The Ecstatic is Mos Def's fourth solo album and his first since True Magic in 2006. This album is his best performance since 99's Black on Both Sides. He has been given pass after pass for his missteps since that album, so it is nice to see Mos finally giving his fans something new to talk about.
The best song on the CD is a toss-up between "Twilite Ball" and "Casa Bey." They both showcase a funky beat and Mos' unrelenting flow. "Auditorium," featuring Slick Rick, is not as good as it should be, but expectations may have been too high. If you take the time to listen to the track, you will hear something that can only be described as real hip-hop. Other standouts are "Quiet Dog Bite Hard." The beat provided by Preservation is infectious and oddly-reminiscent of Will Smith's "Switch". "Wahid," a Madlib-produced track, is entirely too short.
After the first nine songs though, the fillers come in- and not even Mos Def's politically-charged lyrics can save the songs. The worst of them is "Workers Comp." It"s not the message that fails, but the Wyclef-style singing that is unforgivable.
Overall though, Mos Def gives you a double dose of yesterday's hip hop. While he can be too abstract at times, this is the most cohesive effort he has given us in a while. Provided you stick to the first half of the album, you will love it.
The best song on the CD is a toss-up between "Twilite Ball" and "Casa Bey." They both showcase a funky beat and Mos' unrelenting flow. "Auditorium," featuring Slick Rick, is not as good as it should be, but expectations may have been too high. If you take the time to listen to the track, you will hear something that can only be described as real hip-hop. Other standouts are "Quiet Dog Bite Hard." The beat provided by Preservation is infectious and oddly-reminiscent of Will Smith's "Switch". "Wahid," a Madlib-produced track, is entirely too short.
After the first nine songs though, the fillers come in- and not even Mos Def's politically-charged lyrics can save the songs. The worst of them is "Workers Comp." It"s not the message that fails, but the Wyclef-style singing that is unforgivable.
Overall though, Mos Def gives you a double dose of yesterday's hip hop. While he can be too abstract at times, this is the most cohesive effort he has given us in a while. Provided you stick to the first half of the album, you will love it.
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