The Atlantic - Latest Comments in Mos Def In Even Better Context

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

Kinowolf — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:03:15 -0000

This is the Mos I love. I wish he would act and speak in public engagements the way he does in private like this. The last few years he's been getting caught up in pushing back and posturing. It's a bad look, but we know the real Mos is better than that.

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

Kinowolf — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:00:51 -0000

"His style like Spanish in that way."

I love that line. I'm copping it.

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

geo — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 11:10:36 -0000

i had no idea there was a video for Two Words!

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

Antid Oto — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:21:06 -0000

I think comparing De La Soul to Steely Dan may be the smartest thing I've heard anyone say about them ever.

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

Ta-Nehisi Coates — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:03:56 -0000

Obviously, they came to portion up his fortune

Looks to me like that old robbery\extortion...

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

Gramsci — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:57:56 -0000

I think if you took Glenn Beck to court he'd be his own star witness.

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

trevortb — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:53:26 -0000

Just to tie the thread that connect Mos and DOOM and Mos's appearance on Bill Maher (before the embarrassing online extra portion):

"It cost billions to blast humans in half / Into calves and arms, only one side is allowed to have bombs / That's like making a soldier drop his weapon / Shootin' him, and tellin' him to get to steppin'"

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

Lennox — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 05:44:18 -0000

Well put. I can definitely agree with that.

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

Hill Rat — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:17:16 -0000

TNC,

Where is the post on the new DOOM? Have you heard it yet? -HR

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

Ta-Nehisi Coates — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:35:42 -0000

Right. Because it couldn't possibly be...

"These streets (ARE) no game, (So if you) can't ball (then) don't play..."

Great art works on all kinds of levels. It could be either interpretation. Why is one more right than the other? The last thing hip-hop needs is "lyrical correctness." Or correctness of any kind.

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

keith — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:31:16 -0000

I agree, thus the title "Two Words". Just the use of two word stanzas that convey a whole, complete thought is truly poetic. No one does it like Mos. You'll never convince that although this track is on Kanye's joint, I'll bet anything that Mos was the creative impetus for this song and the way it was presented(minus freakin Freeway of course).

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

Mark Mays — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:27:19 -0000

DOOM is always all caps, bruh.

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

justin_s — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:10:53 -0000

I recently rediscovered "B-Boy Document '99," which is THE song (along with Jurassic 5's "Action Satisfaction," but lets not go there) that got me to rap music. It still kills.

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

Lennox — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:35:07 -0000

with Mos it's all about the words that aren't there... alot of time, he speaks in complete sentences, but chopped up. So this one is:

These streets know game so if you can't ball then don't play.

Obviously the full blow'd up version lacks a certain flow, so Mighty Mos streamlines it to the bones. His style like Spanish in that way.

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

Lennox — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:24:26 -0000

No doubt... That problem was going around at the Roc (looking at you, jigga)

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

Lennox — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:05:50 -0000

And that would be some of the illest shit ever wrote...

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

Lennox — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:54:05 -0000

These streets know game....

lyrical correctness is key

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

hilts — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:50:05 -0000

What's with the rumor about Mos Def collaborating with Glenn Beck for his next CD?

Glenn Beck is paralyzed from the neck up and belongs in a straitjacket.

Before Beck is committed to a psych ward, I want to see a bloggingheads segment featuring Mos Def and Beck.

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

Destro Villain — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:35:31 -0000

I always loved (and still do) Mos as an MC especially when he's going off like on these two tracks (and so many others). The more selfish side of me wishes he did only that and left all the other stuff alone.

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

duffman — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:23:57 -0000

Classic Mos about Hip Hop from Black on Both:

"Stimulant and sedative, original repetitive

Violently competitive, a school unacredited

The break beats you get broken with

on time and inappropriate

Hip Hop went from selling crack to smoking it

Medicine for loneliness

Remind me of Thelonius and Dizzy

Propers to B-Boys getting busy

The war-time snap shot

The working man's jack-pot

A two dollar snack box

Sold beneath the crack spot

Olympic spnosor of the black glock

Gold medalist in the back shot

From the sovereign state of the have-nots

Where farmers have trouble with cash crops (woooo)

It's all city like phase two

Hip Hop will simply amaze you

Craze you, pay you

Do whatever you say do

But black, it can't save you"

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

MikeCee — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:26:06 -0000

I can't listen to Kayne but Two Words = MoS Def. Pure brilliance.

As soon as Hitch came out on the show I switched to something else because I knew what was gonna happen. It don't even matter. My opinion of Hitch is that he's still a dick and well Mos is still the greatest freestyle MC IMHO. Period.

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

keith — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:07:34 -0000

Although Freeway, who obviously didn't get the memo on the theme to "Two Words", best answers the question which one of these is not like the other. My two on what he does to this track would be, almost ruined.

That aside, the violin following him more than makes up for it. Everybody move...

Mos Def at his best.

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

loquaciousmusic — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:38:12 -0000

"Tinseltown to the Boogiedown," a song off of Scritti Politti's Anomie & Bonhomie album, remains my favorite Mos Def cut. And having Mos Def, Lee Majors, and Green Gartside together on a track? Brilliant.

Re: Mos Def In Even Better Context

Gramsci — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:34:48 -0000

I don't know how much Doom should pay Mos Def for that endorsement, but it wouldn't be enough.