What do you consider to be the last hip hop classic? While the commercial world continues to waste money on Jay-Z, DMX, and Cash Money, I'm just thankful that I know something they don't. That Mos Def has made the most definitive, electic, piece of hip hop art in 1999.
You see, I like to think when I put a CD in. Not only that, I want to listen to music in the true sense of the word. One thing that often contributes to this is melody - melody which is produced by instruments - instruments which are played by humans. In that way, you will not confuse this album with anything Swizz Beats stole from a keyboard demo.
OK, so the whole album is not live instrumentation, but Mos Def does play the congas, percussion, bass, vibraphone, and keyboards on the album. More than most hip hop artists could do. And all the producers who contributed to this album supplied beats that perfectly suited Mos' style.
Now to the specific songs. Brilliant. The album opens with an intro (like everything these does - only this one isn't pointless) where Mos talks about the 
future of us and of hip hop. Its perhaps the only intro I find myself going back to listen to over and over again. From here, "Hip Hop" raises the intensity with an ill beat, and quotables such as "The industry just a better built cell block/ A long way from the shelf tops/ And the bells that L rocked." "Ms. Fat Booty" is an amusing tale of Mos' encounter with a woman, using an Aretha Franklin sample. "Speed Law" and "New World Water" both employ very creative beats, the first being a straight battle-type song, and the second using water as a possible metaphor for money, and the pollution of society as a whole. The reunion of Black Star, "Know That," will certainly not disappoint. Another bangin track, and of course, Mos and Kweli come ill with their lyrics. "Mr. Nigga" features Q-Tip (barely) and discusses the trials and tribulations of being a black man, even with money. Tight. Vintage Tribe type material.
But one of the most intriguing parts of this album is the diversity. "Umi Says" and "Climb" feature Mos Def singing nicely, and I have always been a fan of experimentation. "Rock and Roll" is the highlight of the non-rap songs, however. Here, Mos angrily declares that "Elvis Presley ain't got no soul/ Chuck Berry is Rock and Roll" and continues to give credit to black artists who he says paved the way for white artists. Some may consider it a racist stance, but I think it is more paying respect to the black artists that are never recognized. It is definitely not your commercial single, but its a nice piece of music.
This is a groundbreaking album artistically. While some say Mos Def is not the most extraordinary lyricist, he is still miles ahead of 95% of the artists you will hear, and his voice, charisma, and delivery are unmatched. The heart and thought put into this album far surpasses the Black Star album, which was great in its own right. Many artists attempt to go solo after being in a successful group, but can't hold down an entire album themself. Here's one example of the opposite: a personal, heartfelt, emotional, masterpiece of a solo debut.
-Joe Kostelnik
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