Classic Hip Hop Review: Black on Both Sides
posted by Darrell McIver | November 8, 2022 | In Arts and Culture, NewsTo anyone who considers themselves a fan of ‘90s hip-hop, the name Mos Def should ring a bell. Although he has since renounced this stage name and taken on the title Yasiin Bey, most ‘90s hip hop fans are likely familiar with his music.
Dante Terrell Smith was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY where he made a name for himself as a talented and respected MC at a young age.
Black On Both Sides is Mos Def’s first solo studio album and was released October 12, 1999 by Rawkus and Priority Records. Prior to this album, he made a collaborative album with fellow rapper Talib Kweli, together known as Black Star.
Mos Def’s Black On Both Sides is a tour de force for the rapper, in which he showcases his skills as a MC whilst also addressing multiple topics that are still relevant to this day. The main theme of this album is Mos Def’s experiences as both a Black artist and Brooklyn native. The aptly titled song “Brooklyn” is the epitome of this theme as he details the struggles and unpleasantries he experienced in the city while also acknowledging how he cannot imagine his life without it.
Mos Def seemed to use Black on Both Sides as an opportunity to display his skills as a rapper. This is evident through his rhyme schemes, wordplay, and his overall creative use of figurative language throughout the project. It is through these skills and his ability to seemingly effortlessly flow on various beats that most of the songs on the album are able to maintain listeners’ ears.
The album lacks an overarching story or message as most of the tracks do not seem to be connected to one another. Listeners will simultaneously be met with songs like “Mr. N***a ” that details the struggles Mos Def experienced as a Black artist while also being met with songs like “Ms. Fat Booty” in which he tells stories of him finding love. While it is evident that the album features various topics, it is not much to the album’s detriment due to Mos Def exploring the album’s theme and each topic to the fullest.
Black on Both Sides is an album that any ‘90s hip hop fan should not only listen to but familiarize themselves with as it is an example of this era of hip hop at its finest. The album also manages to still be relevant to this day by giving an inside look at the general experiences of Black artists and the Black community. Although the album may not maintain the interests of those who favor the more melodic styles of modern rap, it is still worth the listen for its other qualities.
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