After over four years after his critically acclaimed debut solo album Black On Both Sides, Mos Def has finally returned from the acting scene and hosting Def Poetry to bring us The New Danger, an album filled with elements of Hip Hop, Rock and Roll, Blues, R&B and Funk.   The 18-track LP is a venture from the "normal" Hip Hop album but do we expect anything less from the versatile Mos?   On this album, Mos takes a chance, showing his musical talents.   Is the effort impressive or regressive though?   Well check out the review and get the true scoop.

The album starts with "Boogie Man Song" a soft cut produced by Raphael Siddiq that gives you a glimpse of the album in the lyrics and tempo.   Mos talks about being the incredible boogie man and you can take that in multiple ways, all according to who you are.   Mos skills as a singer are impressive and it will be shown throughout the LP.

"Freaky Black Greetings" exposes you to Rock element on the LP and also Black Jack Johnson, his Rock and Roll group.   The song just has them getting down in a serious studio session and funking it out.  

"Ghetto Rock" uses the kissing song we all used during our youth (K- I-S-S-I-N-G!) and Mos flows on an electric guitar and bass heavy beat.   Mos talks about being ghetto and from the hood and still being Rock and Roll despite what some think Rock and Roll is.   He gave you a little glimpse of his Rock skill on his first album and he lets you know he can bring that to the forefront again and sound better than some novice but more like a star blazing a path on a relatively unbeaten path.

"Zimzallabim" uses the Jonny Quest line and a beat by Easy Mo Bee and Mos goes off on a lyrical journey talking about what he can do and what you need to be a great MC.   This is so far Mos' most calm track on the album though it still has crazy guitar strings throughout the track.

"The Takeover" turns into "The Rape Over" as Mos boroughs the Kanye West beat that Jay-Z and tears it a new ass.   Mos talks about how the Hip Hop game is being run by everyone but the artist and how the artist needs to make a conscious decision to take the game back.   The song is crazy because it is a message and while it is only a little under two minutes can be a great as a regular MC's five-minute track.

"Blue Black Jack" is a funky track that features Shuggie Otis and the track shows the diversity of the group Black Jack Johnson.   Mos raps and sings over the track, does the hook and lets the band breakdown their skills on the instruments. You would expect to see a song like this in the Midwest somewhere in one of those legendary clubs that features pork ribs prominently on the menu.

"Bedstuy Parade and Funeral March" uses the piano and the drum set to create a flow and Mos sings over the track talking about that woman who is hard to love but great to love at the same.   "Sweet Gangster Women" is sung throughout the track and Mos uses a lot of riffs in the song letting the music take you.   Paul Oscher is featured on the track.

"Sex, Love & Money" is the flute-laden track that was promoted as the first single off the album.   The track is heavy and Mos spits talks about the title of the song as it relates to him.   Mos' word play is great and the song sounds like an orchestra is doing a soundtrack from a movie.  

"Sunshine" uses the old rift from the famous song and Mos goes crazy over a Kanye West track.    Mos talks about his skills and how young rappers don't need to come at him, because besides his other endeavors he is still a great MC and can deal in the dirt business if you act funny. Mos also talks about being good to your family and thinking of the real soldiers in the struggle.

"Close Edge" is the song most heard on the Chappelle's Show in the first season rapping in the car.   Now with additional bars and using the famous line from the "The Message" Mos talks about how deep he is in neighborhood and how he can't be touched.   The beat is simple sounding complete with the conga drum and Mos asks you to get close but you don't know if it's for good or bad!

"The Panties" is for the ladies and for seducing that special lady in your life.   Mos sings about doing big things and not just doing it fast but strong and sensual.   This song reminds you of a 70's song that babies were made from and Ms pleads with the woman to let him do what he can to please her.

Mos talks about the problems of   "War" on this Psycho Les track and gives you a social commentary.   He also talks about the war we go through everyday in our lives.   After a Hip Hop track plays in the beginning of the song it quickly switches to a Rock track and Mos uses this time to shoutout words like "Gimme my money man!" and "F*** you, pay me!" which seems to be ironically at times, the underlying approach taken by the United States in terms of foreign relations.

"Grown Man Business (Fresh Vintage Bottles)" uses the track from the Barry White classic produced and rapped on by Minnesota. Minnesota raps about what his life has been like and what he looks out for as a grown man. Mos joins and talks about what it was like in Brooklyn and what his surroundings were and the same can be said for many over the people in the NYC growing up.

"Modern Marvel" is and ode to Marvin Gaye and Mos starts singing over a Marvin track and he then takes it to another level asking what would Marvin think of what was going down in today's world.   Think of it as a retort to "Mercy, Mercy Me".   This song is over nine minutes long and has different beats throughout the track and is clearly a top three song on the album. Mos continues to show social awareness throughout this song and the album and that's why mentioning Mos and Marvin in the same sentence isn't a big stretch at all.

"Life Is Real" returns to the 70's beat produced by Molecules and talks about how lovely and twisted this world can be.   The songs sounds like Mos went into the booth thinking of how hungry he was and put it out for the world to hear.

"The Easy Spell" is an upbeat track with guitar play throughout the track and Mos talks about the ladies and what they can get. This song has a lot of sexual innuendo but not a lot of graphic talk that is a skill that most MCs don't have these days.

"The Beggar" is produced by Mos Def and is very mellow as Mos sings with passion about love and wanting to be with someone very strongly despite the rough spots.

"Champion Requiem" is a great way to end the LP and 88 Keys gives you the running beat for Mos to give a history lesson.   Mos gives praise his God and proceeds to breakdown himself and his theories as a person.  

Overall this album was great and showed the skills we know Mos and even more.   This album was a gamble well worth it and I suggest it to anyone who wants to here more than just gun talk and shake your body beats.   This LP has so many elements of music it isn't funny and if you think out of the box similar to Andre 3000's album The Love Below you will highly enjoy this. For a breakdown, Mos produces four tracks, Minnesota produces six, Kanye produces two and Warren Campbell produces the hot track "Sex, Love & Money".

I'll give the LP five globes.   This album takes the acclaimed first LP to the next level!