Mos Def - The New Danger

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I'm currently grooving to Mos Def, The New Danger which is the hippidy hop music folks which I rarely buy because most of it is simply retarded but Mos has gotten himself a live band for this second record. They're called Black Jack Johnson and just like when Miles released the Jack Johnson record they're here to make it clear they're none too chuffed with you Whitey.

His first record, 'Black on Both Sides' was a delightful return to what I'm calling the 'Middle Skool' of hip-hop. Lush sampling, funky beats and a singing rap style which nestles proudly next to Three Feet High and Rising and The Low End Theory as a shining example of something that was once great.

Unfortunately most of the great samples have been had and its rare anything truly great rears its ugly head these days. Hip Hop has been quite dull for the last while with the odd exception from Jay-Z and I suppose you could argue Missy Elliot is an innovator but its all inadequately musical for my liking (for some relief try also Blackalicious or Jurassic Five).

The New Danger is that rarest thing, a genuinely new idea. The live band is mostly formed of the funk-metal-rap hybrid act Living Color (remember them black lads who were lumped in with the chillis, FNM and Janes Addiction as funk-metallers just prior to grunge?), Bad Brains (never heard of them) and honest to goodness legend and Rock'n'Roll Hall of Famer Bernie Worrell (Parliament/Funkadelic, arguably the most sampled man alive other than James Brown). Its a live rock, funk, blues, jazz, metal, rap, hip-hop fusion record and Mos Def's singing rap style floats delightfully above it.

He also sings with real soul.

Try downloading 'Umi Says' from the first record or 'The Beggar' from the second.

I'm chuffed with this record even though he hates me for making him rich.

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