Black on Both Sides
Encyclopedia
Black on Both Sides is the debut solo album of American rapper Mos Def
, released October 12, 1999 on Rawkus Records
. Prior to the album's recording, Mos Def had collaborated with rapper Talib Kweli
for the duo's studio album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star (1998), which raised high expectations for a solo effort. Black on Both Sides features an emphasis on live instrumentation and socially conscious lyrics. On February 2, 2000, the album was certified Gold
in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA), following sales in excess of 500,000 copies.
(one-half of Black Star with Mos Def) and Busta Rhymes
are the only main rappers to be featured on the album. Kweli raps the second and final verse of "Know That", while Busta goes back and forth with Mos on "Do It Now". Q-Tip
helps sing the chorus on "Mr. Nigga" but doesn't deliver a verse. The lyrics Q-Tip recites are similar to his previously stated lyrics on A Tribe Called Quest
's "Sucka Nigga". Vinia Mojica
(who is known for singing on Native Tongues
songs) also sings a duet with Mos Def on the song "Climb".
, considered by some the greatest hip hop producer ever, provides the "Mathematics" instrumental. Diamond D
also is credited for one beat, which is "Hip Hop". Ali Shaheed Muhammad
, known mostly as a member of A Tribe Called Quest, produced the seventh song "Got". Psycho Les of The Beatnuts
did a little more than the aforementioned producers by supplying two beats (The ninth and tenth tracks "New World Water" and "Rock N Roll", respectively.) Jazz legend Weldon Irvine
provided additional production to "Climb".
Ayatollah
, who went on to receive moderate success, produced "Ms. Fat Booty
" (the most famous song from the album) and "Know That". The same followed for 88-Keys after he made "Love", "Speed Law" and co-produced the instrumental outro "May–December" with Mos Def, himself. David Kennedy (The second swing of "Brooklyn" and "Umi Says" produced with Mos Def), Mr. Khaliyl ("Do It Now"), DJ Etch-A-Sketch ("Climb" and "Habitat"), Ge-ology (The first swing of "Brooklyn") and D. Prosper ("Mr. Nigga") round out the other contributors. The late Jay Dee also contributed, but his work was not included on the album's final draft.
Mos received production assistance on most of the album's tracks. His sole production credit comes at "Fear Not of Man", but he provided additional production to four tracks (Hip Hop", "Rock N Roll", "Climb" and "Mr. Nigga") and co-produced three ("Umi Says", "Brooklyn" and "May–December").
, Mos rhymes three verses over three different beats. The first beat is an original composition produced by Ge-ology, while the second verse is a re-creation of Smif-N-Wessun
's "Home Sweet Home" and the last verse is set to the instrumental of Notorious B.I.G.'s
1995 single Who Shot Ya?
However, "Brooklyn"'s original soundscape took its concept a bit further. The true original version was never released in it's entirety, as initially recorded. Mos rhymes 3 complete verse's over Ge-ology's musical composition, now referred to as the first movement of the song. On a later version, the first and third verses are set to the instrumentals of two other 1995 New York rap hits, "Incarcerated Scarfaces" by Raekwon
as well as "Give Up the Goods (Just Step)" by Mobb Deep
, respectively. The "Who Shot Ya?" verse, with the same vocal take on the released version, is placed in the middle. It is assumed that the use of these instrumentals could not be cleared for various reasons. One of many being the possibility that the samples used in the original instrumentals were only licensed to be used specifically for those compositions, and any further licensing would require the original artists' permission (therefore requiring more money on both sampling parties' ends), or any other number of various music industry troubles. This said version circulates online frequently. It is also notable that on the song, Mos Def sings his own interpretation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
' famous song Under the Bridge
.
Also, DJ Premier originally used a different sample than the one featured on the released version of "Mathematics", which was decidedly entered into clearance. When clearance failed, DJ Premier crafted a different instrumental for the song.
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
, released October 12, 1999 on Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records is an American hip-hop record label known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Rawkus started in 1996 with initial releases ranging from hip-hop to drum and bass...
. Prior to the album's recording, Mos Def had collaborated with rapper Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
for the duo's studio album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star (1998), which raised high expectations for a solo effort. Black on Both Sides features an emphasis on live instrumentation and socially conscious lyrics. On February 2, 2000, the album was certified Gold
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
(RIAA), following sales in excess of 500,000 copies.
Music
Talib KweliTalib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
(one-half of Black Star with Mos Def) and Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
are the only main rappers to be featured on the album. Kweli raps the second and final verse of "Know That", while Busta goes back and forth with Mos on "Do It Now". Q-Tip
Q-Tip (rapper)
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed , better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer, singer, and actor from St. Albans, Queens, New York, part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest...
helps sing the chorus on "Mr. Nigga" but doesn't deliver a verse. The lyrics Q-Tip recites are similar to his previously stated lyrics on A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
's "Sucka Nigga". Vinia Mojica
Vinia Mojica
Vinia Mojica is a singer from Queens, New York, best known for her collaborations with the Native Tongues collective and other hip hop artists....
(who is known for singing on Native Tongues
Native tongues
Native Tongues is a book by the linguist Charles Berlitz.It is a list of words in different languages, etymology and questions with speculations far and wide about words....
songs) also sings a duet with Mos Def on the song "Climb".
Production
The album features a mix between established and rising producers. DJ PremierDJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin , better known by his stage name DJ Premier , is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with emcee Guru...
, considered by some the greatest hip hop producer ever, provides the "Mathematics" instrumental. Diamond D
Diamond D
Diamond D is a hip hop producer and MC from the Bronx, New York City, and one of the founding members of the legendary D.I.T.C. crew. He started out as a DJ for Jazzy Jay back in the late 1980s and was at the same time perfecting his skills in beat making and turntablism, and together with rhyme...
also is credited for one beat, which is "Hip Hop". Ali Shaheed Muhammad
Ali Shaheed Muhammad
Ali Shaheed Muhammad is an American hip hop DJ, rapper, producer who enjoyed a great deal of fame as a member of A Tribe Called Quest. With Q-Tip and Phife Dawg, the group released five studio albums from 1990 to 1998....
, known mostly as a member of A Tribe Called Quest, produced the seventh song "Got". Psycho Les of The Beatnuts
The Beatnuts
The Beatnuts are a New York-based hip hop group and production duo from Queens, New York City. Its current members are JuJu and Psycho Les. JuJu is Dominican American from Corona and Psycho Les is a Colombian American from Jackson Heights...
did a little more than the aforementioned producers by supplying two beats (The ninth and tenth tracks "New World Water" and "Rock N Roll", respectively.) Jazz legend Weldon Irvine
Weldon Irvine
Weldon Jonathan Irvine, Jr. , also known Master Wel, was an American composer, playwright, poet, pianist and organist.-Biography:...
provided additional production to "Climb".
Ayatollah
Ayatollah (producer)
Lamont Dorrell, better known as Ayatollah is a Hip-Hop producer from Queens, New York who has produced for predominantly New York-based rappers including Mos Def, R.A. The Rugged Man, Tragedy Khadafi, Wordsworth, Vast Aire, Afu-Ra, Guru, M.O.P., Inspectah Deck, Cormega, Ghostface Killah as well as...
, who went on to receive moderate success, produced "Ms. Fat Booty
Ms. Fat Booty
"Ms. Fat Booty" is the first single from Mos Def's 1999 album, Black On Both Sides. It is produced by Ayotollah. The song and its chorus are both driven by multiple samples of Aretha Franklin's "One Step Ahead," a rare Columbia single released in 1965....
" (the most famous song from the album) and "Know That". The same followed for 88-Keys after he made "Love", "Speed Law" and co-produced the instrumental outro "May–December" with Mos Def, himself. David Kennedy (The second swing of "Brooklyn" and "Umi Says" produced with Mos Def), Mr. Khaliyl ("Do It Now"), DJ Etch-A-Sketch ("Climb" and "Habitat"), Ge-ology (The first swing of "Brooklyn") and D. Prosper ("Mr. Nigga") round out the other contributors. The late Jay Dee also contributed, but his work was not included on the album's final draft.
Mos received production assistance on most of the album's tracks. His sole production credit comes at "Fear Not of Man", but he provided additional production to four tracks (Hip Hop", "Rock N Roll", "Climb" and "Mr. Nigga") and co-produced three ("Umi Says", "Brooklyn" and "May–December").
Early versions
On the song "Brooklyn", a three-movement piece dedicated to Mos' place of origin in Bedford-Stuyvesant, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Mos rhymes three verses over three different beats. The first beat is an original composition produced by Ge-ology, while the second verse is a re-creation of Smif-N-Wessun
Smif-N-Wessun
Smif-n-Wessun is a hip hop duo consisting of members Tek and Steele . Smif-n-Wessun comprise two-fifths of the Brownsville, Brooklyn supergroup Boot Camp Clik, with Buckshot, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C...
's "Home Sweet Home" and the last verse is set to the instrumental of Notorious B.I.G.'s
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
1995 single Who Shot Ya?
Who Shot Ya?
"Who Shot Ya?" is a controversial hip-hop song by The Notorious B.I.G., a B-side to his 1995 hit single, "Big Poppa". The track was later released on the posthumous Born Again, the remastered edition of Ready to Die, and The Greatest Hits....
However, "Brooklyn"'s original soundscape took its concept a bit further. The true original version was never released in it's entirety, as initially recorded. Mos rhymes 3 complete verse's over Ge-ology's musical composition, now referred to as the first movement of the song. On a later version, the first and third verses are set to the instrumentals of two other 1995 New York rap hits, "Incarcerated Scarfaces" by Raekwon
Raekwon
Corey Woods , better known by the stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He released his solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... in 1995, and has since recorded four solo albums, as well as work with Wu-Tang and an extensive amount of guest contributions with...
as well as "Give Up the Goods (Just Step)" by Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep is an American hip hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S., that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast hip-hop groups." The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery, as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones...
, respectively. The "Who Shot Ya?" verse, with the same vocal take on the released version, is placed in the middle. It is assumed that the use of these instrumentals could not be cleared for various reasons. One of many being the possibility that the samples used in the original instrumentals were only licensed to be used specifically for those compositions, and any further licensing would require the original artists' permission (therefore requiring more money on both sampling parties' ends), or any other number of various music industry troubles. This said version circulates online frequently. It is also notable that on the song, Mos Def sings his own interpretation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
' famous song Under the Bridge
Under the Bridge
"Under the Bridge" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on March 10, 1992 as the second single from the group's fifth studio album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Vocalist Anthony Kiedis wrote the lyrics to express a feeling of loneliness and despondency, and to reflect on...
.
Also, DJ Premier originally used a different sample than the one featured on the released version of "Mathematics", which was decidedly entered into clearance. When clearance failed, DJ Premier crafted a different instrumental for the song.
Track listing
*Co-producerChart history
| Year | Album | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | ||
| 1999 | Black on Both Sides | #25 | #3 |
Personnel
All lyrics by Mos Def.| # | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Fear Not of Man" | Songwriters: D. Smith Sample: "Fear Not for Men" by Fela Kuti Fela Kuti Fela Anikulapo Kuti , or simply Fela , was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of Afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick.-Biography:... Bass Bass guitar The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... : Mos Def Congas: Mos Def Keyboards Keyboard instrument A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... : Weldon Irvine Weldon Irvine Weldon Jonathan Irvine, Jr. , also known Master Wel, was an American composer, playwright, poet, pianist and organist.-Biography:... Percussion Percussion instrument A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... : Mos Def |
| 2 | "Hip Hop" | Songwriters: D. Smith, J. Kirkland Sample: "The Warning Part II" by David Axelrod David Axelrod (musician) David Axelrod is an American composer, arranger and producer, working in several musical genres.-Biography:... Sample: "Time's Up" by O.C. O.C. (rapper) Omar Credle , known by his stage name, O.C., is an American rapper who has been involved with several renowned underground hip-hop groups and also released many solo albums.-Recording career:... Sample: "Paid in Full" by Eric B & Rakim Sample: "The Bridge" by MC Shan MC Shan MC Shan is an American rapper. He is perhaps best known for collaborating with Snow in "Informer", an international number one hit single.-Biography:... Bass: Mos Def Keyboards: Mos Def Scratches Scratching Scratching is a DJ or turntablist technique used to produce distinctive sounds by moving a vinyl record back and forth on a turntable while optionally manipulating the crossfader on a DJ mixer. While scratching is most commonly associated with hip hop music, since the late 1980s, it has been used... : DJ Etch A Sketch |
| 3 | "Love" | Songwriters: D. Smith, C. Njapa Sample: "Porgy" by Bill Evans Bill Evans William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie... Sample: "I Know You Got Soul" by Eric B. & Rakim Eric B. & Rakim Eric B. & Rakim were a hip-hop duo composed of DJ Eric Barrier and MC Rakim .Hailing from Long Island, New York, the pair are generally considered by hip hop enthusiasts to be one of the most influential and innovative groups in the genre... |
| 4 | "Ms. Fat Booty Ms. Fat Booty "Ms. Fat Booty" is the first single from Mos Def's 1999 album, Black On Both Sides. It is produced by Ayotollah. The song and its chorus are both driven by multiple samples of Aretha Franklin's "One Step Ahead," a rare Columbia single released in 1965.... " |
Songwriters: D. Smith, L. Dorrell Sample: "One Step Ahead" by Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All... |
| 5 | "Speed Law" | Songwriters: D. Smith, C. Njapa Sample: "Promise Her Anything But Give Her Arpeggio" by Big Brother & The Holding Company Sample: "And That's Saying A lot" by Christine McVie Christine McVie Christine McVie is an English rock singer, keyboardist, and songwriter. Her primary fame came as a member of the British/American rock band Fleetwood Mac, though she has also released three solo albums... Sample: "Get It Together" by Beastie Boys Beastie Boys Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar.... |
| 6 | "Do It Now" | Songwriters: D. Smith, T. Smith, A. Dillon |
| 7 | "Got" | Songwriters: D. Smith, A. Muhammad |
| 8 | "Umi Says" | Songwriters: D. Smith, D. Kennedy Fender Rhodes: will.i.am Will.i.am William James Adams, Jr. , better known by his stage name will.i.am and occasionally by his other stage name Zuper Blahq, is an American rapper, musician, songwriter, singer, actor and producer... Hammond organ Hammond organ The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard... : Weldon Irvine |
| 9 | "New World Water" | Songwriters: D. Smith, L. Fernandez |
| 10 | "Rock n Roll" | Songwriters: D. Smith, L. Fernandez Sample: "Allustrious" by Mobb Deep Mobb Deep Mobb Deep is an American hip hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S., that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast hip-hop groups." The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery, as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones... Bass: Mos Def Drums: Mos Def Guitar Guitar The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... : Johnny Why |
| 11 | "Know That" | Songwriters: D. Smith, L. Dorrell Sample: "Anyone Who Had a Heart" by Dionne Warwick Dionne Warwick Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health.... |
| 12 | "Climb" | Songwriters: D. Smith, W. Irvine, T. Dunn |
| 13 | "Brooklyn" | Songwriters: D. Smith, D. Kennedy, G. Young First Move Producer: Ge-ology Second Move Producer: Mos Def & David Kennedy Third Move Producer: Mos Def First Move Sample: "What Are You Doin' the Rest of Your Life" by Milt Jackson Milt Jackson Milton "Bags" Jackson was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms... First Move Sample: "Under the Bridge Under the Bridge "Under the Bridge" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on March 10, 1992 as the second single from the group's fifth studio album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Vocalist Anthony Kiedis wrote the lyrics to express a feeling of loneliness and despondency, and to reflect on... " by Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock... Second Move Sample: "We Live in Brooklyn Baby" by Roy Ayers Roy Ayers Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers... Third Move Sample: "Who Shot Ya? Who Shot Ya? "Who Shot Ya?" is a controversial hip-hop song by The Notorious B.I.G., a B-side to his 1995 hit single, "Big Poppa". The track was later released on the posthumous Born Again, the remastered edition of Ready to Die, and The Greatest Hits.... " by The Notorious B.I.G. The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough... |
| 14 | "Habitat" | Songwriters: D. Smith, W. Irvine, T. Dunn |
| 15 | "Mr. Nigga" | Songwriters: D. Smith, D. Prosper, J. Davis Sample: "A Legend in His Own Mind" by Gil-Scott Heron Sample: "Sun Goddess" by Ramsey Lewis Ramsey Lewis Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr. is an American jazz composer, pianist and radio personality. Ramsey Lewis has recorded over 80 albums and has received seven gold records and three Grammy Awards so far in his career.-Biography:... Congas: Mos Def Percussion: Mos Def |
| 16 | "Mathematics" | Songwriters: D. Smith, C. Martin Sample: "Body Rock" by Mos Def Mos Def Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which... Sample: "John Blaze" by Fat Joe Fat Joe Joseph Antonio Cartagena , better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper, CEO of Terror Squad Entertainment, and member of musical groups D.I.T.C. and Terror Squad.... Sample: "For All My Niggaz & Bitches" by Snoop Dogg Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school... Sample: "Criminology Criminology (song) "Criminology" is the second solo single by Wu-Tang Clan rapper Raekwon, from his debut album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., featuring Ghostface Killah, like many of the songs of the album... " by Raekwon Raekwon Corey Woods , better known by the stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He released his solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... in 1995, and has since recorded four solo albums, as well as work with Wu-Tang and an extensive amount of guest contributions with... Sample from the movie Ghostbusters Ghostbusters Ghostbusters is a 1984 American science fiction comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The film stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis and follows three eccentric parapsychologists in New York City, who start a... Sample: "On & On" by Erykah Badu Erykah Badu Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical... Sample: "Baby I'm-A Want You" by Fatback Band Fatback Band The Fatback Band is an American funk and disco band. Most popular in the 1970s and 1980s, The Fatback Band is most known for their Top Ten R&B hits, " Spanish Hustle", "I Like Girls", "Gotta Get My Hands on Some ", and "Backstrokin'"... Sample: "Funky Drummer Funky drummer "Funky Drummer" is a funk song recorded by James Brown and his band. The recording's drum break, performed by drummer Clyde Stubblefield, is one of the most frequently sampled rhythmic breaks in hip hop and popular music; indeed, it lays a strong claim to being the most sampled recording ever,... " by James Brown James Brown James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr... |
| 17 | "May–December" | Songwriters: D. Smith, C. Njapa, W. Irvine Bass: Mos Def Piano Piano The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... : Weldon Irvine Vibraphone Vibraphone The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family.... : Mos Def |
External links
- Black on Both Sides at Acclaimed Music
- Black on Both Sides at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Album Review at RapReviews