The Deep End is a series where I take a comprehensive look at albums, from lyrical themes to personal takeaways. For my top 5, favorite lyrics, and trivia on Black on Both Sides, check it out here! For my reflections on other albums, be sure to check out my Deep End tag.
In the dusk of 1999, an artist then known as Mos Def bestowed his solo debut upon the world. With a look out onto the horizon of the new millennium, the artist showcases his range as well as his grievances with the present and forewarnings about the future. All wrapped in love— of self, of culture, of Black people— he explores topics of cultural appropriation, political corruption, and hopes for himself and his people. It is a glimmer of realism and optimism that adds to the landscape of lyricists offering a counter to the growing commercialism of Hip-Hop at the time. And even so, it is a standout amongst its peers. Happy 25th anniversary to this album!
At a time when rap is more commercialized than ever before, Black on Both Sides is an album less concerned with countering the “Bling-Bling” flooding the market and more concerned with cultural preservation. For years, I thought the former, but now that I’m older- 25, just like Yasiin Bey was in this era- I see it for the rallying cry it is. In 17 tracks, Black on Both Sides:
🤘🏾 reclaims and highlights rock music by calling out culture vultures of the past and the then-current while spotlighting the likes of Bad Brains, Chuck Berry, Fishbone, Nina Simone, Little Richard, and more.
💰 rings the bell that informs the current (and subsequently the future of) Black people on sociopolitical happenings like corruption in the interest of corporate greed & at the detriment of Black people’s health and wellbeing — New World Water & Mathematics — and the problems faced in socioeconomic mobility as a Black man — Mr. Nigga.
🏠 honors the borough that made him and fallen angels — Brooklyn — as well as the people who shaped him — UMI Says — and the ancestors before him — Know That.
Often categorized as a conscious, progressive rapper, a then 25 year old Yasiin Bey pushes back on this notion (and still does). “Hip-Hop is goin’ where we’re goin’.”
Boxing in Black music, especially hip-hop, is counterproductive as everything is everything and synergy is a must. The bling shines a light on the underground and the underground propels the culture. It IS the culture in its rawest form. It IS the trend at its most rooted, and Bey explores all colors of the wheel that is Hip-Hop. Just like Hip-Hop itself, he pulls from jazz, afrobeat, rock n’ roll, and more. BOBS is a love letter to Black people, an alarm to pay attention to challenges facing the diaspora, a moment to honor those we’ve lost, those who’ve been overlooked, those who’ve laid the soil from which we grow. Refusing to be caged by other people’s perception of what Hip-Hop is or should be, Bey makes a bold proclamation for the sake and protection of Black art and Black lives. And he also sticks a flag in the ground, letting it be known that his artistry and personhood aren't to be defined by anyone but himself.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
