Mos Def - The Ecstatic (2009)
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Mos Def
The Ecstatic
Tracks
1. Supermagic
2. Twilite Speedball
3. Auditorium feat. Slick Rick
4. Wahid
5. Priority
6. Quiet Dog
7. Life in Marvelous Times
8. The Embassy
9. No Hay Nada Mas
10. Pistola
11. Pretty Dancer
12. Workers Comp
13. Revelations
14. Roses
feat. Georgia Anne Muldrow
15. History feat. Taib Kweli
16. Casa Bey
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Review
by Jay Williams
Part time Hollywood star, full time
hip-hop master and genius. This album is the one to silence the
critics.
"The Ecstatic" is the fourth solo album from
the New York based MC and I must say I was excited to hear that Mos Def
was throwing his hat into the ring for another round.
After copping
much
flack from his previous 2006 title "True Magic", people were saying that
it was a lackluster release with only a handful of tracks worth
listening to and had many of his loyal fans crying afoul.
Rumors
started to surface that the album was simply a means of getting out of
his
contract with Geffen.
"The Ecstatic", describes the need
for change and that change was to a different record label resulting in a
killer new Mos Def album.
One thing is for sure, his flow is as
impeccably skillful and richer than ever before. Just listening to
his laid back singing style at the end of Auditorium reveals a
relaxed Mos Def.
In live shows Mos Def performed new songs
from the album before its release. Crowds had heard tracks produced by
Madlib and Oh No (Madlib’s younger brother).
The album features
collaborations with Slick Rick, Talib Kweli and Georgia Anne Muldrow,
as well as production by Mr. Flash and the late J Dilla.
One of those live shows, and a much
rememberable one was when Mos Def performed Quiet Dog on Late Show with David Letterman.
Mos Def belting out politic rhythms while
playing Zulu drums was truly magic and it was this performance that
showed Mos was back with confidence.
Standout tracks include Twilite Speedball, Quiet Dog and Life in Marvelous Times. These tracks showcase his
limber flow to the beat and effortlessly produce the kind of
good-natured boastfulness and elastic wordplay of his hay days.
"The Ecstatic" is a refined selection of
strong tracks which finds the balance between a forthright strong message and tight beats.
If your looking for something to dance to
stick to sell outs, like Kanye West and Black Eyed
Peas, but if your looking for a true hip hop album that doesn't play
into the hype, then "The Ecstatic" is for you.
RATING:
3 out of 5
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