With their debut Mos Def and Talib Kweli alias Blackstar brought 1998 one of the best albums of the nineties, if not of all time, to the market. Just one year later stood with "Black On Both Sides", the first solo album from Mos in dealers' shelves. It must be said that it the collabo album in absolutely no way inferior. The rape of Mos Def are a real treat. Lyrically it's all about life itself, usually viewed from the Afrocentric perspective, delivered with a self-confident and catchy flow. Guests are presented with Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip and Vinia Mojica not too many here, but a Mos Def also do not need more support. The opening track "Hip Hop" says it all from, what you get here, namely Hip Hop in its purest form. A powerful wind instrumental garnished with great Scratches from time to time is the perfect support for Mos Def, showing for the first time what he has on the mic so it. After the incredibly chilled "Love" the absolute Burner "Ms. Fat Booty" is his turn. This tough and groovy beat in combination with the soulful female vocals in the background simply goes in like warm butter, fits to Mos delivers with his smooth Rhymes a flow technical masterpiece - great! Even "Speed Law" is not bad. Its weird sounds that are the beat inferior already really fantastic, the same applies as a Swiss watch for Mos Def, who unravels his rhymes again so reliable. "Do It Now" would be the first rather unmelodic number, is nevertheless a real banger, rather a bass monster. With an incredible force thunders everything to too, regardless of whether or beat the vicious vocals by Mos and Busta Rhymes, who was still on a whole other level than today. Ali Shaheed produced "Got", which one sounds the roots to the things of A Tribe Called Quest immediately. The jazzy vibes make already really fun, but you should omit the electrical parts, because the take the whole something the relaxation. After also very jazzy "Umi Says" in which Mos only sings, can be reached by "New World Water" one of my absolute favorites of the album. Producer Psycho Les used for fast bass and vibraphone, the just awesome sounds and no longer goes along with Mos' grand Rhymes out of your head. "Rock N Roll", however, is less successful for me. While you can listen to the quiet first part very well, but when the last third of the instrumental changes and degenerates into heavy metal, which is then very uncomfortable and you skippt soon, unless one is a fan of these styles. The absolute highlight among all these great songs is undoubtedly the return of Black Star on "Know That". The instrumental burns down everything really. Gloomy Underground Beats, ingenious Scratches and other dark elements in conjunction with these two MCs may just be good and it is also rather awesome! "Brooklyn" is again very jazz-heavy and melodic, but also has a slightly tough and dynamic touch. How Mos Def Flowt here is really great, but also his singing can be heard more than only. A real treat for the ears there's also the grooving "Habitat" before one has arrived at "Mr. Nigga". The cheerful instrumental plays around sent the explosive nature of the contents, just fun from the first until the last second. Improves which is wonderful with the blends by the guest appearance of Q-Tip, one of my favorite rapper, whose unique voice of Mos Def. For the finale of "Black On Both Sides" to Mos has invented something really great. First one is again with some old school regular DJ Premier-production "Mathematics" put into ecstasy, then the plate ends with a purely instrumental without vocals, namely "May-December", which again stimulates the heard to reminisce leave and think about it - great! "Black On Both Sides" is a completely successful work. No Gangsta posturing, but serious and honest lyrics, accompanied by a biting and unique flow accompanied with the finest instrumentals that you can imagine - it must be easy Hip Hop from New York. Who does not have this stroke of genius in his CD rack, must get him quickly actually. And that applies to stand on Hip Hop not only for East Coast- and Conscious fans, special for those who claim to be.
