![]() The New Danger starts off in the shadow of the latter song, with “The Boogie Man Song”, with Mos singing casually over jazzy production by Raphael Sadiq. The New Danger feels less like a sequel to Black on Both Sides than a sequel to two of that album’s songs: “Rock N Roll” - a statement on the roots of rock ‘n’ roll in black music which exploded into a hard rock song partway through - and “Umi Says”, where Mos Def cast aside rhymes to display a sensitive soulful singing voice. It’s not without its bright spots, yet it reaches dramatically but clumsily for the diversity and freshness of the first album, and comes up short. Unfortunately, though, the album feels neither new or dangerous. Five years and countless non-musical endeavors later, Mos Def has returned with Black on Both Sides‘s successor, titled The New Danger. ![]() The album’s music was a cross-section of black history that also felt modern the lyrics deftly probed issues of identity (what it means to be African-American, to be American, to be human). He solidified his reputation as an MC (well-earned from the dynamite Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star album as well as various singles and guest appearances) while smoothly blending a broad array of styles and genres into his music. Mos Def’s 1999 album Black on Both Sides was an epic with true range, musically and intellectually. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |