Mos Def - Black on Both Sides

[EminemBase]

Not sure how many people have heard Def's debut (1999) or how many are into him. His next two albums didn't compare and his latest is great but his debut is incredible.

Brain-spinning lyricism, magnetic flows. He was light-years ahead on this album.

I only post because I've mentioned it a few on other posts and nobody seems to give it much love. Anybody else here seriously love this album? I think it's easily one of the top of the 90's.

Top tracks:
- Hip-Hop
- Speed Law
- Do It Now (ft. Busta Rhymes)
- New World Water
- Rock n Roll
- Know That (ft. Talib Kweli)
- Brooklyn
- Mathematics

Man he's just so much better than Jay-Z too.

Annoys me that I hear Reasonable Doubt praised so much and this feels largely slept on in hip-hop history. Line after line man, thumping classic.

Bursting with originality, energy, precision, flawless flows. Shits on anything from Jay IMO. Production on the album is crisp and beautiful too. Being provided by Mos, Premo and others.

[Ticalrecords]

cosign. im obsessed with this album

[Relapse.LP]

Is a classic album.

The social-consciousness and complex lyricism just makes it a brilliant contribution to hip hop.

Production doesn't falter too. Check out Mathematics with DJ Premier.

[EminemBase]

Is a classic album.

The social-consciousness and complex lyricism just makes it a brilliant contribution to hip hop.

Production doesn't falter too. Check out Mathematics with DJ Premier.

Absolutely. Mos Def is a good producer too. Helped on a few tracks.

[Cube23]

His last album wasn't fantastic or anything, but I still really liked it. I don't think he's ever put out a song that I would consider "bad". Just a great, pure artist. Amazing at freestyles, as well.

[EminemBase]

His last album wasn't fantastic or anything, but I still really liked it. I don't think he's ever put out a song that I would consider "bad". Just a great, pure artist. Amazing at freestyles, as well.

Yeah but he seemed lazy for a bit. He was just focusing on acting.

But after putting out a groundbreaking debut seems odd to do nothing for 5 years. You'd think he'd be excited by its reception and want to innovate more.

I think The Ecstatic is his best since his debut though but his debut still king to me.

[Cube23]

His last album wasn't fantastic or anything, but I still really liked it. I don't think he's ever put out a song that I would consider "bad". Just a great, pure artist. Amazing at freestyles, as well.

Yeah but he seemed lazy for a bit. He was just focusing on acting.

But after putting out a groundbreaking debut seems odd to do nothing for 5 years. You'd think he'd be excited by its reception and want to innovate more.

I think The Ecstatic is his best since his debut though but his debut still king to me.

He always sounds lazy to me though. I think it's just his voice. I thought The New Danger was great and True Magic was very average. Nothing he does will ever beat the Black Star album though. One of my favorites of all time.

[EminemBase]

His last album wasn't fantastic or anything, but I still really liked it. I don't think he's ever put out a song that I would consider "bad". Just a great, pure artist. Amazing at freestyles, as well.

Yeah but he seemed lazy for a bit. He was just focusing on acting.

But after putting out a groundbreaking debut seems odd to do nothing for 5 years. You'd think he'd be excited by its reception and want to innovate more.

I think The Ecstatic is his best since his debut though but his debut still king to me.

He always sounds lazy to me though. I think it's just his voice. I thought The New Danger was great and True Magic was very average. Nothing he does will ever beat the Black Star album though. One of my favorites of all time.

Well he's just sounded lazy after the first album to me. Like his BET freestyle, almost like he couldn't be bothered to structure the flow lmao.

I know his voice is like that too but on his debut I think he sounded energized and precise. Didn't sound lazy to me on that.

[KillahBee]

I'm probably one of the only hip hop fans that doesn't like this album, just doesn't click with me

[EminemBase]

I'm probably one of the only hip hop fans that doesn't like this album, just doesn't click with me

Fair enough, I don't like Reasonable Doubt either and everyone calls it an undeniable classic. It's opinion. I wouldn't deny some of Jay's skill on it but it's just not a classic to me.

[KillahBee]

I'm probably one of the only hip hop fans that doesn't like this album, just doesn't click with me

Fair enough, I don't like Reasonable Doubt either and everyone calls it an undeniable classic. It's opinion. I wouldn't deny some of Jay's skill on it but it's just not a classic to me.

Reasonable Doubt is one of my favorite hip hop albums, I think Black on Both Side is to Afrocentric for me, I can see why people call it a classic though, but Common is probably the only conscious emcee I ike

[EminemBase]

I'm probably one of the only hip hop fans that doesn't like this album, just doesn't click with me

Fair enough, I don't like Reasonable Doubt either and everyone calls it an undeniable classic. It's opinion. I wouldn't deny some of Jay's skill on it but it's just not a classic to me.

Reasonable Doubt is one of my favorite hip hop albums, I think Black on Both Side is to Afrocentric for me, I can see why people call it a classic though, but Common is probably the only conscious emcee I ike

Well I'm white and it's obviously a seriously pro-black album, even verging on racism towards whites at time lmao but it doesn't bother me.

I don't have to agree with everything he says to like it. His lyicism, flows and concepts are incredible to me.

Reasonable Doubt just falls short in every department for me though.

[Cube23]

I'm probably one of the only hip hop fans that doesn't like this album, just doesn't click with me

Fair enough, I don't like Reasonable Doubt either and everyone calls it an undeniable classic. It's opinion. I wouldn't deny some of Jay's skill on it but it's just not a classic to me.

I'd say Reasonable Doubt is a pretty good album, but not a top ten of all time or anything. It's much more excusable as a hip-hop fan to not like that than Black on Both Sides.

[EminemBase]

I'm probably one of the only hip hop fans that doesn't like this album, just doesn't click with me

Fair enough, I don't like Reasonable Doubt either and everyone calls it an undeniable classic. It's opinion. I wouldn't deny some of Jay's skill on it but it's just not a classic to me.

I'd say Reasonable Doubt is a pretty good album, but not a top ten of all time or anything. It's much more excusable as a hip-hop fan to not like that than Black on Both Sides.

Agreed.

[Relapse.LP]

Reasonable Doubt's production is phenomenal. And Jay brings his best on that record too.