In 1998, Brooklyn-based hip-hop superstars Talib Qweli and yasiin bey (nonetheless then going by Mos Def and capitalizing his identify) discovered themselves within the studio on the identical time, every recording a solo album. With the help of DJ/Producer Hi-Tek, they determined to place their particular person tasks on maintain and report a joint album. That collaboration introduced us Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star, probably the most critically acclaimed albums within the historical past of hip-hop. 

Now, Qweli and bey, this time with Madlib on the boards, have introduced the approaching launch of Black Star’s sophomore album, No Fear of Time, on May third. But for indiscernible causes, the collective’s first drop in almost 1 / 4 century is unique to the Luminary podcast network.

“About 3-4 years ago I was visiting yasiin in Europe and we started to talk about songs to do on an album,” Kweli recalled in a Friday press release, “so I flew an engineer out just to see what that would be. Once I realized this conversation is starting to organically become a creative conversation, I started making sure to have the engineer around at all times. There was one day we were just in a hotel listening to Madlib beats, and he’s like ‘Play that Madlib tape again.’ I’m playing the beats and he starts doing rhymes to the beats. And that’s how we did the first song.”

Kweli added, “This is very similar to how we did the first album. But the first album, there were no mobile studios. This entire album, we have not set foot in one recording studio. It’s all been done in hotel rooms and backstage at Dave Chappelle shows.”

The 9-track album drops on May third. You’ll want a Luminary subscription ($3 a month after a 7-day trial) or entry to Apple Podcasts in an effort to pay attention.