PimpDifferent

Mos Def - The New Danger

1. The Boogie Man Song - A Raphael Saadiq production with soulful guitar riffs over very eccentric lyrics. "I am the most beautiful boogie man...let me be your favorite nightmare...close your eyes and I will be right there." Nice melodic piano keying over Mos Def singing, and not rapping. Short song...but great introduction on things to come.

2. Freaky Black Greetings - Hard rock track!!! Almost Rick Rubin-esque and immediately reminiscent of Jay Z's "99 Problems." Not many lyrics, sounds like a filler track, letting people know that Mos sounds are changing...quick.

3. Ghetto Rock - Very Neptune-esque beat, until the other 24 tracks are layed on top of it. Mos's vocals skills shine on this track...unlike Neptune type productions tho, the beat isn't what saturates the track. Yes, great beat, great funk, good use of vocals; somebody's growing up.

4. Zimzallabin - Although Eazy Mo Bee was laced as the producer for this song, it begins very non hip hoppish; heavy guitar riffs over simple bass line. Sounds like an introduction to a Rage or Then a rhythm guitar comes in reminscent of Santana is layed over that, and finally some melodic strings and simple piano keys are layed over. It is a cornucopia of genres...breaking through all set barriers and shows Mos Def's lyricism that was evident on Black on Both Sides.

5. The Rape Over - Mos grabbed Jay Z's "Takeover" and puts pretty much every one on blast. Short filler...but shows that real emcees can drop rhymes from the top of the dome. Freestylin...

"MTv is running this rap shit...Viacom is runnin' this rap shit...AOL and Time Warner runnin' this rap shit...we poke out our asses for a chance to cash in..."

6. Blue Black Jack - First blues song on the CD. Shuggie Otis on the guitar. Good incorporation of piano and organs. Wait, we're listening to blues now? It's your typical 'blues' guitar riff but made with a modern flare. I didn't even listen to the lyrics the first time I heard the track...i was more interested on how well the instrumental was done. 1 word. Soulful. On point like an arrow.

7. Bedstuy Parade & Funeral March - Sounds like a Doors song. More aggresive drumming, but it sounds exactly like a Doors song. And as the song goes on, Mos actually sounds like Jim in the intro since he's more speaking words, than "singing" over a track. Diverse skils on the mic once he starts singing...

8. Sex Love and Money - Sounds like an Electric Circus track from Common's last CD. Sounds like a Dilated People's track, with the wind instrument laced with intrusive horns that hit gently but dominate. Mos Def finally comes back hard with his rap. Fundamentals, great percussion, and great use of that Tascam. No wonder this was the A side on the 12" release.

9. Sunshine - A Kanye West production. Personally, this has been the best track so far. Lyrics + soulful samples + a great hook = An amazing song. This has risen to the top 3 favorite Mos Def songs in quite a hurry.

10. Close Edge - Very Jiggy track. Didn't feel it much...unfortunately we have our first miss of the CD.

11. The Panties - Sounds like the perfect song in the attempts to take panties off. But don't worry, the girls will appreciate it too. Sounds like good R&B of the 90s (Yes, there was good R&B in the 90s, and if you weren't listening to it, you can put your hand down now.) Reminiscent of Sade....

12. War - A Psycho Les production...but unlike the saturated Latin sounds and forced 'Puerto Rico' influence, this track uses more simplicity than anything else to make my head bob. Definately a head bobber...reminds me of the Psycho Les remix of Scriti Politi's Tinseltown to BoogieTown. Good break in the middle, and returns to the track's head bobbin', a la Dr. Dre's The Next Episode. But, aside from the head bobbin', there's mash pitting going on now. "Fuck you! Pay me!"

13. Grown Man Business - Definately a soul/funk sample of the 60s. With the simple percussion, pushed along by staggered guitar filtered riffs and we get our first introduction to Minnesota, the producer/emcee that produced a lot of the tracks. Very simple track, but works to make the listener focus on Mos and his guest and not get too involved into the intrinsic instrumentals. DJs...u'll appreciate the crackle of the sampled vinyl. ;-)

14. Modern Marvel - Great deviation. 9 minute track. Yes, you can make 9 minute tracks nowaday but you have to follow two rules. a. it has to be good. b. make sure 14 year olds don't listen to it. Very happy track. Something to lay the lights low to, spark up a philly and forget how fucked up this life has become. This life...is like...Marvin Gaye sampled for the 3rd part. 1st part is very melodic, no percussion, very soft vocals. 2nd part adds percussion, maybe another layer...3rd, a marvin gaye tribute. :-) This CD can end here and be a great accomplishment..."Ghetto people look alike before you get real!"

15. Life is Real - Great horns, sounds like some instrumental found off the Shaft soundtrack. Very poetic lyrics, great production all around. Good song.

16. The Easy Spell - Sounds like an alternative song, until Mos Def starts 'rapping.' Smells like a voice filter that goes well with the alternative instrumental. Instrumental sounds like Tool, but less noise. Lyrics could've picked up a bit.

17. The Beggar - Sounds like an intro to a David Ruffin track, good use of the synth, and very erratic percussion. Almost Umi Says type of vocals and lyrical display. Another great deviation. GREAT lyrics. Song ... hits ... home....

18. Champion Requiem - Great ending. Very energetic track. It feels good for Mos to be back! Very effortless track that is braised to perfection. It's almost like this track is Mos's "I Never Left" track.

All in all, a great CD. The little hip hop junkies that think within a box might not enjoy it, much like many haters didn't like Andre 3000's CD on Outkast's last release. This CD exposes Mos Def's creative license that says he can drive ANYWHERE he wants. You're not supposed to confine yourself to boundaries. That's what music was supposed to be...it was supposed to break these boundaries. It was made create different ideas and show growth instead of stagnation. It was made to break out of the stringent rules that society has placed on everything. Just like a butterfly who has metamorphed from it's cocoon and opened its wings to take flight into a new environment, Mos Def has done the same thing, but, not realizing where he came from.

4.5 outta 5