True Magic
Encyclopedia
True Magic, initially set to be titled as Tru3 Magic, is the third studio album
by American hip hop
artist Mos Def
, released December 29, 2006 on Geffen Records
in the United States. Following an online leak
of the album, it featured limited release, with distribution in only the United States and France through Geffen. The album's CD release was issued with a clear plastic case without a booklet, cover art, lyrics, or credits. Upon release, True Magic received generally mixed or average from music critics, based on an aggregate score of 45/100 from Metacritic
.
and was released on December 29, 2006. True Magic features production from The Neptunes
, Rich Harrison
and Minnesota, among others. The album was released in a clear-case with no cover art. The song "Crime & Medicine" is essentially a cover of GZA
's 1995 single "Liquid Swords
", though it contains different verses, while the song "Dollar Day" uses the same beat as Juvenile
's "Nolia Clap
".. Also, the track "Undeniable" samples a version of the Barrett Strong/Norman Whitfield composition "Message from a Black Man". MTV reported that this album isn't a full version, but a teaser/promotional debut. A new version of the album would be released spring 2007, with updated songs and cover art. On October 17, 2007, Okayplayer reported, through discussions with Mos Def's management, that these rumors were unsubstantiated. The CD was intended to be released without promotion or cover art, as per Mos Def's request. There would be no future re-release.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
artist 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...
, released December 29, 2006 on Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
in the United States. Following an online leak
Internet leak
An Internet leak occurs when a party's confidential information is released to the public on the Internet. Various types of information and data can be, and have been, "leaked" to the Internet, the most common being personal information, computer software and source code, and artistic works such...
of the album, it featured limited release, with distribution in only the United States and France through Geffen. The album's CD release was issued with a clear plastic case without a booklet, cover art, lyrics, or credits. Upon release, True Magic received generally mixed or average from music critics, based on an aggregate score of 45/100 from Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
.
Background
Mos Def's last album on Geffen RecordsGeffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
and was released on December 29, 2006. True Magic features production from The Neptunes
The Neptunes
The Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late-1990s and 2000s...
, Rich Harrison
Rich Harrison
Rich Harrison is a Grammy Award-winning record producer and songwriter from Washington, D.C.. He is primarily an R&B/Hip-Hop producer...
and Minnesota, among others. The album was released in a clear-case with no cover art. The song "Crime & Medicine" is essentially a cover of GZA
GZA
Gary Grice , better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American hip hop artist and founding member of the seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also appeared on his fellow clan members' solo projects and has maintained a successful solo career...
's 1995 single "Liquid Swords
Liquid Swords
Liquid Swords is the second solo studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, released November 7, 1995, on Geffen Records. Recording sessions for the album began mid-way through 1995 at producer RZA's basement studio in Staten Island New York...
", though it contains different verses, while the song "Dollar Day" uses the same beat as Juvenile
Juvenile (rapper)
Terius Gray, better known by his stage name Juvenile, is an American rapper, He is also a former member of hip-hop group the Hot Boys . At the age of 19, he began recording raps, releasing his debut album Being Myself in 1995...
's "Nolia Clap
Nolia Clap
"Nolia Clap" is a single by UTP , produced by Donald XL Robertson and recorded in Los Angeles, California, from the album The Beginning of the End....
".. Also, the track "Undeniable" samples a version of the Barrett Strong/Norman Whitfield composition "Message from a Black Man". MTV reported that this album isn't a full version, but a teaser/promotional debut. A new version of the album would be released spring 2007, with updated songs and cover art. On October 17, 2007, Okayplayer reported, through discussions with Mos Def's management, that these rumors were unsubstantiated. The CD was intended to be released without promotion or cover art, as per Mos Def's request. There would be no future re-release.
Track listing
| # | Title | Producer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "True Magic" | DJ Epik & Mark Knoxx | 2:51 |
| 2 | "Undeniable" | Rich Harrison | 4:16 |
| 3 | "U R the One" | Minnesota | 3:58 |
| 4 | "Thug Is a Drug" | Minnesota | 2:52 |
| 5 | "Crime & Medicine" | Mos Def | 3:08 |
| 6 | "A Ha" | Minnesota | 2:35 |
| 7 | "Dollar Day" | DJ Khalil DJ Khalil Khalil Abdul-Rahman, better known by his stage name DJ Khalil, is a Los Angeles based American hip hop/soul record producer, and is the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Self Scientific, together with rapper Chace Infinite... |
5:14 |
| 8 | "Napoleon Dynamite" | Preservation | 2:01 |
| 9 | "There Is a Way" | Preservation | 3:27 |
| 10 | "Sun, Moon, Stars" | Preservation | 4:39 |
| 11 | "Murder of a Teenage Life" | The Neptunes The Neptunes The Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late-1990s and 2000s... |
3:25 |
| 12 | "Fake Bonanza" | Preservation | 4:11 |
| 13 | "Perfect Timing" | Mos Def | 4:13 |
| 14 | "Lifetime" | Preservation | 5:47 |
External links
- True Magic 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...
- True Magic at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
- Album Review at RapReviews