After almost a three year hiatus Mos Def returns from the depths of hell(the big screen) with the release of his new album titled The Ecstatic. Now, we all know on his off time Black Dante aka Mos is usually busy with other projects in the acting world.
I'm generally a big opponent of rappers who decide to "act" for the following reasons; they suck at acting or they're music takes a downward spiral into a dark abyss of crap while they're acting flourishes. Enter Mos Def, our first piece of evidence ? True Magic.

I'm not exactly sure what he was thinking when he dropped True Magic. I really only liked 3 songs out of 14 tracks. Okay, thats harsh maybe four tracks. I guess my feelings towards True Magic were the same that everyone at the time had about The New Danger(which i loved) which was ..WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?? Creative Differences, I guess.

Moving forward to today, I received The Ecstatic earlier this week and jump into this project with unbiased ear like usual. At first the length of each song turned me off, but i thought to myself its about quality not quantity. After, playing the album back to back, I'm somewhat impressed. I'm just ecstatic(cheesy, no?) that its something to listen to besides the typical disco hip hop thats being pushed through our ears.

Any who, here is my play by play of The Ecstatic, track for track:

1.Supermagic: The typical Bismillah al rahman al rahim intro, done always over an ever oh so dope beat this time produced by Madlib's little brother Oh No. Nepotism? perhaps. It's all in the name of Allah/God and Hip Hop.

2.Twilite Speedball: Produced by Chad Hugo. Chad who is one half of The Neptunes and in my opinion my one of my top 10 producers. Not too much going on this track, honestly I listened to the beat the entire time.

3.Auditorium: Produced by Madlib, featuring Slick Rick. I think this is easily my favorite track on the album. The production is done effortlessly, lyrics from each artist are solid. Yep, that's it this is my favorite. Slick Rick smooth, laid back, story telling flow made this hip hop head shed a tear of joy.

4.Wahid: Another Madlib produced track. I'm not wilding over the track, but its definitely listenable.

5.Priority: Producer: Preservation. I'm not sure what this was about? God, My Spirit?? knowing my spirit? whatever this ode was to I enjoyed the piano and the horns.

6.Quite Dog Bite Hard: Produced by Preservation. This beat was funky, I can dig this track. I like.

7.Life in Marvelous Times: Produced by Mr.Flash. Production was horrible. Me no like, that's right I said me no like.

8.The Embassy: Produced by Mr. Flash. I don't know this Mr. Flash guy is but, I'm not a fan of his work thus far. I'm somewhat over the whole middle eastern sound, and this just put the nail in the coffin.I liked the intro to the song if that makes it any better.

9.No Hay Nada Mas: Produced by Preservation. I like the track, very laid back, sounds like a cross of Kung-Fu Master meets Mexico. I know a lot of guys are not going to like this track for the sheer fact that Mos is singing and in spanish this time. I like when Mos Def sings on a track, and that he exercise the use of our second language.*cough,cough* What? I'm Hispanic damn it, I fucks with it jeeze.

10.Pistola: Produced by Oh No. I had to listen to it twice, not that it was the best track on the album. It's no Mr. Flash produced song, it makes the grade for now.

11.Pretty Danger: Madlib on the track once again. Track reminds me of some old 70's player anthem. Lyrics, aren't bad.

12.Workers comp: Produced by Mr Flash. As i stated earlier, I'm a fan of Mos Def's singing. However, this song makes me wish he would stop. Just, for this song alone.
Think it had something to do with the producer. Okay, production wasn't bad this time around.

13.Revelations: Produced by Madlib. It makes the pass, i like.

14.Roses: Produced and featuring Georgia Anne Muldrow. I like this track, its no Slick Rick Collabo, but this is definitely a nice one. Georgia singing, while Mos lays down a couple of bars. Nice.

15.History: Produced By Dilla, ft Talib Kweli. James Yancy x BlackStar x Hip Hop.
Old Mos Def, shines on this track. It leaves me with something to wait for until a new BlackStar album.

16.Casa Bey: Produced by Mos Def and Preservation. Another 70's funk filled track. I feel like I'm watching the intro to Dolemite or something. Nice track tho.


Overall, I like this album. It makes me forget that i ever owned True Magic. However, I don't see it surpassing The New Danger and it will never be anything close to Black on Both Sides, but an era filled with auto tuned laced albums this will do for a Hip Hop head as myself.


Le'Dope