A Binary Star is where two stars orbit around a singular mass. To the unaided eye it appears as a single entity. It’s also the name of a righteous rap duo who quietly released one of the most complete hip-hop albums of the last decade.
Comprised of MC One.Be.Lo and Senim Silla, Binary Star combines all the elements of classic golden-era rap: the durable drum breaks, the delectable samples, and of course the lyrics, which still sound as fresh today as they did back in 2000. Masters of the Universe is their magnum opus. The ideas behind it are crisp, clear and motivated by the type of things that money can’t buy.
“Reality Check,” the albums opener, is a proper greeting with One.Be.Lo maneuvering like a young Joe Louis. He’s swift and nimble and relentless with the punchlines, punctuating each with a powerful blow to the cerebral: [LISTEN]
Binary Star had purpose. The two met while incarcerated at Hiawatha Correctional Facility, and worked together to channel those experiences into something more positive. Instead of internalizing their mistakes and glorifying whatever comes out, they present them openly as changed men. But at the same time it doesn’t chew your ear off with morality. There’s a universal approach that makes it a pleasant listen from beginning to end.
On “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Part 1)” we get a full helping of Senim Silla who breaks down the weight of confinement. It’s a cautionary tale that expresses the tourniquet like effect imprisonment can have: [LISTEN]
Creative differences ultimately ended Binary Star, but Masters of the Universe is still very much considered a classic, an album that is as smooth and flawless as a slab of Italian marble. So long as the dialogue of elite lyricism continues, Binary Star will always be a part of the conversation.
