totally wore those tapes out! I totally loved Black Star, man. Another great essay, I love learning the details and stories around these different albums. Cheers!

Mos Def has my favorite verse in hip-hop history, which you covered in this video. Also relate to his traveling man moniker as I have lived in 7 states in 16 years. Dudes a genius imo

Just found this channel today, it's gold

incredible work here, thank you for the thorough approach

So glad I found this channel, could watch these all day. This would be dope Netflix series or show. You could make them like 50 min long.

This album along with Company Flow changed my entire perspective on hip hop. I hope sometime in the near future you’ll do a video on El-p, Funcrusher Plus. This man needs his props.

@plux-godworldlang6910

Жыл бұрын

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING

This is a phenominal breakdown. Righteous, my brother.

Good Sir. You blew my mind / your research / video quality and as an added bonus / a wonderful vibe and a crazy engaging voice to boot. I look forward to watching many many more shows. Blessings

This dude needs to put videos up every single hour. I’ll just sit here and watch every last one of them. Repeatedly. This is some of the most detailed stuff on artists, and music I’ve ever seen. Fkn awesome. As a musician, this channel is especially appreciated.

Thank you for all your work. I love binging your videos. As a fan, producer and emcee I get a lot from these videos.

Hey man! I’ve been watching youtube for 10 years but you are the first content creator that got me to hit that bell for the notifications! Keep up the good work!

Respiration is my favorite Hip-hop song of all time. This is one of my favorite albums

Bro i love these videos, honestly the most interesting thing I've watched on youtube in a long ass time. good shit

This is one of the most incredible albums ever created. Every part of it exudes greatness, and it completely blew me away when I first heard it in '99. I can't believe that it's been more than 23 years now. Thank you for this video!

Literally woke up listening to this, one of my favorite albums to play in that context, had to check this video out

My gaaad man. This is the best breakdown channel ever! And imo you choose the greatest music, artists, and elpees. I'm tipping you even flip wigs on some of those you feature!

man i love this channel

Amazing work as usual

This album got me into Hip Hop. I like to go back to it every now and then just to get nostalgic. Thanks for making this video!

Amazing video. Your research game is next level fr

I love your channel! Keep bringing relevant and engaging content! Dope!

Such a great channel ! Thank you

The single most transformative thing in my upbringing. Memorized the whole album 💿 front to back. Huge impact on me in middle school. Black star ⭐️ keep shinin.

This is one of my all time favorite albums. Guess I know what my soundtrack for the day is! Great work man!

Thank you, sir. These type of educational videos greatly facilitate my learning. I'm fifty-eight and have only recently embraced Hip Hop. Some would say I'm late to the scene. I say I'm right on time.

Outstanding job!

really great video. learned a lot

This time next year he’ll be at 500k subscribers if not more. This channel quality is amazing.

amazing editing my man!!!!!!

Just binged a bunch of your videos. Def earned a sub today, the production is amazing 👏

Bro, you are bridging gaps like a mutha! I grew up with this music and it's special to hear what was happening while I was just leavin my wallet in El Segundo BDP Possee!

One of the greatest albums of all time. Fantastic video. Thank you

Another great video from an awesome channel.

Your channel is incredible keep going man!!🔥🔥🔥

@diggingthegreats

Жыл бұрын

Thank you 🙏

@lordboombap4416

Жыл бұрын

@@diggingthegreats I want to recomend you an album for a video i think it would be intresting if you talk about "Soon Come" of asheru and blue black (my fav album, at least in english)

@matthewfrancisbroderick3811

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the heads up about this one ☝️ Wondering what your favorite non English album is?

@lordboombap4416

Жыл бұрын

@@matthewfrancisbroderick3811 is an italian album "Anni senza fine" of the italian MC "Mistaman"

Love these videos man

@diggingthegreats

Жыл бұрын

🙏🙏

your channel is an educational gem.

One of the best hip-hop albums of all time IMHO True classic that holds up in every single way

this channel is so underrated

This channel is crazy great video as always! Definitely need a native tongues video soon!

Black Star Shines Eternally

Nice breakdown of one of my all time favourite albums. 😊

love this! was coincidentally listening and thinking about this album this morning...

@diggingthegreats

Жыл бұрын

It’s so good! 🔥

Such a dope video. Thank you

i was just checking out this album, perfect video man

@diggingthegreats

Жыл бұрын

Thank you 🙏 this album is too good to do it any other way

This was excellent work! I remember buying that cd and loving it. I'm surprised you haven't broken down "The Ecstatic" yet. It might be the most underrated, underplayed album in hip hop.

Real hip hop! Subbed.

Yoooooo yeeeeessss this will be so cool to watch i love this album

these videos are so good man

@diggingthegreats

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much 🙏

Great job sir. Classic album and Yas on Re:DEF is just masterfully insane… I knew you where gonna say it, before you even said it.

To this day one of the best albums I have ever heard, and Yasiin's verse on twice inna lifetime is my favorite verse of his ever. Respiration is timeless. Thieves in the night. Man thanks for shining some light on a gem that continues to glow on in the forms of Kendrick, Cole, and so many others.

I really love your work! 'Nkiru' books

New digs? Love the bricks! Keep 'em coming. Your videos are 🔥

@diggingthegreats

Жыл бұрын

Got a cleaner setup for the next phase 🔥

Yasin’s verse on Redefinition is one of my all time favorite verses in hip hop. And damn I’m glad finally gave it light.

I dont mind watching a 2 hours video from you. your youtube channel s great

Just found your channel and going through it all now.. Had to pause to listen to some classics, "mathmatics" "miss hill" n "history" but i'm pushing on ;D