Razaar

Thieves in the night

by Black Star

In Thieves in the Nights, Mos Def and Talib Kweli rap about not seeking the approval of the oppressor and act in accordance based on stereotypes and also refers to a book ¨bluest eyes¨. In the line ¨I asked him why we follow the law of the bluest eye/He looked at me, he thought about it, was like, "I'm clueless, why?"/The question was rhetorical, the answer is horrible is a allusion. The meaning of the line referring how in the bluest eyes assimilation leads to no problems and people follow an ideal the are ignorant of. The effect of the figurative language is to push anyone to stop living in a illusion,face reality and not conform to oppression. In in the line ¨Put you on a yacht but they won't call it a slave ship¨ is a metaphor. The meaning of the line explains how these record companies ¨sign you¨ but really put you on a ¨leash¨ with a set of instructions like a slave , but now ¨legally¨. The effect of this figurative language is not just to make you reflect but understand that in the rap game assimilation is a form of mental and physical slavery with certain boundaries, and restriction. Overall the language contributes to the revelation like tone which connect to Me, Now .