Customer Reviews

Ecstatic

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

After, let's face it, two album flops (especially True Magic), Mos Def has clearly struggled to put out quality music that he blessed us with beforehand (Black Star with Talib Kweli, Black on Both Sides). Having bought this album and listened to each track multiple times, I can honestly say its easily his best since Black on Both Sides, but still somewhat short of the extremely high standards he set with his solo debut.

The highs of the album, in my view, are the tracks Quiet Dog (Bite Hard), 'Life in Marvelous Times', 'History' (featuring Talib Kweli) and the closer, 'Casa Bey'. 'Quiet Dog' (produced by Preservation) has an insane percussion beat and Mos Def reminds us why he is considered one of the top MC's in the game. 'Life in Marvelous Times' is a reflective song which sets up the second half of the album, looking briefly at Mos Def's journey from the projects in Bed-Stuy to where he is now. The best line in the album, in my opinion, comes from this song, when Mos says "we are alive in amazing times/ delicate hearts, diabolical minds'. It really got me thinking. In my opinion, the best track on the album is the closer, 'Casa Bey', because it has a wonderful mix of a fast-paced catchy instrumental that Mos somehow manages to keep up with and lines that jump out at you again and again (You can't stop my go/ I was born to be where I am/ Bright light from a Distant Star). And to top it all off, it ends with a beautifully sad and soothing little piano solo.

Another thing I like about the album is its use of Eastern samples (mostly provided by the legendary Madlib and his brother Oh No) and weird guitar riffs (check out the Chad Hugo produced 'Twilite Speedball'). And that's not just because I am Arabic! haha...no I genuinely think using Arabic and Indian music for samples makes the album feel more abstract and unique.

The album does have its cons though. Some of the lyrics honestly seem half-a@@ed and as if Mos Def was in a rush, and thats really not like him. The song 'Workers Comp.', for example, seems plain silly to me and doesn't meet the standard of some of the other tracks. But all in all, I had to say its a close-to-perfect Mos Def album.

In conclusion, you may not hear any of the songs from this album on the radio because of their quirkiness, but let me assure you this is a definite buy for fans of Black Dante, like myself. Hopefully he'll keep it up for his next album, which is, apparently, a collaboration with Jay Electronica...should be interesting :)

thanks for reading

the beats are dense and spooky. mos' flow is at times aggressive and ominous. but this is not supposed to be an easy album to listen too. Mos Def has created an album reflecting the times we live in. and for listeners brave enough to keep their ears open and and absorb multiple listens, the depth, beauty, and ecstasy of The Ecstatic will slowly begin to unfold and reveal itself. this album belongs to a newer, complex breed of 'art hip-hop' that requires the attention of a jazz album. while reception may be a tiny bit lukewarm today, 10 years from now, we will remember The Ecstatic as one of the most important hip hop discs of our time.

Mighty Mos drops Ecstatic another very nice album for your collection. As always Mos is on the album with dope word play, dope delivery, and lyrics that make you think. What i really liked about the album was the production. Beats by Dilla, Mad Lib, Preservation, and Mr. Flash. The beats are dope and get your head bouncing while enjoying some fire lyrics. Also the album features the great Slick Rick and my man Talib Kweli. Another liked is this album is more rapping and not so much singing. I don't mind Mos' singing but at some points in the past it was a bit too much. The only song i didn't really care for was NO HAY NADA MAS. I don't speak enough spanish to appreciate it. All in all this is a good release by Dante and should be added to your collection immediately!!!

Stand out tracks:

Auditorium
History
Priority

Mos made GREAT Music with this album. Is it his typical spittin' fire lyrically, probably not? Did the album push Hip Hop to new areas without compromising the true essence of hip hop MOS DEFinitely? The music, lyrics, vocals and Slick Rick/Talib collaborations just worked well with this album. Every song is on point.

This is a repeat listen album. I have to admit I passed it off as mediocre when I listened to it for the first time. It took a good couple spoonfuls before it hit me, and once you're open to this album the hits go straight to the stomach.

There is NOTHING a hip-hop lover cannnot adore about this album.
Musically? The arrangements are complex and amazingly sophisticated. No one song sounds like the other, but the album isn't too experimental to feel scattered or messy. Maybe only "Life in Marvelous Times" and "History" feel like they don't belong but that might just be me, and the songs are too good for anyone to be upset. Great beats and a wonderful variety of tempo and feel to each song.

Lyrically? "I speak it so clearly sometimes yall don't hear me" seems to be the overall theme of the album. On the surface it sounds almost relaxed, and I've heard a couple people say (to my shock and disbelief) that it sounds like he freestyled the whole album. When you truly listen, and I mean closed eyes and boppin head listen, you realize the mastery it takes to develop ideas and themes the way Mos does. I could talk about this for hours but if you don't believe me, Pistola, History, and Revelations deserve your full ear. And although I mostly can't stand rappers who do nothing but preach, I admired how Mos handles spiritual and political conduct without shoving it down your ears. True vet.

Content? YOU WILL NOT FIND CLUB HITS ON THIS ALBUM. Politics as it relates to the struggles of today's common man and personal growth are prevalent topics. It's a 'this is what's really going on' album. Still doesn't mean you can't enjoy dancing to Quiet Dog, Pretty Dancer, and Casa Bey...

Flow? It's a very familiar Mos, and while it may be a more serious tone than past albums, you still hear the energy in his voice where it's appropriate. It's a formula that needs no tweaking, and in my opinion if it ain't broke don't fix it. Only surprise comes in when he starts rapping in spanish...which in my opinion is just so freeking cool. Such a chill badass.

Guest appearances? Not too many, but then again random artists featured on every single song always annoyed me. The most substantive appearances are in the actual production of the songs, and the exclusivity makes it all the more Def. He didn't compromise quality for quantity, and to me it feels more intimate that way.

I could go on forever...but this has become a hands-down favorite of mine. If you're still on the fence, I promise it will grow on you. My only complaint is that by the time you start to fully enjoy the song, it ends! But then again short albums always prompted guiltless playbacks =]...

I love this album. Not my FAVORITE Mos Def album but if you like his style and realness and REAL lyrics that go beyond the normal BS u hear these days then cop this album!! I can listen to it over and over and over. It does not dissapoint. Love love love Mos!!!!

I'll admit it. I hated "True Magic". Wasn't feeling it all. There were whispers that the album was a middle finger to his former record label. Considering the album was released in a clear plastic case, and Mos did ZERO PROMOTION for it, my theory may be correct.

But "The Ecstatic" is a return to form for Mos. He's back in a BIG way. Listening to this album, you're reminded how nice he is. Is it just me, or does Brooklyn,NY consistently produce the BEST MC's in the game? I think if you're looking for the G.O.A.T. Jay, BIG and Mos are the holy trinity of rap.

I give it five stars because I can't give it eight.

After a three year hiatus, Mos Def released his new album in 2009. "The Ecstatic" is his first effort on the indie label Downtown Records, which is also home to Gnarls Barkley and Santigold. This album is also his first to not carry a Parental Advisory sticker, as there is no profane language to be found anywhere. Unlike most of his albums in the past that reflected his eclecticism, this album is a straight-up hip hop record with the production being handled primarily by Preservation, Madlib and Madlib's younger brother Oh No. There are no instrumental songs, no rock songs and he barely even sings. In fact, on the song "Roses", Georgia Anne Muldrow does most of the singing. On the J. Dilla produced "History", he is joined by fellow Black Star member Talib Kweli giving way to a possible Black Star reunion. The Neptunes, who previously produced "Murder Of A Teenage Life" on 2006's "True Magic" return for the foot-stomper "Twilite Speedball". The long-absent Slick Rick steals the show with his cameo on the album's best song "Auditorium". Mos even tries his hand at performing an entire song in Spanish on "No Hay Nada Mas" and closes the album with "Casa Bey" which is also the lead off single. Although this is a great album, it's also pretty short being that quite a bit of songs are around the two minute range. Still in all, it's worth checking out for anyone who thought Mos let movies and the Hollywood scene get to him.

Mos Def has always gone all over the map with trying new approaches. His history and collaborations with The Roots have definitely rubbed off as he takes opportunities to actually breathe on this album and let the music earn its paycheck. Some of the segues are hilarious with a tongue in cheek political stabs at the airline industry and how fear has ravaged our psyche and way of life. This is Mos Def at his best with a lot introspective lyrical content that lets you even further into his "business". If you even slightly like Mos Def, you'll really like this album.

i am very happy tonite - i got my CD in Moscow, Russia and really feel freshness coming from this music. Mos is a brave man with a lot of talent - its so cool he is not afraid to dare. I liked Black Star, Black on both Sides - but i think this one is a MASTERPIECE that will stay in history - its seems just perfect for its sounds and lyrics.