Mos Def: Black on Both Sides [RAWKUS / UNIVERSAL]

Why you'll love it

Black on Both Sides is one of the great conscious hip hop albums, mixing live instruments and DJ Premier beats with Mos Def's warm, brilliant lyricism. "Umi Says" is a timeless anthem.

This edition

• Black on Both Sides on vinyl
• Rawkus / Universal pressing

About the album

After teaming up with Talib Kweli as Black Star, Brooklyn's Mos Def (now Yasiin Bey) stepped out with a solo debut that showed off every side of his talent: rapper, singer, multi-instrumentalist and poet. He plays bass, drums and keys on parts of it, with producers including DJ Premier, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and 88-Keys.

"Ms. Fat Booty" is a classic story rap, "Umi Says" is a soulful, uplifting jam, "Mathematics" (produced by DJ Premier) is pure lyrical genius, and "Hip Hop" and "Brooklyn" are love letters to the culture and his hometown.

Also at Kops: more Mos Def on vinyl · browse Hip Hop / R&B

Tracklist

Listen

On Rawkus / Universal, a reissue of the 1999 album.