
I hope these guys promoting the gig in Beijing have better luck, because the last thing we need is a multiple offender on our black list of undependable musicians. Here is an interesting account of an Australian promoter who set up 11 shows for Mos Def, during which Yasiin ended up canceling four of these gigs, costing the promoter's company over 250,000 dollars and their eventual bankruptcy.

I think unreliable can be another word for careful or more often crazy/lazy. His debut was followed by The New Danger (2004), True Magic (2006) and The Ecstatic (2009). At the time we thought to ourselves how could he forsake us, but looking back maybe that wasn't the right platform for this hip-hop legend to introduce himself to the music hungry of Beijing.Īlso Yasiin Bey is known for being one of the most unreliable people in show business. Definition of mos def in the dictionary. Mos only made matters worse for himself when his solo debut Black on Both Sides was every bit a classic as Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star.

His first album post-The Italian Job, The New Danger wasn't terrible, but it left a lot to be desired. The Ecstatic by Mos Def Ever since the release of Black Star’s self titled debut, the two emcees that comprise the duo, Mos Def and Talib Kweli, have had to live with the burden of a classic. After The New Danger came out I was all but convinced that Mos Def had been lost permanently to rapper-slash territory. Now he is on his way back to the capital and set to play a May 30 gig at Cicada Ultralounge. He had his visa approved and flight booked, but mysteriously cancelled with little or no sign of remorse. Review Summary: The Ecstatic puts Mos Def on an alternative track back towards hip-hop relevance. If you are a Mos Def fan or someone looking for hip-hop that's a bit more artistic, you should check out this album.As you may remember Mos Def was supposed to headline the 2012 Midi Music Festival, but pulled out at what seemed to be the last minute. However, this is an album that gets better with each listen as you begin to appreciate what Mos Def is doing. Traditional song structures are thrown to the wind on some of the tracks here and that can be jarring. The only thing about this album is that it can take some time to get into. Mos Def thankfully spends more time rapping than singing as well. The production is top-notch and its sound makes it stand out from a lot of other hip-hop albums. The Ecstatic is a solid album from start to finish. He reunites with Black Star colleague Talib Kweli on “History,”and teams with Georgia Anne Muldrow on the R & B-tinged “Roses.” The album's closer, “Casa Bey,” has him riding a jazzy track. Other tracks on the album sound closer to what many would expect of Mos Def. A smooth beat is interchanged with a jangling, Eastern music sample. What it is, ecstatic, there it is What it is, you know, we know What it is, they know, y'all know What it is, you don't know Here it is What it is, you know, we know What it is, they know, y'all know What it is, you don't know Here it is Ecstatic (En punto) Peace, power Fantastic So original And always on time and rockin' ya mind (Ruler. “The Embassy” starts off as a skit taking place on an airplane and becomes something else entirely. The Madlib-produced track is aided by the appearance of hip-hop legend Slick Rick. The stellar “Auditorium” glides over some beautiful strings with a Bollywood feel. “Supermagic,” gets the album off to a rousing start with passionate sampled vocals and some funky guitar. One thing that stands out is the use of Eastern music samples. Working with a variety of producers, Mos Def has created some interesting sounds for The Ecstatic.

“Priority,” with its deceptively simple beat courtesy of producer Preservation, is both a highlight of the album and its shortest track. None of them are pointless interludes or skits. However, don't let the length of the tracks fool you. Three of those tracks are less than two minutes long.

Most of the tracks on the album (nine out of sixteen) are less than three minutes long. The feel of this album is quite different from a lot of hip-hop efforts. While its quirks take some getting used to, this album is certainly worth your time. With a unique sound all its own, The Ecstatic is one of the more intriguing hip-hop albums released so far this year. His latest album suggests that it should be the other way around. In recent years, Mos Def has become more well-known for his acting than his music.
