This came out in 1999 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Everybody in rap is so busy trying to be the hardest of the hard, outbullying each other with boasts, bellowing and belligerence.
But Brooklyn’s Mos Def understands the real way to make folks listen is to rock softly but carry a big sound. So his debut disc showcases his blunted, conversational flow on flowing Afro-centric tracks reminiscent of Gil Scott-Heron and Funkadelic. There’s no sci-fi, no skits; just old-school verbal skills and a wide-ranging musicality that reveals a wealth of influences — from De La Soul to P-Funk to Bad Brains and even white acts like Red Hot Chili Peppers. Unlike most rappers who think keeping it real means keeping it one-dimensional, Mos Def knows there is life outside the ’hood.
