I never realized that Black Star made videos (found them in linked youtube vids). Mos Def looks like he's having way too much fun in both. They need to make another freaking Black Star album.
Like I said, my favourite hip hop track. This one's got a few memories, both of last summer and of NYC.
I remember the first time I heard it. I had just gotten into a fight over MSN with my (now ex-) girlfriend (she lived in Edmonton for the summer), and it was 4 am and I was depressed as hell. This is just when I was starting to get into hip-hop, but I really had only heard a little Tupac besides what was on BET every day. I turned the TV on and flipped over to Muchmusic and the video for Respiration was on. I couldn't believe it. It blew my mind the first time I heard it, and so I started downloading a lot of Mos Def and Black Star. I'd say Respiration is the track that really got me into good rap.
Then I went to New York. I hadn't realized how true most of those lyrics were until I got there. But shit, I could feel that city breathe, man.
Respiration might just be my favourite song of all time.