madtheory's Full Review: Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump [PA] by De...
De La Soul have always been innovators.
From their very first album, 3 Feet High and Rising, the trio consisting of rappers Posdnuos and Trugoy, and deejay Maseo, has been redefining Hip-Hop music. Thanks to their use of inventive sampling, eclectic music, off-the-wall skits, and proficient rhyming ability, Rap went through some serious changes back in the early 1990’s. It hasn’t been the same since.
Over 10 years later, it appears that they’re trying to “change the game” again. With their new Art Official Intelligence series, the trio strives to create one of the first meaningful album trilogies in Rap. Throughout the first installment of the AOL series, Mosaic Thump, the group continues to experiment with new sounds, samples, lyrics, and artists in an effort to continue to redefine an art form which has grown all too stagnant as of late. In looking at Rap music’s current state of affairs, I only hope they have as much success redefining the genre as they did in 1989.
Tracklisting
1. Spitkicker.com / Say R.
2. U Can Do (Life)
3. My Writes feat. Tash & J-Ro of Tha Liks and Xzibit
4. Oooh. Feat. Redman
5. Thru Ya City feat. D.V. Alias Khrist
6. I.C. Y’all feat. Busta Rhymes
7. View
8. Set the Mood feat. Indeed
9. All Good? feat. Chaka Khan
10. Declaration
11. Squat! feat. Mike D and Ad Rock of the Beastie Boys
12. Words from the Chief Rocker feat. Busy Bee
13. With Me
14. Copa (Cabanga)
15. Foolin’
16. The Art of Getting Jumped
17. U Don’t Wanna B.D.S. feat. Freddie Foxx
The Mosaic Thump album starts off with far too long an introduction and a slow, forgettable first track, then goes into “My Writes” featuring Xzibit and Tash and J-Ro from Tha Liks. This is definitely of my favorite tracks as the rappers really lay down excellent freestyles over a catchy, focused beat. Even Scratch from The Roots jumps in to add some blazing turntablism at the end.
“Oooh” was the big single for this album ad for good reason. It’s the best track on the CD. The group builds an addictive beat with thumping uptempo percussion, vibrant bass, layered synths and guitar melodies, and Funk Doctor Spot AKA Redman backing the trio up and handling the chorus. For the words, the rappers essentially just freestyle about flossing, which is unusual because they normally rap about more substantial topics. However, the two still manage to put their cleverly unique signature on tired brag rap, like when Pos rhymes, “I had a name for makin’ paper since paper maché / now my dollar coins join pounds and yen for play /”
“I. C. Y’all” features the always energetic Busta Rhymes rapping the chorus as well as dropping some rhymes in the song. Rockwilder produces the brisk track, playing around with his synthesizer to get a phat low, buzzing melody for the three to rhyme over.
De La takes it back to the old school with “Squat!”, trading verses with the always vigorous Mike D and Ad Rock of the Beastie Boys. Though the Beasties have never really been considered proficient on the mic, their raps are poor and their delivery is extremely dated. Trugoy and Pos try to elevate the Beastie’s wack raps with their own precise lines, but only end up getting dragged down to mediocrity as well. Luckily the guys were able to get rap veteran Busy Bee to salvage the ending by coming in with his own tried-and-true old-school flavor on “Words from the Chief Rocker”.
What really hurts Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump is the severe lack of interesting production. For the most part, De La loves to rhyme over slow guitar and drum-based tracks that tend to get repetitive particularly quickly. “U Can Do (Life)” and “View” are so unrelentingly yawn inducing. Also, though “With Me” is a great track where Plug One and Plug Two rap about trying to speak to a girl at a party, the music is not exciting either. This song is just as tranquil as the majority of the other tracks, with a sleepy flute and soothing male vocals riding over a bumping bassline. It’s good for a quiet evening with friends, but not exactly party music.
At least excessive skits are not a problem on this album. There are only three “Ghost Weed” skits on Mosaic Thump, and they’re all really just excuses for Pharohe Monch, Phife Dog, and Black Thought to drop quick freestyles and break up the album a little bit. Since all three feature sharp rhymers, the presence of these interludes on the LP is forgivable.
All in all, Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump is not the best work from De La Soul, but it is absolutely worth the price of admission. Though the background music occasionally gets a little boring, the lyrics and delivery of Pos, Dave and even Maceo are as precise and inspired as ever. For the most part, the guest spots are nice too, like each of the artists knew that they were going to have to represent to the fullest when they show up on a De La LP. Fans of this group know that the “daisy age” De La Soul is long dead, but their music is most certainly alive and kicking. Cop this.
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For the review of Part 2 in De La Soul’s Art Official Intelligence trilogy, copy the following URL into your browser’s address bar:
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