I want to play matchmaker. I want Mos Def and Janelle Monae to have an affair (since technically Mos Def is married) and create aural babies. Their offspring would redefine the Rap/Hip-Hop/Urban landscape.

More on Monae later.

Dante Terrell Smith, otherwise known as Mr. Def himself releases his aptly-titled-for-this-blog new album, “The Ecstatic,” next new music Tuesday the 9th. And trust me, it’s awesome. We’ve been waiting for this album for like two years now. Hearing about it here and there. We were supposed to see it last year, but between his acting, political concerns, and skateboarding events in the U.A.E., maybe Def’s been too busy for us.

At least he delivers. This album slaps you in the face from the very start. It builds a huge, epic soundscape, borrowing from the Middle East and Mary Poppins. The last half of the album, post-”Life In Marvelous Times” is more chill, more relaxed, if a little less dynamic and revelatory.

It’s the opposite of a lazy album. A lot has gone into this and it shows. Totally worth the wait.

I’m posting two early stand-outs for me… But on another day I might have posted “Auditorium” ft. Slick Rick (which audibly connects to some of the same motifs in Monae’s “Sincerely, Jane”, posted earlier here).

Mos Def – “Twilite Speedball”
Mos Def – “Quite Dog (Bite Hard)”
Justice – “D.A.N.C.E” (Benny Blanco Mix ft. Mos Def, et al)

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• « Patrick Wolf @ the Roxy on June 9th + Buffetlibre remix
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