Unfortunately in this age, it doesnt have the commerial appeal to set the charts alight
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
For four years, Hip Hop lovers throughout the world awaited the release of new material from De La Soul.. but would they be disappointed with the end product?! Silly question in hindsight, this is De La Soul we are talking about afterall.. Since the release of their debut in 1989 of '3 Feet High and Rising', De La Soul have evolved their style to suit the audience at the time, forever experimenting and trying to evolve the genre. There is no doubt that the debut album was groundbreaking and to this day stands alongside Public Enemys It Takes A Nations and Rakims Follow The Leader as the finest Hip Hop albums of all time.
De La Soul have always been the fun alternative in Hip Hop, and this trend is continued in their 2000 release of Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump. It perhaps isnt as vintage or fresh as their earlier material, but it still has that deep touch of magic. In an age where Hip Hop is becoming more and more Gangsta orientated, it is about time that the lyricists and native tongues start to reappear, and who better to start the ball rolling than De La Soul. AOI is an album oozing in clever lyrics, phat beats and hooks that are going to lodge in your mind for hours to come. Heck, even the skits are funny and original, which is unfortunately a rarity nowadays. The 2 highlights on the album are the collaboration with one of the Queens of soul - Chaka Khan on 'All Good' and the witty parody 'The Art Of Getting Jumped'. The latter of these tracks is perhaps one of the most original and amusing tracks to be released in recent years and is worth a tenner on its own.
If you are a fan of Hip Hop, your collection cant be complete without AOI.. Sure, it isnt quite up there with their debut, but their 2nd best album easily.. and one of the top albums to be released in recent years.. Lets just hope the second part in the AOI series will hit the shops quicker than it took for this one.
More details
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Good
How does it rate alongside the competition
Outstanding
Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Satisfactory
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