Definition (song)

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title: "Definition (song)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1998-singles", "american-protest-songs", "black-star-(group)-songs", "songs-written-by-mos-def", "songs-written-by-talib-kweli", "songs-written-by-hi-tek", "1998-songs", "rawkus-records-singles"] topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition_(song)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]

Field	Value
name	Definition
cover	Definition.jpg
type	single
artist	Black Star
album	Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
released	August 26, 1998
recorded	1997–1998
Funky Slice Studios; Brooklyn, NY
genre	Conscious hip hop
length	3:26
label	Rawkus Records
writer
producer	Hi-Tek
next_title	Respiration
next_year	1999
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| name = Definition | cover = Definition.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Black Star | album = Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star | released = August 26, 1998 | recorded = 1997–1998 Funky Slice Studios; Brooklyn, NY | studio = | venue = | genre = Conscious hip hop | length = 3:26 | label = Rawkus Records | writer = | producer = Hi-Tek | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Respiration | next_year = 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.

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

A-side

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

B-side

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

Charts

::data[format=table] | 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

References

1. Kaufman, Jason. "Black Star Review at Allmusic".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::