#the ecstatic

Mos Def - The Ecstatic (Downtown, 2009) Genre: Hip Hop Artwork: Charles Burnett (from his 1978 film Killer of Sheep)

Mos Def - Supermagic (The Ecstatic, 2009)

A landmark in black cinema that was rarely seen mixed with an all-time great hip hop track that is now stuck in streaming purgatory over label disputes. This film was a labor of love by Charles Burnett who wrote, directed, shot, and edited this film, which unfolds like a Los Angeles version of Italian neo-realism with vignettes that show multiple generations of regular everyday life with the affects of poverty and “urban renewal.” The Madlib-produced Mos Def track from The Ecstatic, is a natural pairing as the album’s cover is taken from the roof-jumping kids in the film.

The laughter, the screams The numeral, the song of Psalms, the book of dreams Ends don't meet where the arms can't reach Mean streets, even when it's free it ain't cheap On-going saga, terminal diagnosis Basic survival requires super heroics No space in the budget for a cape It’s when you gotta fly by night to save the day

Mos Def feat. Georgia Anne Muldrow - Roses (The Ecstatic, 2009)