Black on Both Sides

by Mos Def

Black on Both Sides cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: October 12, 1999
  • Label: Rawkus, Priority
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 1:11:20
  • Community rating: 4.25/5 from 13 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Mos Def's solo debut, 'Black on Both Sides', is a landmark of conscious hip hop, distinguished by its embrace of live instrumentation and a rich, soulful production tapestry woven by artists like DJ Premier, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Bey himself. The album is defined by intricate, socially aware lyricism that addresses Black identity, cultural appropriation, and systemic issues, all delivered with a versatile and articulate flow. Merging old-school bravado with new-school poetics, the record solidified Bey's artistic vision by masterfully blending hip hop with elements of jazz, rock, and soul.

Genres

Descriptors: rap, conscious, soulful, underground, classic

Tracklist

  1. Fear Not Of Man (04:28)
  2. Hip Hop (03:16)
  3. Love (04:23)
  4. Ms. Fat Booty (03:43)
  5. Speed Law (04:16)
  6. Do It Now (03:49)
  7. Got (03:27)
  8. UMI Says (05:05)
  9. New World Water (03:11)
  10. Rock N Roll (05:02)
  11. Know That (04:03)
  12. Climb (04:02)
  13. Brooklyn (05:09)
  14. Habitat (04:39)
  15. Mr. Nigga (05:12)
  16. Mathematics (04:06)
  17. May-December (03:29)

Credits

  • Yasiin Bey - executive producer, bass, congas, percussion, keyboards, drums, strings arrangement, vibraphone, production, additional production, co-producer
  • Weldon Irvine - keyboards, hammond organ, strings arrangement, piano, additional production
  • Etch-A-Sketch - scratches, producer
  • Johnny Why - recording engineer, guitar
  • Will I Am - fender rhodes piano
  • Talib Kweli - featured artist
  • Busta Rhymes - featured artist
  • Q-Tip - featured artist
  • Vinia Mojica - featured artist
  • David Kennedy - recording engineer, mixing engineer, producer
  • Shaka - executive producer
  • DJ Premier - producer
  • Diamond D - producer
  • Ali Shaheed Muhammad - producer
  • Psycho Les - producer
  • Ayatollah - producer
  • 88-Keys - producer, co-producer
  • Mr. Khaliyl - producer
  • Ge-ology - producer
  • D. Prosper - producer
  • Blak Shawn - a&r
  • Norty Cotto - mixed by
  • Alvaro Gonzalez-Campo - photography by
  • Calabazitaz Tiernaz - photography by
  • Eddie Sancho - recorded by

More from Mos Def: full discography