Customer Reviews

Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Can you release a hip-hop album without cameos from Busta Rhymes and Redman? Will any reputable label allow it?

It's all so strange. De La Soul, once staunch enemies of 'rap and bulls**t' (their phrase), have returned from a four-year absence with Mosaic Thump, the first release of their proposed Art Official Intelligence trilogy. It's an unstable album packed with smoove production, ubiquitous 'special guests' (including the long-lost Busy Bee), several standout tracks, and a computer-generated narrator lifted straight from A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders.

Bumpiness aside, though, Mosaic Thump's freestyle sketches--including an uncredited bit by Phife Dog from ATCQ--continually amaze. As well, they illuminate the potential of the next AOI installment, which is rumored to be an MC battle record. (P.S. Listen close to the freestyle vocal manipulations...trust me.) MC Indeed, a female artist I have never heard, lays waste to her peers on "Set The Mood". Also, it's cool to hear Tash and J-Ro from Tha Alkaholiks guest on the track "My Writes", which finds De La commenting on the state of contemporary hip-hop. And, uh, they aren't content, to say the least.

Lyrically, De La are kings. No one plays with English like they do. Even if you know their verses by heart, there's no way you can decipher all their references and hidden meanings. The fact that, years later, I can still get something out of Buhloone Mind State (any of their albums, really) means more to me than anything.

But here's my main criticism: I skip at least three tracks. I have never dissected any of De La's other albums. I can listen to them straight through, even De La Soul Is Dead, which has its share of difficult moments. Mosaic Thump has some backyard clunkers. "U Can Do (Life)", "Copa (Cabanga)" and "The Art of Getting Jumped" are bogged down by weak beats, cheesy keyboards and a strident attempt blow up and go pop. And I don't know what they were thinking with "Foolin'". Just listen to it. Or, better yet, try to listen to it.

Maybe the disrupted flow is due to the interference of outside producers. Or, I could argue Mosaic Thump is a conscious attempt to sell as many albums as possible. (Even Posdnuos's album credits include a plea for Tommy Boy to not drop the ball on promoting the record.) But I should probably stop riding them so hard.

Then again, De La deftly elude any flack. I'll take their game-tight rhymes, irreverent attitude towards their competitors and mainstream radio, and block party verses that smack of intelligence over any of their so-called competition. Furthermore, their influence on some of the best newer hip-hop troupes (J5, People Under The Stairs, Slum Village, Blackalicious) is obvious.

Don't forget their collaboration with Nightmares On Wax on the Sound of N.O.W. EP.

After being in the hip-hop scene for 12 years or so, De La Soul just CANNOT be faded. With "Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump" being their 5th album (the 1st in an installment of 3--yes, expect two more De La Soul albums in the future...HA HA HEY!), these guys show up all of that Cash Money/No Limit garbage they call "hip-hop." Even though this album may have not been their most memorable or greatest in that matter, De La still comes with it and shows that they cannot and will not be vanished from the hip-hop scene like so many old school hip-hop artists have. The beats on "Art Official Intelligence" are still the usual De La...unique, bright, and of course, fresh. Even though I doubt there will be any classic songs from this LP that even come to par with their older work ("Say No Go," "Me Myself and I," "Roller Skating Jam Named 'Saturdays'," "Ring, Ring, Ring [Ha Ha Hey]," "Bitties in the BK Lounge," "Breakdawn," "Ego Trippin," "The Bizness"...etc., damn, I can go on forever!), it is still refreshing to hear hip-hop with a purpose and not the usual trash you hear on the radio..."Bling Bling/I'm All Iced Out/Big Ballin' With My Homies/Big Pimpin." On "Ohh," De La gets the last laugh when they rhyme about how all of those "jigga jigga/flossin' my ice" fools are just a bunch of rookies to them. Above all of that, it was great to see De La Soul share the mic with Chaka Khan ("All Good") and the Beastie Boys ("Squat"...even though I wasn't exactly feeling that cut). Even though a majority of the songs on "Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump" are tight, the BEST cuts on here are "Ohh" featuring Redman (fresh lyrics and a smooth beat), Foolin' (the beat is off the hook...WERD BOOTY!), and the cut featuring Indeed. My only complaint was with the song featuring Xzibit...even though the beat was dope, I was angry to see Xzibit featured on that track...if you ask me, he doesn't deserve to share the mic with De La. Anyway, De La Soul once again proves that they cannot and will not put out a bad album...and I believe that this may be a wake up call to all of those people who support all of that Cash Money junk. If you want to hear pure hip-hop "from the soul," then check out De La Soul's "Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump"...besides Common Sense's "Like Water For Chocolate," Jurassic-5 "Quality Control," Dilated People's "The Platform," and Slum Village's "Fantastic Vol. 2," this has to be the very best cure for a very damaged hip-hop genre. If not, then go somewhere else and buy garbage like Nelly's "Country Grammar."

The new De La Soul joint represents a long awaited repreive from all the nihilistic materialism that has dominated the Hip-Hop scene for far too long. The music is positive, but not preachy. The production is tight and lyrics are sharp. Its clear that they wanted to give the album "mass appeal" because of the guest spots of the commercially accepted Busta and Redman, but they still stayed true to the De La sound. Although this album isn't ground breaking like 3 Feet High and Rising, De La still delivers one of the most banging "Real Hip-Hop" joints of the 2G (along with Common and Dead Prez). I'll be the first to admit that I'm nastalgic for the "old school" days of actual MCing and Deejaying, but if you're like me--sick and tired of garbage put out by Lay-Z, Demented Man X, and the Hot Buffons--go out and immediately cop Art Offical Intelligence.

De La Soul does it again with thier cleverly titled album Art Official Intelligence. Once again they merge thier old-school sensabilities and lyrics with other-worldly beats and melodies. This album is a keeper, fresh and innovative from start to finish. I challenge anyone to find fault with the stand out single "Oooh" featuring Redman, it'll have you reaching for that "repeat" button for sure. Real Hip-Hop head get ready for a chin-check...the age of AI is at hand.

after all these years, de la soul proved that you could make true hip hop music without resorting to the same tired cliches. i like the fact that they have never subjected themselves to trends and have always made music that came from their mind and heart...their style of rap has spawned countless imitators: arrested development, digable planets, and most recently black eyed peas. but there is only one de la. listen to this and hear why they are still the bomb.

Believe it or not, this was when I was first introduced to De La Soul when I was 14, when in mid 2000 came out with "Oooh!" with Redman. Back then I always thought of De La Soul as old school pioneers, and songs from this album solified them as legands in hip hop. Seven and a half years later, after hearing every album that came before this one, I saw the maturity that De La was picking up, as if they were going through another transition in their music careers.

If you were hating this because this was no Stakes Is High (an album I really didn't think was all that good), then you really need to have another listen. This album is very innotivate and creative. Not as creative as their 1991 classic De La Soul Is Dead, but creativity still floats all around this album. And their lyrics were on point as usual. Check out "You Can Do Life" for examples of how De La hasn't missed a step. Even with their single "Oooh!" with Redman (seemed like he and Busta Rhymes were on everything released back in '00) had creativity (with a music video with a paroody of the Wizard Of Oz). With tracks live "View", Posdeneous still rhymes without sacrificing the group's identity. Mellow tracks like "Through Your City" and "Set The Mood" featuring Indeed is head nodding. The second single "All Good" with Chaka Khan is a little directed to mainstream, but overall solid. Even "Dance With Me" sounds kind of good. Then the weeded freestyle skits at the end of a few tracks were dope.

Tracks I had no care for were "Squat". Honestly I don't think De La and The Beastie Boys mix together. "The Art Of Getting Jumped" doesn't appeal to me. And the final track "U Don't Wanna Bust Dat ****" is forgettable.

Honestly, this is a great album. I don't understand why it is hated on so much. Sure De La Soul moved from their origonal style and onto a newer one, but doesn't every rapper do that. Don't knock them because of their change up, and their evolution. This album is worth owning in my opinion. Also get the next album AOI: Bionix as well, because thats underrated also. Peace.

Lyrics: B+
Production: A-
Guest Appearances: B
Musical Vibes: A

Top 5 Tracks:
1. U Can Do (Life)
2. Ooooh! (featuring Redman)
3. Dance With Me
4. Set The Mood (featuring Indeed)
5. View

Regretfully, I found myself questioning the content of "Mosaic Thump". First of all, there are way too many cameo's here and not enough "official" De La material. I mean, Busta, Redman, The Beasties, DV Alias Krist, Tash&J-Ro, Freddie Foxxx AND Chaka Khan?? Whew!! With the exception of Redman on "Oooh", most of the other guest spots smother valuable mic time from Plugs 1 & 2. Jay Dee's hyped up rubberband-snap track for "Thru Ya City" would have been better left alone, without DV Alias' annoying hook. Secondly, De La chose to bring aboard more outside production than necessary. The Rockwilder laced "IC Y'all" just comes off like, well, another typical Rockwilder formula track. Supa Dave West supplies a sub-par track too, not even worth going into. I don't mean to completely disrespect this album because, overall, there equally some defining moment. (Namely, "My Writes", "Ooh", "Thru Ya City" and "View"). Especially "View", it just thumps along nicely with a subtle piano loop lingering behind the drum roll and butter bassline, it's mad ill. "Mosaic Thump" is listenable but simply is not all that memorable for a De La Soul project. They've set a standard and it's impossible to expect anything less with each new release. Regardless, I'll always check for De La. Now when can we expect Art Official...Pt. 2 to drop?

WELL SINCE I AM A FAN OF COMMON, ROOTS, SLUM VILLAGE, MOS DEF, PHARAOCH MONCH, AND TRIBE CALLED QUEST, OF COURSE I LIKE DE LA SOUL. THIS ALBUM IS PRETTY MUCH TIGHT. TO ME THIS ALBUM IS BETTER THAN "STAKES IS HIGH". ON THIS ALBUM THEY HAVE UNEXPECTED GUESTS LIKE REDMAN, PHARAOHE MONCH, XZIBIT, TASH AND JA RO AND SOME MORE. U CAN TELL DE LA SOUL HAS BEEN IN THE RAP GAME 4 A WHILE AND KNOW THEY BE SPITTIN IT ON THE MIC. THIS ALBUM IS A OKAY PLAYER AND SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE COLLECTION.

I just want to give De La well deserved props for continuing to be uninfluenced by the sad, materialistic, state of rap music today. So many artists from the 'old school' have fallen (not to mention native tongue fam), but Plug 1, 2 and 3 have come out with another solid contribution to the true art form devoid of lexuses, hoes, gut toting, and rabid braggadocious behavior.

It has become clear to this ex-hip hop fanatic that has lost his faith in the music (but not the culture), that the true form is still alive, and is moving the crowd in the form of Black Thought, Common, Pharohe Monch, Mos, Talib, Redman, Gangstarr, and De La Soul.

Almost all the tracks are bonafide, but the best are without a doubt those that Pos and Dove rock by themselves that are in the true tradition of de la like: View, Copa, and Foolin. But also solid are My writes with Catastrophe and Oooh, the first single. Pos is no doubt among the best lyricists in the industry, and he proves it again. But i will admit that this CD does not match the love of Stakes is High (da Bizness and Itzsoweezee), probably because of the splattering of guests appearances that often do not add to the quality of the album. But production is tight of course, and lyrically, there is enough for the true De La fans to drool over. They finally gave Mace his own track, too. i wont say he should stick to spinning (oops, I just did), but he without a doubt accumulated some skills from hanging around with Wonder Why and Trugoy for the past 20 years. 4 stars

11 years after their first CD De La is still puttin out rhymes that will make your mind twist. De La shows how diverse the group really is. Every CD De La changes their sound and elevates their beats to fit with the age. They've done it once again, a totaly new sound to get on down to. You wont find 2 songs that sound alike on this CD, using the beats that suit their featured guests De La throws their lyrical influence and Maseo's unique style of cuts on every track. It's true that once and a while you'll probably reach for the skip button, but really is a CD that has at least 8 dope tracks not worth getting? Track 9 "All Good" alone makes this CD All Good. If you are a De La Soul fan then you'll definetly respect what they do on this album.