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The Ecstatic

Mos Def

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iTunes Review

Following the genre-melding ambitions of The New Danger and True Magic, The Ecstatic is a return to the fundamental hip-hop values of Black On Both Sides and at the same time Mos Def’s most forward-thinking album yet. The earthy sonic textures of “Auditorium,” “History,” and “Supermagic” contradict the synthesizers of current rap radio and hearken back to an earlier form of hip-hop, when a good beat was all about excavating the perfect section of sound from a slab of obscure vinyl. That isn’t to say that The Ecstatic is a crotchety censure of the current state of rap music. In fact, the album’s most adventurous songs are also the ones that feel the most current. “Quiet Dog” reduces the beat to skeletal tribal percussion, but the track still emanates the kinetic energy of a club song. On the other hand, “Roses” provides an alternative to the trend of prefabricated rapper-meets-R&B diva collaborations. The Ecstatic is lean; most of its tracks clock in at under three minutes. The ability to say more with less is the mark of an accomplished artist, and Mos Def’s latest album is his most skillful, and enjoyable, statement in some time.

Customer Reviews

Talented but Half-assed

I don't know if Mos Def is simply the laziest cat in hip hop, or the 'busiest' (with all his movies), or he wants out of his current record deal (i.e. True Magic), or he just knows that most of the current hip hop audience doesn't know the difference between 'Respiration' and a radio freestyle... either way this is the second album that he has dropped back-to-back that is absolutely littered with recycled rhymes, freestyles, and old beats. How do you get a legend like Slick Rick, then slap together a 2 year old Madlib beat from 'Beat Konducta in India' with a previously used verse from "What It Is" off of Kweli's Beautiful Mixtape 2? Did Mos even spend a minute in the studio for this project? At a total running time of 45 minutes what are the real fans who are expected to spend $9.99 supposed to make of this? Maybe he should just stick to putting out stuff like "Be Kind Rewind", and leave the hip hop to people who have time to put together an actual album. peace

It's too short and does not hit particularly hard...

There are a few good songs on this CD, but after listening to it all the way through, I find myself going, "Was that it?" Each song is about what, 1 minute? Casa Bey is easily the best song on this album, and Slick Rick's and Talib Kweli's guest appearances bring "The Ecstatic" to another level, but it is not consistently good. The social message with Mos is on point, as expected. The singing isn't even what bothers me; he lays down some funky smooth vocals. Just the way he put everything together was not as mind-blowing as I expected it to be. I bought the entire album, but I feel like I should have just purchased a few songs or pirated the CD through other means. I guess I will have to force myself to love it. Track by Track: 1. Supermagic - 3.5/5 2. Twilite Speedball - 3.5/5 3. Auditorium - 4.5/5 4. Wahid - 2/5 5. Priority - 3/5 6. Quiet Dog - 3.5/5 7. Life In Marvelous Times - 3/5 8. The Embassy - 3/5 9. No Hay Nada Mas - 2.5/5 10. Pistola - 4/5 11. Pretty Dancer - 2/5 12. Workers Comp - 4/5 13. Revelations - 4/5 14. Roses - 2.5/5 15. History - 4.5/5 16. Casa Bey - 5/5 OVERALL - 3.4/5 = 3 STARS

The Mighty Mos Def Delivers!

Dante Smith (Mos Def) arrives with his fourth solo album, and it is nothing short of excellent. There are many different styles shown in the album, and Mos does a good job of satisfying those wanting a "Black on Both Sides" feeling as well. I for one loooveee this album. It truly shows Mos Def maturing as not only an Emcee, but as an artist and a musician. Production value has definitely increased since "True Magic" and the album syncs and plays through beautifully. Mos Def has done an excellent job with this one, and I feel as though it indeed lives up to the hype it's been receiving lately. I personally feel that the whole album is excellent, so there's not much of a need to download individual songs rather than the entire album (just my opinion). Give it a shot and support great hip-hop. I hope you enjoy Mos Def maturing as an artist as much as I have! Well done Mos Def, well done.

Biography

Born: December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, NY

Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

Years Active: '90s, '00s, '10s

Initially regarded as one of the most promising rappers to emerge in the late '90s, Mos Def turned to acting in subsequent years as music became a secondary concern for him. He did release new music from time to time, including albums such as The New Danger (2004), but his output was erratic and seemingly governed by whim. Mos Def nonetheless continued to draw attention, especially from critics and underground rap fans, and his classic breakthrough albums — Black Star (1998), a collaboration...
Full Bio

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