Mos Def - The New Danger

[Banter 0]

I usually don't give a shit about reviews, but so far the write ups for "The New Danger" have been fantastic...and for good reason; the album is incredible! It is far from typical, but don't let that scare you. I haven't been this excited about an album since "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below."

 

Anyway, read some reviews below or do yourself a favor and listen to it now...

 

Rolling Stone Review:

 

4 Stars

 

While his rap career was cooling these past few years, Mos Def developed a reputation as a top-shelf actor, a go-to guy capable of creating deeply nuanced characterizations. That same skill proves vital to his earthy, impressively diverse second solo effort, The New Danger. Alternating between rapid-fire rhymes and lazy behind-the-beat singing, the New York rapper transforms himself a few times: He's a wise veteran of the honky-tonk circuit (the choogling blues "Black Jack"); a surly punk (on "Ghetto Rock," one of several tracks with his band Black Jack Johnson, featuring guitarist Dr. Know from Bad Brains); and on the ambling mambo "Boogie Man," he makes like the crooning Marvin Gaye to celebrate intimacy. It's all part of the Mos Def master plan to, as he explains on the gritty "Life Is Real," "reach the world but touch the street first." The fed-up rhymes and sweetly sung refrains of The New Danger do exactly that, broadening the hip-hop palette without sacrificing, or selling out, its core ideals.

 

 

TOM MOON

(Posted Oct 28, 2004)

 

E! Online Review:

 

Grade: A

 

Let's see, a socially conscious rapper releases an album called The New Danger just as we approach a vital election--what could it possibly be about? Hmmm. While we ponder that, we should point out that the Emmy-nominated Mos Def's sophomore album is a funky, soulful flashback to the works of outspoken jazz and R&B greats like Gil-Scott Heron and Miles Davis. Songs like "Boogie Man" and "Ghetto Rock" are delivered with sharp rhymes and muscular musical backing, while the luscious "Sex, Love & Money" deals with the really important issues. Don't be afraid to dig into Danger.

 

Spine Magazine Review

 

Rating: 8/10

 

Dead rappers release albums more often than Mos Def, but his five year absence from release schedules hasn’t meant a withdrawal from public view. Far from it – via a healthy and blooming acting career and numerous musical guest appearances he’s as visible as ever, and his new record The New Danger arrives to open ears. The staunch hip-hop devotees who crave the beats and rhymes of his earlier 12s may balk upon first listen but this is a fascinating follow-up, a beautiful, messy, rough and real display of versatility and fearlessness unequalled in today’s rap climate. It’s devoid of guests and characterised by thick, heavy sonics: ‘Sex, Love and Money’ is the mystic, voodoo-affected opener and ‘Sunshine’, Kanye West’s contribution, is a likely single. Bassy rock aesthetics dress songs like ‘Zimzallabim’, ‘Ghetto Rock’ and Black Jack’, the merging of rap and guitars here seeing a rare triumph.

 

The record’s centrepiece, ‘Modern Marvel’, is a stunning three parted, ten minute epic, beginning with a muted Marvin Gaye loop from ‘What’s Going On’, before someone turns on the drum machine during the second movement and the mic in the third, just in time to catch a verse about the revered artist the song samples. After that ride the horns of ‘Life Is Real’ ground you again before ‘Panties Come On’ and ‘Champion Requiem’ close things out, speaking, singing and rapping featuring in equal measures. The New Danger has little to do with the fad-driven trends that govern so much contemporary black music but it isn’t an anomaly too far, the artist more than capable enough to execute his far-flung ideas with rare and genuine confidence. Eccentric and exceptional, it’s a potent reminder of the possibilities of hip-hop in a time when few are trying to exhaust them.

 

Track Listing:

 

1 The Boogie Man Song

2 Freaky Black Greetings

3 Ghetto Rock

4 Zimzallabim

5 The Rape Over

6 Blue Black Jack

7 Bedstuy Parade & Funeral March

8 Sex, Love & Money

9 Sunshine

10 Close Edge

11 The Panties

12 War

13 Grown Man Business

14 Modern Marvel

15 Life Is Real

16 The Easy Spell

17 The Beggar

18 Champion Requiem

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

I can't wait for this to drop. One of the most underrated MC's in hip hop. I would get pissed about him waiting soooo long to drop an album, but with the way that this one sounds.........it should be awesome.

[ant_7000 0]

I usually don't put stock in reviews when it comes to non rap magazines but its Mos Def, so I can let it past. Finally, after 5 years Mos comes with an album, Black on Both Sides was hot and somewhat underrated, I've been hearing good stuff about this album. When does the album comes out?

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

I believe it comes out today.............

[Guest El Satanico]

The reviews aren't wrong...it is a great album. However, I'm sure some will be disappointed since it's more of a bluesy rock/r&b album. It's a shame that this thread only got three posts and was close to disappearing, when m&m has two threads on the first page getting good amount of posting.

 

Maybe bumping it back to the top will give it new life.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Okay, what the fuck did Mos Def act in, by the way?

[Guest El Satanico]

http://imdb.com/name/nm0080049/

 

He won an Emmy for "Something The Lord Made", an HBO original movie about the pioneers of heart surgery.

 

By far his biggest theatrical role to date will be the upcoming Hitchhiker's Guide to The Universe.

[1234-5678 0]

I've only heard "The Rapeover", but it was fantastic.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

Most close sources to me told me the album sucked, and these are people that LOVED Blacker on Both Sides. I'm gonna take a pass on it, I might just hear it for kicks one of these days, but I'm sure I'll be disappointed.

 

Ah fuck it, BOBS is one of my favourite rap albums ever, even if they say it's the worst album ever, I'm picking it up.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

Most close sources to me told me the album sucked, and these are people that LOVED Blacker on Both Sides. I'm gonna take a pass on it, I might just hear it for kicks one of these days, but I'm sure I'll be disappointed.

 

Ah fuck it, BOBS is one of my favourite rap albums ever, even if they say it's the worst album ever, I'm picking it up.

Like Satanico said, it's more blues/R&B...........that's why big fans of Black on Both Sides won't like this one.....at least as much.

[ant_7000 0]

I think rap heads who don't like rock influences in rap and Mos singing on half the tracks won't appreciate the album. I listen to a lil snippets at Circuit City last week and I thought it was worth a pickup but I don't think its better than BOBS thou.