Asif Khan Inc.

The Ecstatic – Mos Def

Growing up amongst the brothers who made up Golden Period of Hip Hop, Mos Def has seen it all. And to a large extent, made much of it all too. His groundbreaking album “Black on Both Sides” cemented his reputation as one of the most in demand MCs known to us in the recent past. His artistic transgressions (read acting), it seems however weren’t allowing him to follow it up with a worthy successor. The wait has been well worth it. Because “The Ecstatic” has everything which is needed to make it one of the best hip hop records to have been released this year. Working with some of the most prolific producers, he has crafted beats and verses which derive influences from places as diverse as Bollywood (“Auditorium”), Middle East (“Wahid”), and Latin America (“No Hay Nada Mas”). A shooter of a track on this album is the opening “Supermagic” which begins with an Islamic incantation (more to do with his faith probably, because “Wahid” begins on a similar note too). A surprise waits on “Auditorium”, which features quaint Bollywood samples from the long forgotten 70s movies and Mos Def humming the tunes under his breath. Some beautiful pieces filled with sarcasm are used to good effect as samples on a few tracks (“The Embassy”), which don’t fail to leave a sly smirk. As you move towards conclusion, don’t miss out on the contagious R&B on “Roses” and the energetic funk moves on “Casa Bey”.