Reviews
Ranked #7 in Spin's "40 Best Albums Of 2009" -- "Singing in Spanish, rapping with vigor, he discovers a powerful new side of himself.", "First single 'Life in Marvelous Times' builds a furious narrative -- moving from the rapper's project upbringing to the present, where wonders and terrors abound -- over an an epic, sticky synth beat.", 4 stars out of 5 -- "It comes as something of a relief to discover that this time around Mos Def once more sounds like he's enjoying himself -- laughing, scatting, even crooning a line or two...", "Mos is brimming with poetry again, hurling politically charged lyrics like lightning bolts against the thunderous beats behind him.", 3 Stars Out of 5 -- "Opener 'supermagic' Sees Def Sample Malcolm X....There's Plenty Here...", "The killer first half is filled with off-kilter, dissonant soul hooks and Mos' hypnotic, just south-of-smoked-out verses, all nicely merging his obsessive drive for hip-hop innovation with a distinct purpose."
