Posted by
DJ Cal
Salacious Sunday Hip Hop Hits 8
I was reading a funny story a few weeks ago about a slum in Rio De Janiero well known as the ‘City of God’. It was featured in the movie by the same name. Apparently, tourists are able to travel to this region and go on ‘drug tours’ where they enter the slum and, for quite a fee, are able to safely gain access to the most dangerous gang areas, and actually tour a network of operations for smuggling and distributing cocaine. I only remembered this because when I went to do this post on Mos Def, I noticed that among his lengthy record of social activism includes a similar type of trip to Brazil!
Mos Def’s music is probably the first really socially conscious hip hop I heard, but this post isn’t really about Mos Def’s political views though. I really just appreciate this man’s ability to rap about things that actually matter. It saddens me that it is so rare that a rapper tackle interesting and intelligent matters in their art. I’m quite sure that many rappers are completely unconcerned with art, poetic value, or substance, and I think they’ve got it twisted.
Mos Def - Ms. Fat Booty.mp3
Mos Def - Mathematics.mp3
Mos Def - Quiet Dog.mp3
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Mathematics is a personal favorite. It’s too bad his newer shit hasn’t been as good.
Oh! I will have to disagree with this statement bout Mos Def’s newer shit not being so good.
Since ‘99, Def has put out an infinite number of tracks that don’t only fly as ‘good’ but are classics that should be heard by all. Some favs:
The New Danger ‘04: Wicked conceptual album with some serious bangers, “Sex, Love and Money” if you ain’t heard it…get at it immediately.
Mos Definite ‘07: current and relevant, there’s a reason peeps like Kanye work with the dude. Check out “Summertime” wit Esthero, or my most fav Mos Def track ever, and I mean ever, and I mean, it don’t get much better than this, “Travellin’ Man”.
We can’t all have number ones, but you gotta give everything a listen. Mos Def is one of the coolest, and ain’t go nowhere. He will continue to keep his flow sick, and I know we’ll be seeing him on more and more collabs in the future. Most Definitely.
Hiney have you listened to True Magic (his latest album circa 2006)? It’s not horrible, but it’s nothing special. For you to call ‘99 or ‘04 recent is just laughable… when I say “new shit” I mean his body of work that’s been released in the last 2-3 years, and though you may be the exception here, most people agree that his music has dropped off a bit in quality, likely because of an increased focus on his on-camera work.
I know what you saying.
He an actor now! Ha, It’s a Universal Mind Control–state of mind. We know what happens when they start making that movie money…
Plus he actually a good actor! I like his swag though…think it’s personal maybe, But I can pretty much listen to any Mos Def, and enjoy the work. The flow is just my kinda style. Plus I’ve heard he’s a mad cool dude.
And reread. I didn’t mention ‘99, You did.
I mentioned ‘04, and ‘07. not so laughable, I ain’t laughing at your opinion. The man knows how to write a song, whether old or new, they can’t all be classics, but the talent is there. I wouldn’t dismiss his current work quite so much either…It’s just not entirely commercial.
I gotta go with BDJ here. Mos Def has gone downhill musically after The New Danger. The cat’s a pretty dece actor though. Oh and Mathematics is one of my favorites as well. Both from Mos Def and Premo.
To the poster:
You guys should definitely hold a mash-up contest for Mos Def’s “May-December”