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58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This just in, Mos Def, an intelligent black rapper..., March 23, 2000
The full story at 10. In this day and age of Juvenile's backing that thing up, Jay-Z saying that money aint a thang, and DMX barking for his dogs, it is comforting to know that betwixt and between all that mess of predictable, same-old same-old lyrics, there is an intelligent black man named Mos Def who can put out albums that hit you in the heart, put you on your feet and make you actually use your brain. Mos Def proves his intelligence and knowledge throughout the whole album, from the deep intro, to the thoughtful "Love", to the observant hip hop-ballad "Umi Says", and even the absurd track "New World Water", he does it all. On the latter track, he miraculously spends several minutes rapping all about the simple notion of water. Other revolutionary tracks include the John Coltrane/James Brown/Otis Redding/etc. inspired track "Rock and Roll", the hot dance recording "Know that" with fellow Black Star member Talib Kweli, the other hip-hop ballad "Climb", and the masterfully written "Mathematics" about statistics related to the discrimination of black people. Mos Def can write lyrics, spit them out, and expand on his ideas with equal ability, and has jazz and soul-influenced beats to back him up. If you are a follower, and buy whatever the crowd is buying, THIS IS NOT FOR YOU. However, if you are like me, and you love well-made, revolutionary hip hop music, do yourself, Mos Def, all "real" hiphop artists, and me a favor, and buy this classic record. I'm out.
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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A 21st Century Gil Scott-Heron, June 29, 2000
As a 34 year old black woman who was not raised on but has grown to both love and appreciate hip-hop, I can honestly say that Mos Def's CD is the most amazing hip-hop CD that I ever owned. As a lover of The Roots, ATCQ, Black Star, De La Soul, Common and many of the other underground artists out there today, I have never heard anything so prophetic, thought-provoking and moving as the words on this CD. And NEVER, EVER does he say anything disrespectful about black women. AMEN. His LOVE for black people and his accompanying distress over the ecological, political, judicial and historical racism that we have experienced and continue to endure is simply unsurpassed. This is the type of CD that I will be playing for my children and grandchildren one day because it is like listening to black history via spoken word. Mos Def is a 21st century Griot and prophet whose socio-political poetic words, soulful singing, and slamming beats will bring tears your eyes. I would like to close by sharing the lyrical genius of Mos Def with my favorite lines from the song called "YOU KNOW THAT" which is a tribute he does with Talib Kweli to how much "you know that" he loves his people and respects his ancestors: "LET THOSE WHO MAKE THE EXODUS SEEKIN THE NORTH BEACON/ FROM BEATIN AND HOG-EATIN/ FROM PUNISHMENT ALL SEASON/ FROM HANDS CRACKED AND BLEEDIN -- COTTON THORNS IN YOUR PALMS/ IT'S FOR Y'ALL THAT I SKETCH THESE SONGS/ AND IT GOES.. /YEA THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW/ I FEAR NO MAN, BECAUSE FAITH IS THE AAROW ..." Thank you Mos and God Bless you for the sharing your talent, faith and inspiration with the world.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a no brainer, October 7, 2004
Black on Both Sides is one of those albums that you listen to once and go, "oh." Its imperfections are ignored, and its importance is assumed. You just know it's a classic, and you don't have to try to convince people of that. This album is a landmark of conscious rap. And that's that.
Mos Def is no stranger to fans of Talib Kweli, and fans of other groups on the forefront of positive hip hop (Blackalicious, KRS One, maybe the Roots) will definitely appreciate this. Hurdles that others might face would be the assertive afrocentric ideology. Mos Def most definitely gets his opinions across here, from his critcisms of modern culture to his argument that blacks are the sole owners of rock n roll. It can come of as racist, and there are your standard stories about modern racial injustice that are certainly well worn by now. But one thing that helps is his honesty and his intention to elevate the state of hip hop.
This is a good album, not ridden with intros and outros and midtros and skits. It is inherently organic sounding; even though it has some sampling and drum programming alongside live instrumentation, it has an earthy feel rooted in hip hop, jazz, and soul, without overtly trying to converge all three in a commercial friendly hybrid. This is the album so many other forward thinking artists have wanted and tried to do, and Mos Def did it. It's like a Kind of Blue or a Sgt Pepper. Buy it.
(I wonder what the second album is going to be like...it comes out next week...)
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