Hip-hop mainstays Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) and Talib Kweli’s Black Star made its Saturday Night Live debut last night (Nov. 12) on an episode hosted by longtime compatriot Dave Chappelle.
The influential rappers performed material from their new record, No Fear of Time, the long-awaited follow-up to Black Star’s classic 1998 debut Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star. After a warm introduction by Chappelle, the duo played the topical diatribe “So Be It,” and returned later in the episode with the explosive “The Main Thing Is To Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing.” Turntablist Madlib, who produced No Fear of Time, guested on both tracks.
The SNL partnership was born out of The Midnight Miracle podcast , which Chappelle co-hosts with Bey and Kweli.
On Friday, Black Star released a video for “So Be It” and talked with Consequence about the SNL appearance, calling it a “career milestone,” with Kweli adding, “I can’t recall seeing a more hip-hop, a more independent group than Black Star to ever do SNL, so I’m definitely excited to represent for the culture.”
On Nov. 15, the duo will play a newly announced show at New York’s Sony Hall. Tickets are on sale now.
Saturday Night Live‘s next episode will take place on Dec. 3 with Keke Palmer as host and SZA as musical guest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCIJrpcpWdg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKY8J8z0mlo
