"Definition" is the first single from Black Star's eponymously titled 1998 album (see

1998 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998. Specific locations * 1998 in British music * 1998 in Norwegian music * 1998 in South Korean music Specific genres * 1998 in classical music * 1998 in country music * ...

). It is produced by

Hi-Tek Tony Cottrell, better known as Hi-Tek (born May 5, 1976), is an American rapper and record producer from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is best known for his work with Talib Kweli. His father is singer Willie Cottrell of the Willie Cottrell Band, whom Hi- ...

, who samples "The P Is Free" by

Boogie Down Productions Boogie Down Productions (BDP) was an American hip hop group originally composed of KRS-One, D-Nice, and DJ Scott La Rock. DJ Scott La Rock was murdered on August 27, 1987, five months after the release of BDP's debut album, ''Criminal Minded ...

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 Underground most commonly refers to: * Subterranea (geography), the regions beneath the surface of the Earth Underground may also refer to: Places * The Underground (Boston), a music club in the Allston neighborhood of Boston * The Underground (S ...

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 Rawkus Records was an American hip hop record label known for starting the careers of many rappers. Rawkus started in 1995 with releases in hip-hop, drum and bass and fun-dustrial (Dystopia One). Label heads Brian Brater and Jarret Myer then s ...

' greatest hits album.

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

writer Jason Kaufman considers it to be a "flawless" track. A

reprise In music, a reprise ( , ; from the verb 'to resume') is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the 18th century—was simply any repea ...

of "Definition" titled "RE: DEFinition" can be found on the ''Black Star'' album. It also appears on

MTV Classic MTV Classic may refer to: *MTV Classic (American TV channel), a television channel that replaced VH1 Classic on August 1, 2016 *MTV Classic (Australian TV channel), a television channel previously named VH1 Australia until May 2010, and shut down i ...

's 90's Nation and Yo! Hip Hop Mix.

Track list

A-side

# "Definition" (Radio Version) # "Definition" (What We Really Said) # "Definition" (Instrumental to Your Development)

B-side

# "Twice Inna Lifetime" (Radiohead Version) # "Twice Inna Lifetime" (Streethead Version) # "Twice Inna Lifetime" (Instrumentally Yours)

Track list

A-side

B-side

Charts

References

See also