The mighty Mos Def has been on a five-year hiatus since his outstanding solo debut Black on Both Sides. Now, Mos Def is back with A New Danger
the dreaded sophomore album that could make or break his career. In theory, this is the one that will either push the long-time followers away or renew their love.
If you happen to be a save the music -recycle fan expecting another Black On Both Sides keep browsing the record shelves, because this is not it. This is the album Mos Def alluded to when he said, Elvis Presley ain't got no soul Chuck Berry is rock and roll.
A New Danger is the black man's reclamation of rock and roll. On a majority of the songs, Mos wails with aching vocals over his live band, Black Jack Johnson. Alongside his band, Mos Def resurrects life back into the blues and rock in songs like Black Jack
The Panties
and Zimzallabim. On Black Jack
Mos practically takes the backseat on the song and sticks to shouting yeah while the band steals the show.
But do not fret, hip-hop heads; this album is not all rock and no rollin' with the homies. The Kanye West-produced Sunshine pushes the album back into the Mos Def sound of old as he raps over a lovely soul and piano sample.
For more of the traditional hip-hop vibes, polish your Adidas Superstars and check out Sex
Love and Money and Close Edge.
Mos Def definitely knows how to make both rock and hip hop and properly fuse the genres together. Unfortunately A New Danger deserves to be two albums -a rock album and a hip-hop album. The inclusion of Black Jack Johnson songs alongside Kanye West beats gives this album a rushed, mixed-tape feeling instead of that of a cohesive album.
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Blake Gillespie
