"Fear Not Of Man" is the starting intro track.. Produced by Mos Def himself, tt's an original way to kick the album off because it's not really a complete song yet it's too full and long to be just an intro.The snare beat hits hard with the sound of BOOM-BIP. Mos Def talks his way through the first three-quarters of the song about hiphop. Mos Def is a deep man and his loose talk has a serious meaning: "...If we smoked out, Hip-Hop is gonna be smoked out.. If we doin alright, Hip-Hop is gonna be doin alright.. People talk about Hip-Hop like it's some giant livin in the hillside.. comin down to visit the townspeople... We +are+ Hip-Hop ... Me, you, everybody, we are Hip-Hop ... So Hip-Hop is goin where we goin ... So the next time you ask yourself where Hip-Hop is goin.. ask yourself.. where am I goin?  How am I doin?... Til you get a clear idea ..So.. if Hip-Hop is about the people... and the.. Hip-Hop won't get better until the people get better..then how do people get better?..." When Mos Def comes in with his rhyme, the energy of the track lifts up to new heights. Just when you think you may not be diggin the track, Mos Def grabs you and pulls you inside the song.  "...All over the world hearts pound with the rhythm / Fear not of men because men must die /  Mind over matter and soul before flesh / Angels for the pain keep a record in time / which is passin and runnin like a caravan freighter / The world is overrun with the wealthy and the wicked / But God is sufficient in disposin of affairs / Gunmen and stockholders try to merit my fear / But God is sufficient over plans they prepared / Mos Def in the flesh, where you at, right here / on this place called Earth, holdin down my square / Bout to do it for y'all, and y'all at the fair / So just bounce, come on bounce / B-b-bounce b-bounce -bounce-bounce / And just.... just step two three/ Just step two three and /step two.. / two three and.. /One two three and four / One two three and four / Once again / All over the world hearts pound with the rhythm / Fear not of men because men must die /Mind over matter and soul before flesh  / Angels for the pain keep a record in time which is passin and runnin like a caravan freighter / The world is overrun with the wealthy and the wicked / But God is sufficient in disposin of affairs /Gunmen and stockholders try to merit your fear / But God is sufficient over plans they prepared / Mos Def in the flesh, where you at, right here/ on this place called Earth, holdin down my square / Bout to represent in your whole atmosphere / Bout to represent in your whole atmosphere  to your atmosphere, to your atmosphere...." This is not only a creative way to kick the album off but it takes balls to be this original. It was a daring move. Some people may not like this track and it may turn people off but in my opinion, it sets the mood for a deep, serious and socially-important album filled with dope beats and insightful lyrics both original and creative.

"Hip Hop" is the first complete rap song on the album and still, it's not catchy.. Already Mos Def is maintaining a hardcore feel to the album. By examining the state of hip-hop through a Rza-like beat produced by Diamond for Diggin' In The Crates, Mos kicks it over a deep horn mid-tempo sliding rhythm. Diamond does a dope job with the production and there is some amazing scracthing in the middle of the song. The real dopeness is the lyrical substance and delivery by The Mighty Mos Def: "...Speech is my hammer, bang the world into shape / Now let it fall... (Hungh!!) / My restlessness is my nemesis / It's hard to really chill and sit still / Committed to page, I write rhymes / Sometimes won't finish for days / Scrutinize my literature, from the large to the miniature / I mathematically add-minister / Subtract the wack / Selector, wheel it back, I'm feeling that / (Ha ha ha) From the core to the perimeter black, /You know the motto  / Stay fluid even in staccato / (Mos Def) Full blooded, full throttle / Breathe deep inside the trunk hollow / There's the hum, young man where you from / Brooklyn number one / Native son, speaking in the native tongue /I got my eyes on tomorrow (there it is) / While you still try to follow where it is / I'm on the Ave where it lives and dies / Violently, silently / Shine so vibrantly that eyes squint to catch a glimpse / Embrace the bass with my dark ink fingertips / Used to speak the king's English / But caught a rash on my lips / So now my chat just like dis / Long range from the base-line (switch) / Move like an apparition / Float to the ground with ammuntion (chi-chi-chi-POW) / Move from the gate, voice cued on your tape /Putting food on your plate /Many crews can relate / Who choosing your fate (yo) / We went from picking cotton / To chain gang line chopping / To Be-Bopping / To Hip-Hopping/ Blues people got the blue chip stock option / Invisible man, got the whole world watching / (where ya at) I'm high, low, east, west, / All over your map / I'm getting big props, with this thing called hip hop / Where you can either get paid or get shot / When your product in stock / The fair-weather friends flock /  When your chart position drop / Then the phone calls.... / Chill for a minute / Let's see whoelse tops / Snatch your shelf spot / Don't gas yourself 'och /  The industry just a better built cell block / A long way from the shell tops / And the bells that L rocked..." Damn... you have to admit that Mos put much thought into his lyrics. This is an amazing track and it's hardcore for it's power of expression. There's no curses or gun/murder talk, it's his flat out attack on the industry and the guts of not having a chorus. I wish more songs were like this...

"Love" is cool track that has a slight single-appeal.. It has a cool, mellow jazzy beat and melody. The brushes on the drums sound very cool and give the track a nice atmosphere. On this joint, Mos expresses himself and the feeling and force of love while being very poetic at the time.."..My pops said he was in love when he made me / Thought about it for a second, wasn't hard to see / I could hear he was sincere, was a game of promotion / The entire affair's probably charged wit emotion / But love call your heart, I guess you got to persue / 12-11-73 my life is testament / Praise the beneficent, element that rest / Devoid in the form that make love manifest / I spent my early years in Roosevelt Project /It was a bright valley wit some dark prospects / In '83, Venny C was the host wit the most / I listened to the Rap Attack and held the radio close.." Mos carries this song like he was standing on stage in a smokey jazz club and leading the audience on his journey through his kingdom of love. The chorus is not only cool, but has a strong poetic vibe.: "..I start to think, and then I sink - Into the paper, like I was ink - When I'm writing I'm trapped in between the line - I escape when I finish the rhyme -- I got love, L-O-V-E and I be - Love, L-O-V-E to MC - Get love, L-O-V-E and I be - Love, L-O-V-E I MC  - Get love, L-O-V-E and I be - Love, L-O-V-E to MC  - Get love, L-O-V-E and I be -The M-O-S-D-E-F-initely...." This is a great song.. Though it's not hardcore since there are no gun references, violence or sex and drugs stories, Mos Def is honest.. he's true to himself and he knows where he comes from. The expression is hardcore. I could see this being a video or a single since it's catchy and the sentiments are universal enough to span across  all audiences, black, while, asian, hispanic etc.. Eveyone knows love.. (of somekind..anyway). This song displays how Mos Def is very different from your average rapper. This reminds me of joints from Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. Well done, Mos!

"Ms. Fat Booty" is first video from the album. This is a narrative.. Mos Def displays his talents of storytelling.. he truly makes it an art. Though I wouldn't have made this the first single and video, it's still a cool song with a vocal sample loop of Aretha Franklin for the hook. Mos Def's story telling skills are very strong.. He blesses the track and after a few listens, you can really see what goes on.. The video makes everything clearer but his lyrics and delivery is the real gem: "..In she came with the same tight game / The type of girl givin out the fake cell phone and name / Big fame, she like cats with big thangs / Jewels chip, money clip, phone flip, the six range / I seen her on the ass, spotted her more than once / Ass so fat that you could see it from the front / She spot me like paparazzi / Shot me a glance in that catwoman stance with the fat booty pants / Hot damn! /What your name love, where you came from? / Neck and wrist laced up, very little make-up / The slims at the Rebok gym tone your frame up / Is sugar and spice the only thing that you made of? / I tried to play it low key but couldn't keep it down / Asked her to dance she was like ‘yo, I'm leaving now' / An hour later, sounds from Jamaica / She sippin Crys stright up, shaking mine and her waist up  / Scene two: my fam throwin the jam / For Reed is on the stand big things is in the plan / The brother Big Moon make space for me to move in / Hey, this my man Mos, baby let me introduce / I turn around /Say, you is the same pretty girl that I had priorly observed / Trying to play me for the herb (yeah, that's her) / Shocked as hell she couldn't get it together / I just played it low and pretended I never met her /  ‘How you feelin', ‘oh I'm fine', ‘my name is Mos', ‘I'm Sharice'/ I heard so much good about you its nice to finally meet / We moved to the booth reserved crew especially / And honey love ended up sittin directly next to me /I'm type polite but now I'm lookin at her skeptically / Cause baby girl got all the right weaponry / Designer fabric, shoes, and accessories / Chinky eyes, sweet voice is *fucking* on me mentally / We conversated, made a laugh, yeah you know me bro /Even though I know the steelo, she wild sweet yo / I'm about to merc, I say peace to the family / She hop up like ‘how you gonna leave before you dance with me?'...." I'm not going to ruin the story for you by telling you the ending but it's a great track.. I can see why he picked it as the first single and video but it's still surprising. This shows that an emcee can write a love song without vulgar and sexist terms and  at the same time, not have it be corny. That's quite an accomplishment! The hook, sampled gives it that classic jazzzy/blues feel: "..I know I can't afford this life - For a moment - That its too soon -To forget - I know I caaan't afford this life - For a moment - That its too soon - To forget..."  The sampled hook just gives that great feel to the song making it a classic...How can you go wrong with Aretha?? It's a great song, not the best on the album but still, a great song...

"Speed Law" could be another popular song but it's extremely unique and sounds very different than your typical rap song.  First of all, the uptempo beat is dope but sounds very organic and natural. Though it's probably programmed, the drums in the song sound natural and gives it a Roots-like feel. Produced by 88-Keys (who did some joints on Black Star), this is a good and original sounding song in a musical sense. Obviously, this is about emcees living their lives too fast. Mos Def has an amazing flow which is both thought-provoking and original. Some may not like this song and some may think the beat is weak but I think the beat suits the song perfectly. It's not an thumping hard beat.. it's more like a a quick driving brushed beat. The chorus not only represents the speed of light lifestyle of the city but uses the metaphor of driving a car: "..Tell them cats they need to ease back and observe where they at - Brook-nahm Vietnam - The heat is on - Put your joint on cruise - In a rush you scuff your brake shoes, just cool and relax - Take a breath, take ten paces back - Brook-nahm Vietnam-  The heat is on, no off-ramp or detour - Make these gassed up jokers observe the speed law - Make these gassed up clowns observe the spppeed law - Make these gassed up clowns observe the speed law - Cause they speedin, speedin, speedin, speedin, speedin...." Mos flipps the rhymes very well on this joint. Though it takes a couple of listens for this to really grow on you, I dug it from the first time I heard it.. I didn't appreciate it until a couple of listens.. Mos Def rips some classic rhymes here: "..My joint's so passionate / Make you peal out and mash your sh*t / Get wild cold crash your whip / Front chassis wrecked, but ock you can't be too upset / Tow truck got my tape in the deck / I'm permanent like tattoos and birth marks / Third degree burn marks / Driving on tracks like Dale Earnheart / Stay on the low like the earth spot / Put a big loss on your earn chart / Nice since the nurse signed my birth chart - ... - Tell the feds, tell your girl, tell your mother /Conference call you wack crew and tell each other /That they just ain't holding me /I'm Mos Def, your hopefully /Mush off or you get bust off like a ovary..." Damn, this is a cool song but it will probably be slept on... Many will not fully appreciate this jam like many do not appreciate Organized Konfusion..oh well, that's the way true hip-hop goes..

."Do It Now" featuring Busta Rhymes is another upbeat song but this one has a serious bounce. Busta Rhymes brings a strong pro-black presence to the joint. It's good to hear him like this and not on something like Brand Nubian's "Let's Dance" (No offence to Brand Nu but that song sucked, och).. Here, they rock together and no one steals it from the other. Mos Def rocks: "..Hay dios mio, me and Bustarimo ?? / The hottest negroes en Los Estados Unidos / Hotter than Reno when discovered by Bugsy Siegal / I'm black like Don Cheadle shoutin power to the people / My rhymes dipping like the lifeline on the e-boat / The raw sugar cane, NutraSweet, never Equal / If you in a Benzito or your mother's Buick Regal / I get up like Chino shoutin power to the people!!..." Busta Rhymes comes in and rips it apart giving the song a very hard edge for having a platinum selling artist on it. Busta Rhymes raps some classic hardcore verses: "..Yo, me and the Mighty Mos shine like a light post  / Live n*gga shit be straight F*CKIN UP THE WHITE FOLKS / That's why they with it now, because n*ggaz like me and you / we did it now, brought it to that level so they GET IT NOW / We graduated saturated the game now /Infatuated with the fame now let me explain how / we doin this, at any time or any place ready willin and able / let's get the dough secure the FOOD ON THE TABLE...". Together, they make a good pair. Though Mos Def cannot come close to the intense energy that Busta Rhymes brings but Busta Rhymes cannot come anywhere as lyrically deep as Mos Def.. So, they compliment each other in a perfect way. Together, the rock the chorus which displays their Afro-centric pro-black lifestyle: "..[BR]   Ay Mos Def - [MD]    Oh my God.. - [BR]    How you feel? - [MDD]    I'm feelin great - [BR]    Whatcha want? - [MD]    Wanna do it to death, whassup wit you? - [BR]    You know my steez - [MD]    True indeed - [BR]&    Say it loud - [MD]    Black and proud-&nbbsp; Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate -  Do it now! -  Bus-a-Bus - [BR]    Rhymes Galore! - [MD]    What the deal? - [BR]    Feelin GREAT! - [MD]    Whatchu want? - [BR]    Wanna do it to death, WHATTUP wit you?! - [MD]    You know my steez - [BR]    True indeed - [MD]    Say it loud - [BR]    Black and proud - [MD]    Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate -  Do it now!...." It's a hardcore joint due to the hardcore pro-black expression and it's beautiful baby! Busta Rhymes proved again that he could rock hard and deep without being commercial.

"Got" is one of the lower points of the album. It's not a bad song.. not at all... it's just not amazing. This joint, produced by Ali Shaheed of A Tribe Called Quest has it's trademark Ummah-like beat which is displayed on ATCQ's "Beats, Rhymes, and Life". Mos Def rhymes about getting "Got"... In his chorus, he raps, "...Don't get me! - Don't get me! - Don't g-g-g-g-g get me!- Don't get me! - Don't get me! - Don't g-g-g-g-g get me!..." There is a small section of the song which displays the theme very well. It's not repeated and that shows that Mos is not one for having extremely catchy joints. "...You're out on the block hustling at the spot... / GOT, this is how you get Got.../ At the gamblin' spot and your hand is mad hot... /GOT, this is how you get Got... / Out in Brooklyn late night flashing all of your rocks... /GOT, this is how you get Got... / Some girl from pink house said "I like you alot".../ GOT, this is how you get Got..."  Mos also rhymes about the violence and the tension in Brooklyn..  In his first main verse, he dedicates this song: "..This one goes to all them Big Will cats / With ice on they limbs and big rims on they Ac / You goin' around town with your system bump / And your windows cracked low to profile and front /Now I like to have nice things just like you /But I'm from Brooklyn, certain shit you just don't do.." It's a cools song and it is deep. The chorus of him yelling "Don't Get me!" does get kind of annoying. Thank God, it's a short song. His verse is very well done and the beat is full. Unfortunately, this can be considered a filler song compared to sparkling joints like "Speed Law" and "Hip-Hop". Still, it's not wack.

"Umi Says" is another level. This reminds me of The Roots because it's a jazz song on a hip-hop album. There is no rapping.. Mos Def sings!!! Yes, he sings and it sounds cool.. He doesn't think he's Marvin Gaye don't worry... he knows he's an emcee but this is a very spiritual song taking the album on a left turn that some may not like. I have an open mind and I love jazz (when it's done right.) The bassline and the brushed drums sound excellent. This sounds like a live improv. In the begining he even sings, "I don't wanna take no time to write this down, I wanna tell you how I feel right now..." but the depth comes in the lyrics.. If this was off the top of his head, the lyrics are very deep: "...Tomorrow may never come / For you or me
Life is not promised / Tomorrow may never show up / For you and me /This life is not promised / I ain't no perfect man /I'm trying to do, the best that I can, /With what it is I have /I ain't no perfect man / I'm trying to do, the best that I can, / With what it is I have.." The chorus is a very nice sounding and sentimental sounding hook: Mos Def sings with his heart and soul into the song: "..My Umi said shine your light on the world - Shine your light for the world to see - My Abi said shine your light on the world- Shine your light for the world to see..    I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free...." Now, this may not sound very hardcore due to the "light-shining" metaphor and the singing but the black-power sentiments come in strong again. Mos Def is using his art to express the fact that Black People should be free.... that's hardcore expression... no guns, no drugs... freedom.. the ultimate expression.. This is a dope song but it's not for everybody..It is for me and I love the joint.

"New World Water" produced by Psycho Les of the Beatnuts is an interesting joint.. It's a play on words.. since many emcees were talking about the New World Order...Mos Def uses this to rap about the source of all life: Water... Water, that's what I'm getting at water... 25% of the Earth is water, 25% of you is water...  Water is my favorite substance and I have been fascinated with water for a while now.. It's cool that rap music is using the topic. Only obscure bands like Psychic T.V. were known to do songs about water but Mos Def is not your average emcee. The state of H2O is weird.. Who knows what's going to happen.. the oceans are polluted and we all waste it.. This is set in the chorus and Mos goes off: "..New York is drinkin it (New World Water) - Now all of California is drinkin it (New World Water) - Way up north and down south is drinkin it (New World Water) - Used to have minerals and zinc in it (New World Water) - Now they say it got lead and stink in it (New World Water)..." The lyrics are changed for the second hook but you get the point. See, Mos Def is right.. This is an enviromental song but it's hidden in the art of hip-hop.. Mos Def uses water as a metaphor for life since water is the source to all life.. pretty deep, huh??? You bet your ass!!! Check these lines: "...Go too long without it on this earth and you leavin it / Americans wastin it on some leisure sh*t / And other nations be desperately seekin it / Bacteria washing up on they beaches / Don't drink the water, son they can't wash they feet with it..." This song will probably be way over the heads of the typical rap fan.. There's no drug and thug stuff in this song.. It's pure rythmic poetry rapped in a metaphor which is very deep in theme and substance. Though Beatnuts have made dope beats, this is not amazing but at the same time, it's no where near wack. This song is too creative to be considered filler yet a little too out there and different to be considered one of the best tracks.. The originality of it makes it better.

"Rock N Roll" is a cool song but should have been a b-side in my opinion.. Like "Umi Says", Mos Def sings some of the lyrics but with a more talkative tone. The beat, also produced by Psycho Les of The Beatnuts is not as cool as the previous song. It almost has a slight reggee feel to it. The cool thing about the song is the pro-black stance that Mos Def takes. He claims that rock-N-roll is African-American and that white people stole it and made all the money.. This is true and I would not be surprised if white people will probably attempt to  steal and make tons of money of hip-hop too. Mos Def changes the chorus a couple of times but here's one that represents the theme of the song: "..I said, Elvis Presley ain't got no soul (huh) - Chuck Berry is rock and roll (damn right) - You may dig on the Rolling Stones - But they ain't come up with that style on they own (uh-uh) - Elvis Presley ain't got no SOULLLL (hell naw) - Little Richard is rock and roll (damn right) - You may dig on the Rolling Stones -But they ain't come up with that shit on they own..." Mos Def continues to exercise his vocal chords by singing with his heart and soul: "..(black music) whoahhhh-oh (don't take it) oooh-weee-ohhh - (black music) whoahhhh-oh (Jimi Hendrix say) oooh-weee-ohhh.." The originality of the song is not only in the theme but the actual Rock and Roll that happens in the song.. Just when you are getting annoyed or sick of the track, the song completely changes into a hardcore thrash punk track and Mos Def shouts like Ice-T of Body Count or Henry Rollins in Black Flag: "..ELVIS PRESLEY AIN'T GOT NO SOUL - BO DIDDLEY IS ROCK AND ROLL - YOU MAY DIG ON THE ROLLING  STONES - BUT WE SEND THEY PUNK ASS HOME! - Who am IIIIiiiiiiiiiii!?!? ROCK AND ROLL! -- Who am IIIiiiiiiiiiii?!?!  -ROCK AND ROLL!...." This is a cool joinnt but I don't want to listen to it over and over again like some of the other joints.. It's too creative and original to be filler though.

"Know That" featuring Talib Kweli is a incredibly dope jam with an amazing beat produced by Ayatollah for 25 II Life productions. The beat just pounds like a true hardcore jam should and Talib Kweli rips the mic.. It's like a harder Black Star and it's done very well. The hook, done by both emcees, is dope and is helped by the DJ scratching a vocal sample: "..Shout it out from East-West-  from South to Northern- From Cakalak' - to California- From the coldest -to the warmest-  To the borders  -'cross the waters) understand.."  {Then, this is scratched}    ".. 'and know that I love you' .." { then, they continue the hook } - "..We got love in the place - Shout out to all the Queens - all the Seeds- To all the teams - that's gettin cream - From outlaw  - to emcee's -  Make it happen - do your thing - understand..- {scratchhed} 'and know that I love you' - Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen..." Talib Kweli has some dope lyrics and has an amazing energetic delivery. I can't wait for his project Reflection Eternal with DJ Hi-Tek which is coming out soon on Rawkus.. On this joint he rips the mic well: "..MC's imitate the way we walk, the way we talk / You cats spit lyrical pork with no spiritual thought / Plus your flow a little bit off, you come across soft / Back in the days, niggaz like that on stage got tossed off / Need to get crossed off the guestlist / It's like you gotta be disrespected and thrown out the exit - to get the message.." Damn, this is a great jam and it displays how good the chemistry is between Mos Def and Talib Kweli.. I hope they make another Black Star album because this is a great song.

"Climb" featuring Vinia Mojica is produced by Etch-A-Sketch. This is a very mellow, jazzy and spaced out little tune.. This is not a hip-hop joint though it has a hip-hop artist, a hip-hop singer, and a hip-hop producer on it.. Vinia Mojica has  a lovely voice. You may remember her on Black Star's "K.O.S. (Knowlege Of Self)" or Heltah Skeltah's "Therapy" or A Tribe Called Quest's "Verses From The Abstract".. Mos Def and Ms. Mojica sing together over a mellow jazzy but somewhat stagnant musical background. They both sing: "...Climb into the nightlife..." This joint has an ambient quality but it does stick out on a hip-hop album. This would have been better as a b-side. It's not a bad song but it just slows the album down. It would have been better if Mos Def dropped a verse in a unique style that would fit the music.

"Brooklyn" is a very cool ode to his hometown city which is in three parts. The first part is produced by Ge-Ology. The second part is produced by Mos Def and Dave Kennedy and the third part is produced by Mos Def and jacks the beat from "Who Shot Ya?" by The Notorious B.I.G. Though some may say jacking the "Who Shot Ya?" beat is almost criminal, Mos Def means well as he gives his love to both Brooklyn and Biggie. The creative and original part of the song is the fact that it has three parts. How many hip-hop albums dares to make a song with three parts, each part not having a prominent or catchy hook.  The first part uses the melody of "Under The Bridge"  by The Red Hot Chili Peppers" . Mos Def sings: "...Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner / Sometimes I feel like my only friend / Is the city I live in, is beautiful Brooklyn / Long as I live here believe I'm on fire .." The second part has Mos Def kicking some deep lyrics that have both substance and a sharp honesty. His description is unique in delivery and realistic. "...Yo sometimes I sit back, reflect on the place that I live at / Unlike any place I ever been at /The home of big gats, deep dish hammer rim caps / Have a mishap, push ya wig back / Where you go to get the fresh trim at / Four on the jake got the Timb rack / Blue collars metro carding it / Thugs mobbin it, form  partnership / Increase armorment, street pharmacist / Deep consequence, when you seek sleek ornaments.." The third part of the song that uses the beat for "Who Shot Ya" is cool but some may not like the fact that he used that beat. Since Biggie's from Brooklyn, I think that Biggie would have dug the song if he were alive today.. Mos Def kicks some of his unique rhymes: "..Brooklyn my habitat, the place where it happen at / Live sway and the sharp balance of the battle axe / Irons is brandished at, thugs draw they hammer back / It's where you find the news tool crew cameras at / It's where my fam is at, summertime jame is at / They play Big and get you open like a sandal back / Hotter than candle wax, hustlin you can't relax / The crack babies tryin to find where they mama's at /It's off the handle black, wit big police scandals that / Turn into actions screenplays sold to Miramax / The type of place where they check your appearance at / And cats who know where all the high low gear is at /  The stompin grounds, where you find a pound, smoke is that /  Be blazin charm that have your wave cap floatin back / The doorstep where the disposessed posted at / Dope fiends out at Franklin Ave sellin zovarax / You big ballin better keep your money folded back / Cuz once the young guns notice that it's over, black.." I think Mos Def did Brooklyn justice. Brooklyn hip-hop artists like Guru, Digable Planets, and Jeru should be proud of Mos Def...

"Habitat", produced by Etch-A-Sketch is a great mellow jam which has a universal theme. Some may not like this song but I love it. It has a groovy melodic chorus and a cool scratched vocal sample of Q-Tip from "Hot Sex". The chorus is sung by Mos Def: "...We all got some place, some place that we come from - That place where we come from is called ho-ome - We set out on our travels - We do the best we can - We travel this big Earth that we ro-am - We all have some place, some place where wwe come from - that place where we come from is called ho-ome - Even though, we may love - this place that's on the map - It's not where you're from - It's where you're at...." When this is sung, Q-Tip is scratched "Where Ya At?!" This is a great song and the universal metaphor of home is an excellent one. Though many rapper big up their home town, Mos Def uses this song in a universal sense. Though the previous song "Brooklyn", is a specif ode to his hometown borough, the universal theme of this song can have people all over the world can relate. The beat, mellow and groovy is complimented by Mos Def's singing.. His singing is not bad.. It goes very well with the song and does not sound forced or akward.. I wish Nas would stop singing his choruses... Mos Def, on the other hand, can pull off singing his own hook.

"Mr. N*gga" featuring Q-Tip is produced by D-Prosper with additional production by Mos Def. The song's beat flows with an up-tempo and positive vibe though the lyrics state the troubles of racism in America. Q-Tip helps out with some backing vocals on the chorus which is somewhat borrowed from A Tribe Called Quest's "Sucka N*gga". The hook has an odd sense of humor and a sense of sadness because Mos Def's lyrics are truthful.. "...Now, who is cat dining out on the town - Me'tradie wanna take a whole year to sit him down - Mr N*gga, N*gga N*gga - He got the speakers in the trunk - With the bass on pump - Now, who is the cat at Armani buying wears - With the tourists who be asking him, do you work here? -  Mr N*gga, N*gga N*gga - N*gga N*gga..." Mos Def's story tellinng skills are diplayed in this song in a very intense yet playful way. He gives the listener a vivid description of racism in the world. The epidode he rhymes about being on the plane sums up the spirit of the song : "..They stay on N*gga patrol on american roads / And when you travel abroad they got world N*gga laws / Some folks get on a plane go as they please / But I go over seas and I get over siezed / London-Heathro, me and my people / They think that illegal's a synonym for Negro / Far away places, customs agents flagrant / They think the dark face is smuggle waiting in cases / Bags inspected, now we arrested / Attention directed to contents of our intestines /Urinanalyis followed by X-rays / Interegated and detained to damn near the next day / No evidence, no appology and no regard /Even for the big american rap star / For us especially, us most especially, / A Mr N*gga VIP jail cell just for me / "If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a cake / Just got some shoe-polish, painted my face" / They say they want you successful / But then they make it stressful / You start keeping pace, they start shaking up the tempo.." Though this is not one of the best songs on the album, it's an important song. I wish Q-tip kicked a verse. I would have liked him to expand on this topic. It's been a while since he put out "Sucka N*gga" and I think he should have did more than just the hook... In fact, this is the second time the lyrical melody of "Sucka N*gga" was used... Common used Q-Tip on one of his episodes from the 3-part song "Stolen Moments".. Still, "Mr. N*gga" shows Mos Def as an emcee who is conscious of his surroundings. He's not just complaining, he's using music to change the world..

"Mathmatics", produced by DJ Premier is probably the best song on the album. Lyrically and musically, this song is not only tight but original and intelligent. The beat is an upbeat and hard-hitting hardcore jam that Premier is known for. The hook, which is all scratching and slices from other songs is done perfectly by Premier. I wish Premier did more songs on this album. The scratched chorus goes a little like this but there are some changes: "..."The Mighty Mos Def.." -  "It's simple mathematics" -(Fat Joe))-  "Check it out!" -  "I revolve around science.."-  "What are we talking about here?" - "Do your math, Do your math" -(Erykah Badu) -  "One.. t-t-two.. three, four" -(James Brown) - "What are we talking about here?" ....."  The theme of mathmatics and numbers is stuck to by both Mos in his lyrics and Premier in his scratching.  Mos Def proves that he is a creative emcee who sticks to his themes and can mess with your mind at the same time. He rhymes, "...Yo, it's one universal law but two sides to every story / Three strikes and you be in for life, manditory / Four MC's murdered in the last four years / I ain't tryin to be the fifth one, the millenium is here /  Yo it's 6 Million Ways to Die, from the seven deadly thrills / Eight heroes gettin found with 9 mill's / It's 10 P.M., where your seeds at?  What's the deal / He on the hill puffin krill to keep they belly filled / Light in the ass with heavy steel, sights on the pretty shit in life / Young soldiers tryin to earn they next stripe / When the average minimum wage is $5.15 / You best believe you gotta find a new ground to get cream / The white unemployment rate, is nearly more than triple  / for black / so frontliners got they gun in your back / Bubblin crack, jewel theft and robbery to combat poverty / and end up in the global jail economy / Stiffer stipulations attached to each sentence / Budget cutbacks but increased police presence / And even if you get out of prison still livin / join the other five million under state supervision /This is business, no faces just lines and statistics / from your phone, your zip code, to S-S-I digits / The system break man child and women into figures / Two columns for who is, and who ain't niggaz / Numbers is hardly real and they never have feelings / but you push too hard, even numbers got limits / Why did one straw break the camel's back? /  Here's the secret / the million other straws underneath it - it's all mathematics..." This is one of those song that you play over and over again..  It's simply brilliant. Everything's perfect.. the beats and the rhymes... This is an excellent track!!! It's a modern hardcore hip-hop  classic.

"May-December", produced by 88-Keys and Mos Def himself is a lovely instrumental which takes the album out on a positive note. Mos played some instruments on this one too. Musically, this song is full and upbeat with a very elegant and sophisticated melody. The song changes so it never gets boring. It's too cool and pretty sounding to be ruined by rap verses.. Mos Def was smart leaving this an instrumental. He proves himself as a musician or at least, a musical producer. The piano and the percussion sound great. The song is both somewhat psychedellic and somewhat feminine. It's a great jam for love making but sounds nothing like anything else. It's a very original and different sounding song. Too beautiful to be considered rap music but too groovy and melodic to be considered pop music. It's jazzy but does not have the trademark jazz horns or piano licks. The piano has a very definite melody which drives the track. It takes you away and uplifts your mind like music should.

Mos Def has made a solid and orginal debut solo album. Though some may say that it does not live up to the hype, I think he took a chance to be true to himself and make something different. It worked and it worked well. The beats, for the most part, are all very well done. Though not all of them hit has hard as Premier's "Mathmatics", songs like "Speed Law", "Fear Not Of Man" and "May-December" are very orginal and very cool. Other beats sound similar to certain genre and types. For example, "Love" and "Umi Says" have a very jazzy feel and "Hip-Hop" sounds very much like a Rza-inspired beat. "Brooklyn" actually jacks beats but it's done proper and with an intense admiration. There are no wack beats on the album though the music to "Climb" is pretty boring compared to the other blazing tracks.  Production wise, Premier steals the show with the amazing beats and scratches on "Mathmatics" but producers like 88-Keys, Etch-A-Sketch, The Ummah and PsychoLes all do very good jobs of making complete and thick beats to get down to.. Though some producers do better jobs than others, no one does a bad job. For a hip-hop record, it's very diverse and has a fluidity that runs throughout the album. Though every song is different, the songs are a perfect length and flow very well into and out of each other. Lyrically, Mos Def is a deep man. He sticks to his themes without much divergence and he can make a statement which being funky and cool at the same time. He's smart but yet he doesn't preach too hard like say, KRS-One. He's also humble and has some very introspective and analyitcal lyrics. This is shown on "Fear Not Of Man". By having short titles for his songs, he displays that he doesn't waste time nor does he try to fool anyone. He comes clean and comes correct. Lyrically, he most clever on "Mathmatics", "New World Water" and "Speed Law" while he tackles social issues like race on "Mr. N*gga". He also spreads his love on tracks like "Love" and "Umi Says" while he can make atmospheric pieces like "May-December" and "Climb". At the same time, he bigs up his home on tracks like "Brooklyn" and "Habitat". The deep lyrical content is on "Mathmatics", "New World Water" and "Fear Not Of Man" while some straight up jams like "Do It Now" with Busta Rhymes rock hard. Even "Rock and Roll" earns a place in his lyrical analysis due to his black-pride stance on how the white people stole from African-American musicians.   This all comes together to be an original and creative album. While each song has a specific theme, each song is unlike the typical or average rap song. Simply by having a song like the instrumental "May-December" shows Mos Def's orgininality. The creativity is mainly shown on "Mathmatics" and "New World Water" while structure-wise, "Brooklyn" is creative since it's in three parts. But original sounding jams like "Umi Says", "Speed Law" and "Rock and Roll" display the fact that Mos Def took a chance, stayed true to himself and made unique hip-hop music. An album this diverse hasn't worked as well since The Beastie Boys' "Check Your Head". The album flows very nicely as no song is too long. Most songs like "Hip-Hop" and "Ms. Fat Booty" cut off and quickly go into the next jam. This was done on albums like Redman's "Whut? The Album" and A Tribe Called Quest's "The Low End Theory". This helps the album move quickly and the listener never gets bored. The fact that each song is very different from the next makes the album flow even better. Only the somewhat dull but not wack "Climb" slows the flow down but for the most part, it's tight and smooth all the way through. No, Mos Def does not rap about selling drugs, shooting guns, or degrading women. He does rhyme about the tough streets of the ghetto ("Brooklyn"), sexual escapades, ("Ms. Fat Booty") and other subjects with a sophistication and class. His black-pride displayed in "Do It Now", "Mr. N*gga", and "Rock And Roll" can be considered hardcore due to the fierce matter-of-fact expression.  Mos Def is not the most hardcore artist due to subject matter and curses but he expresses himself from the heart. He tackles a variety of subjects with a fierce way of expression. "Mr. N*gga" is a perfect example of hardcore expression. Some may not agree with the song but it doesn't matter. That's the way Mos Def thinks and feels.. You have to respect it. If you are looking for lyrics of sellingh drugs, shooting guns, and calling women b*tches, get an album from Cash Money Records but if you want some deep lyrics with some serious expression, Mos Def is for you. If you like the hardcore but positive expressive statements of The Fugees, A Tribe Called Quest, Goodie Mob, The Roots, and Common, this is perfect for your collection. Mos Def is one of those conscious emcees that does an excellent job of keeping the listeners attention throughout the album. He's righteous and true to himself. His solo debut album is a modern classic in my ears. It's almost up there with The Roots' "Things Fall Apart". In a hip-hop world of fronting emcees who do not say anything of importance, Mos Def is solid all the way through. Hip-hop is great once again because Mos Def is black on both sides...
Beats: 9/10
Production: 9/10
Lyrics: 9/10
Originality/Creativity: 9/10
Album Flow: 9/10
Hardcore Rating: 8.5/10
[ Overall Rating: 9/10. ]