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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Fear Not Of Man |
| 2. Hip Hop |
| 3. Love |
| 4. Ms. Fat Booty |
| 5. Speed Law |
| 6. Do It Now |
| 7. Got |
| 8. Umi Says |
| 9. New World Water |
| 10. Rock N Roll |
| 11. Know That |
| 12. Climb |
| 13. Brooklyn |
| 14. Habitat |
| 15. Mr. Nigga |
| 16. Mathematics |
| 17. May-December |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Black on Both Sides is a manifestation of compelling, honest hip-hop. The genre's underground torchbearer, the mighty Mos Def (half of Black Star), injects intellect, humour, and knowledge into all of his rhymes. Overall, the album has an understated quality, but pure enjoyment comes with discovering the clever lyrical gems Mos drops. The expansiveness of his mindstate is showcased best on "New World Water", in which he fully represents our uses of, needs for, and exploitation of water. On "Ms. Fat Booty", a love tale with unexpected twists is woven intricately around Aretha Franklin's wailing vocals. Whether rapping, singing, or lecturing, Mos Def is firmly rooted in African American consciousness and examines social issues with great ease. Black on Both Sides will endure for many years; it's an album worthy of numerous listens. --Celine Wong
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have an enormous collection of hip hop, ranging from the early 90s to 2day, but nothing stands out like this. To say the very least, Mos Def is an immensly talented mc and his rhymes are witty, entertaining and thought provoking. Black on Both Sides is refreshing, even though Mos Def isn't rapping about the same subjects as 2days latest stars like 50 cent etc (which makes a nice change!) there is a track for every1 and every mood. For me 'Ms Fat Booty', 'Do it now', 'New World Water', 'Know that' ft Talib Kweli and the unusual 'Climb' really stand out. He mixes chilled out hip hop jazz beats with sharp lyrics which makes this cd so easy to listen to. I suppose alot people say this about loadsa music, but this cd is so worth the money, even if you arent usually drawn to more underground artists, Mos Def has something about him that is so uplifting. I also like the way the tracks are neatly mixed one to another. I suppose this is like a more educated, less egotistic version of Nas, or a less harsh Pharoah Monche. Whatever your tastes, this cd is so diverse its worth having, any self respecting hip hop fan would agree!! Peace
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
At 28 years old I have spent a lifetime listening to Guitar based music, until a couple of years ago. First it was De La Soul, then A Tribe Called Quest. When I was sure I liked Hip-Hop I got into The Jungle Brothers, Gang Starr and The Roots. Now I've found Mos Def and, to be fair, he's the cream.
Black on Both Sides is just the absolute business. From the opening 'intro' track onwards, this album just inspires. The lyrics are superb, and the beats are spot on. I hate the whole Gansta Rap scene, so quality lyrics blended with beats that help you walk rather than give you a blinding headache are what's needed. Mos Def does that.
Best tracks? Ms Fat Booty and Love stand out. But they're all superb. Q-Tip pops up later on in the album.
Get this album to complement your Soundbombing and Lyricist Lounge albums. And if you haven't heard Fortified Live (not on this album, but featuring Mos Def with Reflection Eternal) then hear it soon.
Black on Both Sides is just the absolute business. From the opening 'intro' track onwards, this album just inspires. The lyrics are superb, and the beats are spot on. I hate the whole Gansta Rap scene, so quality lyrics blended with beats that help you walk rather than give you a blinding headache are what's needed. Mos Def does that.
Best tracks? Ms Fat Booty and Love stand out. But they're all superb. Q-Tip pops up later on in the album.
Get this album to complement your Soundbombing and Lyricist Lounge albums. And if you haven't heard Fortified Live (not on this album, but featuring Mos Def with Reflection Eternal) then hear it soon.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After his patchy 2004 release, The New Danger, this remains the definitive Mos Def album: a towering achievement by a unique artist whose appeal stretches way beyond the boundaries of rap and hip-hop. Painted from a rich and diverse musical palette, Black on Both Sides simply dazzles at every turn. It eschews the overly slick production and the cloying references to guns and b*tches usually associated with the genre, and instead focusses its attention on themes of a rather more universal nature. On 'Rock `N' Roll', for example, Mos seeks to redress the balance in the collective consciousness of the music buying public ("You may dig on the Rolling Stones, but everything they did they stole") while on `New World Water' he reflects lucidly on that most precious commodity, otherwise known as H2O.
As a whole, BoBS is an intelligent, understated oeuvre - but it is not without bite; see, notably, the aforementioned `Rock `N' Roll', `Know That' (my personal favourite track, featuring long-time partner-in-rhyme, Talib Kweli) and `Mr Nigga', in which Mos deals a deft blow to institutionalized racism with lines about amusing encounters with first-class air stewardesses.
Soothing, inspiring, and empowering, Black on Both Sides is that rare thing in music: an album to suit any mood. Definitely one of my top 10 records of all time...
Matt Pucci
As a whole, BoBS is an intelligent, understated oeuvre - but it is not without bite; see, notably, the aforementioned `Rock `N' Roll', `Know That' (my personal favourite track, featuring long-time partner-in-rhyme, Talib Kweli) and `Mr Nigga', in which Mos deals a deft blow to institutionalized racism with lines about amusing encounters with first-class air stewardesses.
Soothing, inspiring, and empowering, Black on Both Sides is that rare thing in music: an album to suit any mood. Definitely one of my top 10 records of all time...
Matt Pucci
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Awesome Album
This album is an absoulute classic! It is one of those albums you can enjoy from start to finsh. Mos defs lyrics are intelligent and interesting and the songs are pure class! Read more
Published 10 months ago by bex
The Greatest Hip Hop Album......EVER!!!!!!!
Even though this is just my opinion, i think many can agree that this is the best hip hop album ever released. Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2007 by G. Smith
THE MOST TALENTED GUY IN ENTERTAINMENT
THIS MAN HAS NO LIMIT, MC'S, SINGS, ACTS AND A LOT MORE. ONE OF THE LEADING FIGURES OF THE NATIVE TOUNGES, THIS MAN HAS PRODUCED ONE OF THE FINEST ALBUMS IN HIP HOP HISTORY. Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2003 by "blibsta"
Good stuff from Mos
I bought this album a while ago, at first i didn't really like it that much. i thought it was a bit boring, and samey. Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2002
Easy listening
Mos Def has once again proved that he is still one of the shining lights in hip hop. On this album, he combines his laid back rapping with all sorts of culturally diverse... Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2002 by "k-i-p-p-y"
One of the best hip-hop albums of the 90s
I bought this album about a year ago, but have hardly stopped playing it. Excellent beats, superb lyrics and a real mix of styles combine to make it a great listen. Read more
Published on 9 Oct 2002 by "graeme_fairchild"
Don't listen to the minority of the reviews, this is class
I'll keep it simple. This album is excellent. It is a modern hip hop classic. Anybody who does not own this CD, does not appreciate or understand REAL hip hop (which is an... Read more
Published on 20 July 2002
A classic album
The first time I listened to this album I knew right away that it was a classic. I like the beats and the flow of Mos Def throught this classic debut. Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2001 by aynsley@madasafish.com
Hottest MC outhere
I first heard Umi Says and thought who is this, so I bought the album on the strength of that joint. Read more
Published on 4 Aug 2001 by yarwoodis@netscapeonline.co.uk
Awesome
I've had this album for a year now and I still listen to it all the time, it blows away any other hip hop I've heard, every track has something new... Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2001
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