But itâs College Dropout. I know I know and I agree that guy we donât speak of is off his shit, but as a kid nothing had ever hit me like that. My mom and Dad played nothing but R&B, Gospel and Rock. My older brother loved Rap music but it was the typical early 2000s 50 cent, Jay Z etc. I still remember the first time I ever heard a Ye song. My older brother and Dad picked me up from school and my brother pulls out this cd. He always had the newest album and he asked my Dad and I âyo can I play this, itâs so goodâ. I saw the bear and the cover and proceeded to clown my brother. Who wants to listen to this? its a bear bro you crazy put that back in your pocket. He ignored me and popped it in the cd player First skit, funny. Made me laugh. Once We Donât Care began to play I legit froze. Had NEVER heard something like that. For all the people who werenât around at that time YE was for real different. We had never heard a rapper that was mainstream rapping about kinda normal shit. That was strictly underground rap territory and for it to be soul sampled out and really good and not overly preachy and lame. It changed my view of what rap could be. I was obsessed with researching every producer on the album every sample every feature. It was just the first album I loved and obsessed over. Hate that bro is just beyond redemption because he really opened my eyes to where music could go
4d ago
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Same but for me it was The Life of Pablo. Sad that hes beyond redemption bc that was so formative!
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The Jay-Z that we now know â the one who makes shady and feeble NFL deals, the one who is essentially a house husband to Beyonceâs breadwinner, the one who looks like Basquiat if he had a 401K â pales in comparison to the Jay-Z that my older brother, older cousin, and I were obsessed with growing up. Shawn Carter was once a force of nature on the mic, and transformative as a rap star. No one knew much about his personal life that wasnât in the music, but they knew he came out with a crew of dogs ready to unleash at a momentâs notice. (This Diary of Jay-Z from MTV is a good example). He was adept at making you feel the snark and the bite in his music, lifestyle, and persona, but also being in control of his behavior and narrative. Thereâs never a time, except when he struggled with a Mannie Fresh beat, where Jay-Z isnât in control while he is rapping; itâs arresting to listen to him jab and swing with his flow and words without ever losing the rap pocket. For example, a song like âStreets Is Watchingâ, when he says âitâs like a full time job not to kill niggasâ, is so raw to me. He truly means that. He wishes he could smoke everyone. It is hard for him to keep control of himself when he wants to lash out. But he has to do it anyway because violence costs too much. For any Black kids in NYC, and especially ones who are outgoing and enjoy the limelight like me, who are trying to make it happen, listen to late 90âs Jay-Z. Itâll make you more focused, stronger (notice how Jay-Z is never focused on women, in fact he rejects them if they annoy him) â and more aware of the possible snakes around you.
Oct 16, 2023
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While Hip-Hop aficionados laud Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def) as one of the most talented MCs the genre has ever seen, Bey has seen little appreciation among PEOPLE I KNOW IN REAL LIFE. I chose to EXCLAIM that because I know that Mos Def still remains firmly ingrained in the minds of many people to this day; however, for as much critical and fan attention as this man gets, I simply do not think it is enough!
Why am I bouncing on Beyâs balls so brazenly? Thereâs not many albums that I consider to be genuine 10/10s. Many come close, but the weird little Anton Ego goblin inside of my head who tells me that everything in the entire world is garbage always has something to bring up that often ends up in whatever album Iâm listening to falling short of the fabled Ratatouille Realm.
And then there was Black on Both Sides.
Almost everyone Iâve met that has listened to this album in full has great things to say about it. So many back-to-back bangers that youâd think you were watching Human Centipede. Fresh production combined with witty lyricism and more flows than a leaky diaper make this album truly one of a kind. Actually, I suppose every album is truly one of a kind so this doesnât really mean anything. How about I just say that this album is a masterclass in Hip-Hop as a poetic art form? Delivering powerful political messages in a way that doesnât bore the listener or feel overly preachy is always a difficult task, but Bey steps up to plate and knocks that shit into the stratosphere. Itâs not just stuffy politics either; Mos Def knows how to have fun. Itâs rare to see such a blend of characteristics in one rapper, especially during a time in which many Hip-Hop artists drew from a limited pool of subject material and remained confined to the styles of their predecessors (aside from notable mavericks such as Kanye West and MF DOOM).
If you call yourself a Hip-Hop enjoyer or just want to find a new album to listen to, please consider checking out Black on Both Sides by Mos Def.
Jan 27, 2025
When these kids first came straight outta Long Island in 1989, there was no such thing as âbackpacker hip-hopâ or even really an âUndergroundâ
Something this eccentric and funny (FBOW, hip-hop skits started here) didnât even have an audience. It had to be built.
Posdnuos, Trugoy (RIP) and DJ Maseo created a whole new world with producer Prince Paul that we are still exploring today.
Give âem their flowers đ
Three Feet High and Rising
De La Soul Is Dead
Buhloone Mindstate
Stakes Is High
ââCatch me breathing on planes where the gangsterâs outdated/ Fuck being hard Posdnuos is complicated.â
This shit is GOLDEN. đ¶đ§
Feb 6, 2024
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I just want to show love to the ELITE Bagel. Whoever was the freak that was like âhear me out letâs put blueberryâs in the doughâ, I know they were looking at you crazy but you knew you had a hit on your hands.
Mar 3, 2025
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Bruh who came up with this phrase? Itâs so funny. Idk why but that shit is amazing. Been saying it for years just to throw people off. We need to bring back goofy ass phrases man.
Sep 15, 2024
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Love it with your chest puffed out. if you fuck with it then say that. Iâve been bumping that new Kacey Musgraves like itâs 09 Gucci with the windows down all week.
Mar 18, 2024