De La Soul - Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump
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Free Music Notes for Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump
Free Music Review: Underrated Album From An Underrated Series (Rating: 8 out of 10- -4.0 stars)
Hit: 4 Stars
Believe it or not, this was when I was first introduced to De La Soul when I was 14, when in mid 2000 came out with "Oooh!" with Redman. Back then I always thought of De La Soul as old school pioneers, and songs from this album solified them as legands in hip hop. Seven and a half years later, after hearing every album that came before this one, I saw the maturity that De La was picking up, as if they were going through another transition in their music careers.
If you were hating this because this was no Stakes Is High (an album I really didn't think was all that good), then you really need to have another listen. This album is very innotivate and creative. Not as creative as their 1991 classic De La Soul Is Dead, but creativity still floats all around this album. And their lyrics were on point as usual. Check out "You Can Do Life" for examples of how De La hasn't missed a step. Even with their single "Oooh!" with Redman (seemed like he and Busta Rhymes were on everything released back in '00) had creativity (with a music video with a paroody of the Wizard Of Oz). With tracks live "View", Posdeneous still rhymes without sacrificing the group's identity. Mellow tracks like "Through Your City" and "Set The Mood" featuring Indeed is head nodding. The second single "All Good" with Chaka Khan is a little directed to mainstream, but overall solid. Even "Dance With Me" sounds kind of good. Then the weeded freestyle skits at the end of a few tracks were dope.
Tracks I had no care for were "Squat". Honestly I don't think De La and The Beastie Boys mix together. "The Art Of Getting Jumped" doesn't appeal to me. And the final track "U Don't Wanna Bust Dat ****" is forgettable.
Honestly, this is a great album. I don't understand why it is hated on so much. Sure De La Soul moved from their origonal style and onto a newer one, but doesn't every rapper do that. Don't knock them because of their change up, and their evolution. This album is worth owning in my opinion. Also get the next album AOI: Bionix as well, because thats underrated also. Peace.
Lyrics: B+
Production: A-
Guest Appearances: B
Musical Vibes: A
Top 5 Tracks:
1. U Can Do (Life)
2. Ooooh! (featuring Redman)
3. Dance With Me
4. Set The Mood (featuring Indeed)
5. View
Free Music Review: Certified Gem for him or her
Hit: 5 Stars
Apparently a lot of reviewers took a star away from their rating on this album due to guest appearances by Redman and Busta Rhymes. I guess they forgot that Busta was originally a native tonguer (remember "Scenario") and Redman's first album sparked an entirely new era of east coast hip hop. Not to mention the fact that both songs are certified head nodders (in a good way) especially "Ooooh". "It Ain't All Good" was another banger. My favorite song has to be the 'set the mood' with Indeed, her style is so vivid and effortless you feel like you were next to her when the altercation she described is happening waiting on her to puff and pass. I think other raters are penalizing De La bcuz this is probably their most commercial album as both 'Ooooh' and 'It ain't all good' got major airplay and this album has the most guest appearances from established artists than all of their other albums (busta, redman, black thought, phife, pharoah monch, chaka khan, 2/3 of the beastie boys, etc). I guess hardcore de la fans, many of which are not necessarily hip hop or rap fans, my find that I turn off. The album also seems to be a little more funk influenced than their other albums. Personally, I can replay this whole album 5 times in a row before I even begin to get tired of it. If that's not a classic I don't know what is. Free Music Review: DE LA RETURNS
Hit: 4 Stars
after a hiatus from releasing albums De La Soul returned with this. and believe me it does not dissapoint. I dont understand why all of yall are talkin ---- on this joint its pretty dope there are really only a few tracks that I find myself skipping through and it is about equal with the BIONIX record. Prince paul didnt produce on this one but the beats still bump bear in mind this isnt the second coming of DE LA SOUL IS DEAD but it is still better than 90% of the attempted comebacks by most Hiphop artists today. My favorite song is SET IT OFF with INDEED it is the hottest track I have heard in a while. I think that if you are looking at this CD and you see some bad reviews dont listen to them this is not a classic but it is definetly worth your time. 4 mics Free Music Review: Doesn't get old!
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been listening to this CD by de la for months and it still has not gotten old! My personal favorites are "Thru ya city" and "copa cabana" but there are a lot of other good ones. The trademark de la sideshow freestyles are also classic. Pick this one up for sure, ya won't be dissapointed. Free Music Review: Where to begin?
Hit: 4 Stars
I'm kinda sick of readin all these reviews sayin how it's not as good as their old stuff or there are too many guests. If you like their old stuff you gotta be 30 years old. Thats not really a dis but it's true. If you like hip-hop from '89 your old. period. The beats from then are different from the mid to late 90's and i think you would have had to grow up then to like stuff from then. "Newer" hip-hop started around the time of The Chronic. Thats when the beats started changing to what the kids listen to today. As for the record. Good. Not great, not bad, but good. Like many said there are a handful of standout tracks but the others are still listenable. It's not like theres only 3 cuts and then i take the cd out. I can listen to almost the whole thing. Theres also only like 2 or 3 "skits" out of 17 tracks which is good (I can't stand albums where like half the material are skits). Overall it's got fresh beats and is a good listen and worth having in your collection.