De La Soul Album: “Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump”

After being in the hip-hop scene for 12 years or so, De La Soul just CANNOT be faded. With "Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump" being their 5th album (the 1st in an installment of 3--yes, expect two more De La Soul albums in the future...HA HA HEY!), these guys show up all of that Cash Money/No Limit garbage they call "hip-hop." Even though this album may have not been their most memorable or greatest in that matter, De La still comes with it and shows that they cannot and will not be vanished from the hip-hop scene like so many old school hip-hop artists have. The beats on "Art Official Intelligence" are still the usual De La...unique, bright, and of course, fresh. Even though I doubt there will be any classic songs from this LP that even come to par with their older work ("Say No Go," "Me Myself and I," "Roller Skating Jam Named 'Saturdays'," "Ring, Ring, Ring [Ha Ha Hey]," "Bitties in the BK Lounge," "Breakdawn," "Ego Trippin," "The Bizness"...etc., damn, I can go on forever!), it is still refreshing to hear hip-hop with a purpose and not the usual trash you hear on the radio..."Bling Bling/I'm All Iced Out/Big Ballin' With My Homies/Big Pimpin." On "Ohh," De La gets the last laugh when they rhyme about how all of those "jigga jigga/flossin' my ice" fools are just a bunch of rookies to them. Above all of that, it was great to see De La Soul share the mic with Chaka Khan ("All Good") and the Beastie Boys ("Squat"...even though I wasn't exactly feeling that cut). Even though a majority of the songs on "Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump" are tight, the BEST cuts on here are "Ohh" featuring Redman (fresh lyrics and a smooth beat), Foolin' (the beat is off the hook...WERD BOOTY!), and the cut featuring Indeed. My only complaint was with the song featuring Xzibit...even though the beat was dope, I was angry to see Xzibit featured on that track...if you ask me, he doesn't deserve to share the mic with De La. Anyway, De La Soul once again proves that they cannot and will not put out a bad album...and I believe that this may be a wake up call to all of those people who support all of that Cash Money junk. If you want to hear pure hip-hop "from the soul," then check out De La Soul's "Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump"...besides Common Sense's "Like Water For Chocolate," Jurassic-5 "Quality Control," Dilated People's "The Platform," and Slum Village's "Fantastic Vol. 2," this has to be the very best cure for a very damaged hip-hop genre. If not, then go somewhere else and buy garbage like Nelly's "Country Grammar."

De La Soul does it again with thier cleverly titled album Art Official Intelligence. Once again they merge thier old-school sensabilities and lyrics with other-worldly beats and melodies. This album is a keeper, fresh and innovative from start to finish. I challenge anyone to find fault with the stand out single "Oooh" featuring Redman, it'll have you reaching for that "repeat" button for sure. Real Hip-Hop head get ready for a chin-check...the age of AI is at hand.

Believe it or not, this was when I was first introduced to De La Soul when I was 14, when in mid 2000 came out with "Oooh!" with Redman. Back then I always thought of De La Soul as old school pioneers, and songs from this album solified them as legands in hip hop. Seven and a half years later, after hearing every album that came before this one, I saw the maturity that De La was picking up, as if they were going through another transition in their music careers.

If you were hating this because this was no

(an album I really didn't think was all that good), then you really need to have another listen. This album is very innotivate and creative. Not as creative as their 1991 classic

, but creativity still floats all around this album. And their lyrics were on point as usual. Check out "You Can Do Life" for examples of how De La hasn't missed a step. Even with their single "Oooh!" with Redman (seemed like he and Busta Rhymes were on everything released back in '00) had creativity (with a music video with a paroody of the Wizard Of Oz). With tracks live "View", Posdeneous still rhymes without sacrificing the group's identity. Mellow tracks like "Through Your City" and "Set The Mood" featuring Indeed is head nodding. The second single "All Good" with Chaka Khan is a little directed to mainstream, but overall solid. Even "Dance With Me" sounds kind of good. Then the weeded freestyle skits at the end of a few tracks were dope.

Tracks I had no care for were "Squat". Honestly I don't think De La and The Beastie Boys mix together. "The Art Of Getting Jumped" doesn't appeal to me. And the final track "U Don't Wanna Bust Dat ****" is forgettable.

Honestly, this is a great album. I don't understand why it is hated on so much. Sure De La Soul moved from their origonal style and onto a newer one, but doesn't every rapper do that. Don't knock them because of their change up, and their evolution. This album is worth owning in my opinion. Also get the next album

as well, because thats underrated also. Peace.

Lyrics: B+

Production: A-

Guest Appearances: B

Musical Vibes: A

Top 5 Tracks:

1. U Can Do (Life)

2. Ooooh! (featuring Redman)

3. Dance With Me

4. Set The Mood (featuring Indeed)

5. View

WELL SINCE I AM A FAN OF COMMON, ROOTS, SLUM VILLAGE, MOS DEF, PHARAOCH MONCH, AND TRIBE CALLED QUEST, OF COURSE I LIKE DE LA SOUL. THIS ALBUM IS PRETTY MUCH TIGHT. TO ME THIS ALBUM IS BETTER THAN "STAKES IS HIGH". ON THIS ALBUM THEY HAVE UNEXPECTED GUESTS LIKE REDMAN, PHARAOHE MONCH, XZIBIT, TASH AND JA RO AND SOME MORE. U CAN TELL DE LA SOUL HAS BEEN IN THE RAP GAME 4 A WHILE AND KNOW THEY BE SPITTIN IT ON THE MIC. THIS ALBUM IS A OKAY PLAYER AND SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE COLLECTION.

11 years after their first CD De La is still puttin out rhymes that will make your mind twist. De La shows how diverse the group really is. Every CD De La changes their sound and elevates their beats to fit with the age. They've done it once again, a totaly new sound to get on down to. You wont find 2 songs that sound alike on this CD, using the beats that suit their featured guests De La throws their lyrical influence and Maseo's unique style of cuts on every track. It's true that once and a while you'll probably reach for the skip button, but really is a CD that has at least 8 dope tracks not worth getting? Track 9 "All Good" alone makes this CD All Good. If you are a De La Soul fan then you'll definetly respect what they do on this album.