I have recently been thinking about artists that show potential but never reach it for whatever reason. This phenomenom tends to be of epidemic proportions in rap music and I am not sure why. It could be the culture in the record industry demanding quick turn over and a follow the leader approach to marketing the music. It could be that most rappers do not have the musical background to understand what it takes to make a strong record. it could be that there isnt a lot of guidance other than the “make sure you have the x, y and z” style songs on your album. Or it could just be that some rappers are either too self indulgent or lazy to ever get the best from them.
I started thinking about this because of the artist Mos Def. Obviously a talented rapper. His work in the late 90s with Black Star was brilliant. His first solo album Black on Both Side, though uneven showed immense promise. Sadly that promise was never reached. It was a combination of him being bored with rap, trying to do too much, acting, getting hammered by Christopher Hitchens on Bill Maher, etc.
The point is he was unable to keep focus for a full album and his works became increasingly, how can I say this without being insulting, shitty.
With Mos there are always amazing moments.
When he is on, it is exactly what I want to hear when I listen to rap music, but when he is off it is exactly everything I hate when I listen. So this got me thinking, what if some one like Mos, or The Roots, or Ras Kass had a strong personality with an ear for what makes a great record pushing them to do so? Would it work. Would we get what we always hoped for from them? Sadly we will never know because the music industry has pretty much eliminated the true A&R position for quick profits and disposable artists. So I decided to try on my A&R hat and see if I couldnt put together a great album from the material that is already out there. I set a few rules in place to avoid just turning this into a best off type deal:
1. The music can only come from the artist album catalogue, no collaborations, guest appearances or side projects.
2. The project must flow like an album, which means if the song doesnt fit, it doesnt get on, I dont care if it is their biggest hit or has a Jay-Z or Kanye guest appearance.
3. It must not be longer than 55 minutes and 14 songs, because no album ever should be.
So lets see how this little experiment worked out. Mos Def, you are about to be Laskified.
Mos Def – Laskified
Track Listing
1. Champion Requiem
2. Mr. Nigga
3. Murder of a Teenage Life
4. Ghetto Rock
5. Quiet Dog Bite Hard
6. Undeniable
7. White Drapes
8. Sex, Love, and Money
9. Napoleon Dynamite
10. Close Edge
11. Umi Says
12. History feat. Talib Kweli
13. Brooklyn
Mos Def – Laskified
Tags: Alaska, bill maher, black on both sides, christopher hitchens, hip hop, Mos Def, Philaflava, Ras Kass, Steady Bloggin', The Roots
‘The Ecstatic’ was way better than most people think. One of the more slept on albums of 2009. The thing is, Mos Def was seen as the Golden Boy in the peak of the Rawkus Era, and he realized everyone wanted him to be something he didn’t want to be, so he sabotaged everything and ducked out the spotlight. I wouldn’t exactly give up on him though… he’s got the magic still. He just won’t whore it out to hip hop for fame and fortune. Mos Def has standards that he won’t compromise, which is admirable in this grimy ass subculture. But yeah, that’s not to say dude couldn’t focus better.
@Mindbender
Exactly! ‘The Ecstatic’ should have won that Grammy, but of course it didn’t. People just don’t appreciate good music anymore.
Mos Def is amazingly talented and if you read his interviews, he is incredibly aware of the problems people face everyday–he’s here for the people in a very genuine way. He won’t ’sell out’ just for fame and that is why I respect him. Here is something that he’s said that will resonate with me for a long time:
“Even when I die I won’t stay dead. The vibration is the key thing. If I’m not the hottest, then let me be vital. If you’re necessary you’ll always be in people’s pockets—something that functions—well.”
dope mix
I know I’m a little late to this party but Tim while your Mos Def comp. is good it also could’ve been MUCH better. “Know That” w/Talib, “Do It Now” w/Busta and “Auditorium” w/Slick Rick ALL should’ve made your comp. and if you were only going to feature Mos Def tracks with no guest spots from other MC’s than you obviously should’ve removed “History” & “Mr. N****” right? (even though Q-Tip doesn’t really rhyme on it and just mainly does the chorus.) And “Hip Hop” & “Rock N Roll” should’ve made it too. I consider “Hip Hop” to be one of his definitive jams btw and if I was to intro any newbies to Mos Def “Hip Hop” would be in my Top 5 songs to play.
Plus you forgot to mention the mixtape/compilation that TRULY showcases Mos Def’s skills & artistry – The Dangerous Mix mixed by DJ Risky Bizness (http://www.myspace.com/djriskybizness) Your Lasikified joint doesn’t even come close to that comp. HipHopSite added it as a freebie if you bought The New Danger from them and guess which CD I’ve bumped more times since? Had Mos asked Geffen to release The Dangerous Mix instead of True Magic I think both of them would’ve actually made some good money and Mos might even have a better rep with the avg. Hip Hop fan too.
Maybe you should ask DJ Risky for a re:up of The Dangerous Mix and post it at SteadBloggin’ or maybe at T.R.O.Y.? (Mos is a 1990’s Hip Hop vet too right?) Risky is one of my ALL TIME favorite Mixtape DJ’s and if you’re looking for some mixtapes to post to one of your 2 blogs then maybe you can ask DJ Risky if you can post the amazing mixtapes he made for Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common and Kanye West if you get a chance (please?)
As for Mos Def getting a Grammy win? Forget it. His beats aren’t slick enough (just ask Kanye and Black Eyed Peas) and anybody who raps “Kenny G. Ain’t Got No Soul” a few times on a track is only going to piss off the people who vote for the Grammys more than enlighten them.
And FWIW he also DID “sell out” a little too. Some car company (was it GMC?) used “Climb” a loooong while back (not the whole song obviously) in one of their commercials. I think (I hope?) Mos got a nice chunk of change from that deal.
And oh and one more thing – not to get too political here but journalist Christopher Hitchens SHOULD be in jail serving a long sentence with a limited chance of time off for good behavior. He was a BIG cheerleader for Bush’s Invasion of Iraq aka Gulf War 2 (I think he was more thrilled to see Iraq invaded than ANY politician other than Bush & Cheney imho) and pimped heavily for the invasion in his articles in various mags & papers. And FWIW Could you at least have found the spot Mos did with Dr. Cornel West on Bill Maher’s show? I think that was his best TV appearance so far.
you people make me hate hip hop more that the shitty album tracks on mos def albums
The Ecstatic did take a while for me to get into, but it still wasn’t a complete album to me. I think with the current state of hip hop someone like Mos can release his B work and still have it be praised. Let’s just hope he still has his heart personally set on releasing the highest quality of music possible.
Hola, Ya he visto algunos hay …
Doggy
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