Product Description

Mos Def, one-half of the much loved Brooklyn duo Black Star, breaks out on his own with the most intense solo debut in hip-hop since THE MISEDUCATION OF LAUREN HILL. Like MISEDUCATION, BLACK ON BOTH SIDES stretches the definition of the genre to incorporate all aspects of music of the African Diaspora, from reggae to jazz, to form a new kind of sound. Def sings, Def raps, Def does all that and then some. The wide scope of the album is most evident by the collaborators he chooses to work with, who run the gamut from the underrated mastermind of a Tribe Called Quest, Ali Shaheed Mohammad, to the wrongly unsung hero of rare groove, keyboardist Weldon Irvine.
The message in Mos Def's music is that like in bluesand jazz before it: hip-hop is not a separate "giant livingin the hillside" but a reflection of who we are. In "Fear of Not Man", Mos queries his audience, "next time you ask where hip-hop is going, ask yourself where am I going?" In "HipHop" he warns, "ahip hop will simply amaze you, praise you,pay you, do whatever you say to, but black, it can't save you".

Track Listing

1. Hip Hop
2. Love
3. Know That
4. Mathematics
5. Palestine
6. Next Universe
7. Brooklyn In 3 Moods
8. Magnificent
9. New World Order
10. Home
11. Speed Law
12. Do It Now - Mos Def & Busta Rhymes
13. Ms Fat Booty - Mos Def & Busta Rhymes
14. Fear Not Of Man
15. Universal Magnetic

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51703 in Music
• Released on: 1999-10-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

Amazon.co.uk Review
Black on Both Sides is a manifestation of compelling, honest hip-hop. The genre's underground torchbearer, the mighty Mos Def (half of Black Star), injects intellect, humour, and knowledge into all of his rhymes. Overall, the album has an understated quality, but pure enjoyment comes with discovering the clever lyrical gems Mos drops. The expansiveness of his mindstate is showcased best on "New World Water", in which he fully represents our uses of, needs for, and exploitation of water. On "Ms. Fat Booty", a love tale with unexpected twists is woven intricately around Aretha Franklin's wailing vocals. Whether rapping, singing, or lecturing, Mos Def is firmly rooted in African American consciousness and examines social issues with great ease. Black on Both Sides will endure for many years; it's an album worthy of numerous listens. --Celine Wong

Customer Reviews

The Greatest Hip Hop Album......EVER!!!!!!!
Even though this is just my opinion, i think many can agree that this is the best hip hop album ever released. This is one of those albums that you will have on repeat for the whole day without getting bored of it. For some listeners, it will take a couple of listens to get used to, but as soon as you have you will be recommending this to all of your friends. Now if you're into hip hop from artists like 50 Cent and G Unit this might not be the album for you, but give it a try anyway. Standout tracks include Ms. Fat Booty (a track explaining the relationship between Mos and a girl he meets in a club), Umi Says (a mellow jazz inspired track, with Mos playing many of the instruments included), Do It Now (a high energy track with Busta Rhymes) and Know That (an early taste of the amazing 'Black Star' partnership with Talib Kweli). If you haven't got this album already, GET IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Landmark release from one of hip-hop's finest
After his patchy 2004 release, The New Danger, this remains the definitive Mos Def album: a towering achievement by a unique artist whose appeal stretches way beyond the boundaries of rap and hip-hop. Painted from a rich and diverse musical palette, Black on Both Sides simply dazzles at every turn. It eschews the overly slick production and the cloying references to guns and b*tches usually associated with the genre, and instead focusses its attention on themes of a rather more universal nature. On 'Rock `N' Roll', for example, Mos seeks to redress the balance in the collective consciousness of the music buying public ("You may dig on the Rolling Stones, but everything they did they stole") while on `New World Water' he reflects lucidly on that most precious commodity, otherwise known as H2O.

As a whole, BoBS is an intelligent, understated oeuvre - but it is not without bite; see, notably, the aforementioned `Rock `N' Roll', `Know That' (my personal favourite track, featuring long-time partner-in-rhyme, Talib Kweli) and `Mr Nigga', in which Mos deals a deft blow to institutionalized racism with lines about amusing encounters with first-class air stewardesses.

Soothing, inspiring, and empowering, Black on Both Sides is that rare thing in music: an album to suit any mood. Definitely one of my top 10 records of all time...

Matt Pucci

I'll still be listening to this in 10 years time
I have an enormous collection of hip hop, ranging from the early 90s to 2day, but nothing stands out like this. To say the very least, Mos Def is an immensly talented mc and his rhymes are witty, entertaining and thought provoking. Black on Both Sides is refreshing, even though Mos Def isn't rapping about the same subjects as 2days latest stars like 50 cent etc (which makes a nice change!) there is a track for every1 and every mood. For me 'Ms Fat Booty', 'Do it now', 'New World Water', 'Know that' ft Talib Kweli and the unusual 'Climb' really stand out. He mixes chilled out hip hop jazz beats with sharp lyrics which makes this cd so easy to listen to. I suppose alot people say this about loadsa music, but this cd is so worth the money, even if you arent usually drawn to more underground artists, Mos Def has something about him that is so uplifting. I also like the way the tracks are neatly mixed one to another. I suppose this is like a more educated, less egotistic version of Nas, or a less harsh Pharoah Monche. Whatever your tastes, this cd is so diverse its worth having, any self respecting hip hop fan would agree!! Peace