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Mos Def's partnership with Talib Kweli produced one of the most important hip-hop albums of the late '90s, 1997's brilliant Black Star. Consciously designed as a return to rap's musical foundations and a manifesto for reclaiming the art form from gangsta/playa domination, it succeeded mightily on both counts, raising expectations sky-high for Mos Def's solo debut. He met them all with Black on Both Sides, a record every bit as dazzling and visionary as Black Star. Black on Both Sides strives to not only refine but expand the scope of Mos Def's talents, turning the solo spotlight on his intricate wordplay and nimble rhythmic skills -- but also his increasing eclecticism. The main reference points are pretty much the same -- old-school rap, which allows for a sense of playfulness as well as history, and the Native Tongues posse's fascination with jazz, both for its sophistication and cultural heritage. But they're supported by a rich depth that comes from forays into reggae (as well as its aura of spiritual conscience), pop, soul, funk, and even hardcore punk (that on the album's centerpiece, "Rock n Roll," a dissection of white America's history of appropriating black musical innovations). In keeping with his goal of restoring hip-hop's sociopolitical consciousness, Def's lyrics are as intelligent and thoughtfully crafted as one would expect, but he doesn't stop there -- he sings quite passably on several tracks, plays live instruments on others (including bass, drums, congas, vibraphone, and keyboards), and even collaborates on a string arrangement. In short, Black on Both Sides is a tour de force by an artist out to prove he can do it all. Its ambition and execution rank it as one of the best albums of 1999, and it consolidates Mos Def's position as one of hip-hop's brightest hopes entering the 21st century.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
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Weldon Irvine, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, Producer, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Bongos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
David Kennedy, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - J. Kirkland, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Unknown, Other, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Diamond, Producer - D Smith, ComposerLyricist - Etch-A-Sketch, Unknown, Other
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
David Kennedy, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, MainArtist - Charles Njapa, ComposerLyricist - 88 Keys, Producer
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
David Kennedy, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Edward Snyder, ComposerLyricist - Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, Rap Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Singleton, ComposerLyricist - Ayatolloh, Producer - Lamont Dorrell, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
David Kennedy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, MainArtist - Charles Njapa, ComposerLyricist - 88 Keys, Producer
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
David Kennedy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Trevor Smith, ComposerLyricist - Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, MainArtist - Busta Rhymes, FeaturedArtist - A. Dillon, ComposerLyricist - Mr. Khallyl, Producer - Johnny Why, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, MainArtist
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Weldon Irvine, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - David Kennedy, Producer - Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, Producer, MainArtist - will.i.am, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, MainArtist - Psycho Les, Producer - L. Fernandez, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, Producer, Drums, Bass Guitar, Additional Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Psycho Les, Producer - L. Fernandez, ComposerLyricist - Johnny Why, Harp, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, MainArtist - Talib Kweli Greene, ComposerLyricist - Talib Kweli, FeaturedArtist - Ayatolloh, Producer - Lamont Dorrell, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Weldon Irvine, Producer, String Arranger, Additional Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, Producer, String Arranger, Additional Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Vinia Mojica, Spoken Word, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - T. Dunn, ComposerLyricist - Etch-A-Sketch, Producer
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
David Kennedy, Producer - G. Young, ComposerLyricist - D. Kennedy, ComposerLyricist - Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, Producer, MainArtist - Ge-ology, Producer
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Weldon Irvine, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Kennedy, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, MainArtist - T. Dunn, ComposerLyricist - Etch-A-Sketch, Producer
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, Producer, Percussion, Additional Producer, Bongos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Q-Tip, FeaturedArtist - J. DAVIS, ComposerLyricist - D-Prosper, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Mos Def, MainArtist - DJ Premier, Producer - C Martin, ComposerLyricist - D Smith, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Weldon Irvine, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, Producer, Bass Guitar, Orchestra/Member, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Njapa, ComposerLyricist - 88 Keys, Producer
℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
Album review
Mos Def's partnership with Talib Kweli produced one of the most important hip-hop albums of the late '90s, 1997's brilliant Black Star. Consciously designed as a return to rap's musical foundations and a manifesto for reclaiming the art form from gangsta/playa domination, it succeeded mightily on both counts, raising expectations sky-high for Mos Def's solo debut. He met them all with Black on Both Sides, a record every bit as dazzling and visionary as Black Star. Black on Both Sides strives to not only refine but expand the scope of Mos Def's talents, turning the solo spotlight on his intricate wordplay and nimble rhythmic skills -- but also his increasing eclecticism. The main reference points are pretty much the same -- old-school rap, which allows for a sense of playfulness as well as history, and the Native Tongues posse's fascination with jazz, both for its sophistication and cultural heritage. But they're supported by a rich depth that comes from forays into reggae (as well as its aura of spiritual conscience), pop, soul, funk, and even hardcore punk (that on the album's centerpiece, "Rock n Roll," a dissection of white America's history of appropriating black musical innovations). In keeping with his goal of restoring hip-hop's sociopolitical consciousness, Def's lyrics are as intelligent and thoughtfully crafted as one would expect, but he doesn't stop there -- he sings quite passably on several tracks, plays live instruments on others (including bass, drums, congas, vibraphone, and keyboards), and even collaborates on a string arrangement. In short, Black on Both Sides is a tour de force by an artist out to prove he can do it all. Its ambition and execution rank it as one of the best albums of 1999, and it consolidates Mos Def's position as one of hip-hop's brightest hopes entering the 21st century.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
- Total length: 01:11:20
- Main artists: Mos Def
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Rawkus Entertainment
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC ℗ 1999 Rawkus Entertainment LLC
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