Black on Both Sides is an alternative rap album by Mos Def, released on October 12, 1999 (see 1999 in music). Intended as a return to the roots of hip hop, the album was hailed as a classic soon after its release, and went on to ship Gold in sales. The album's blend of socio-political rhymes with jazz and other unusual sources of samples endeared Mos Def to listeners uninterested in gangsta rap.
Black On Both Sides was one of many Hip-Hop albums that underwent last minute changes. On the song "Brooklyn", a three-movement piece dedicated to Mos' place of origin in Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York, Mos rhymes three verses over three different beats. The first two beats are original compositions, while the last verse is set to the instrumental of the late Notorious B.I.G.'s 1995 single Who Shot Ya? However, "Brooklyn"'s original soundscape took its concept a bit further. On the original version, the first and third verses are set to the instrumentals of two other 1995 New York rap hits, Incarcerated Scarfaces by Raekwon as well as Give Up the Goods (Just Step) by Mobb Deep, respectively. The "Who Shot Ya?" verse with the same vocal take on the released version, is placed in the middle. It is assumed that the use of these instrumentals could not be cleared for various reasons. One of many being the possibility that the samples used in the original instrumentals were only licensed to be used specifically for those compositions, and any further licensing would require the original artists' permission (therefore requiring more money on both sampling parties' ends), or any other number of various music industry troubles. This said version circulates online frequently. It is also notable that on the song, Mos Def sings his own interpolation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' famous song Under the Bridge.
Also, DJ Premier originally used a different sample than the one featured on the released version of "Mathematics", which was decidedly entered into clearance. When clearance failed, DJ Premier crafted a different instrumental for the song.
| # | Title | Producer(s) | Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Fear Not of Man" | Mos Def | Mos Def |
| 2 | "Hip Hop" | Diamond D, Mos Def (co-producer) | Mos Def |
| 3 | "Love" | 88-Keys | Mos Def |
| 4 | "Ms. Fat Booty" | Ayatollah | Mos Def |
| 5 | "Speed Law" | 88-Keys | Mos Def |
| 6 | "Do It Now" | Mr. Khaliyl | Busta Rhymes, Mos Def |
| 7 | "Got" | Ali Shaheed Muhammad | Mos Def |
| 8 | "Umi Says" | David Kennedy, Mos Def | Mos Def |
| 9 | "New World Water" | Psycho Les | Mos Def |
| 10 | "Rock N Roll" | Psycho Les, Mos Def (co-producer) | Mos Def |
| 11 | "Know That" | Ayatollah | Mos Def, Talib Kweli |
| 12 | "Climb" | DJ Etch A Sketch, Mos Def (co-producer), Weldon Irvine (co-producer) | Mos Def, Vinia Mojica |
| 13 | "Brooklyn" | David Kennedy, Ge-ology, Mos Def | Mos Def |
| 14 | "Habitat" | DJ Etch A Sketch | Mos Def |
| 15 | "Mr. Nigga" | D. Prosper, Mos Def (co-producer) | Mos Def, Q-Tip |
| 16 | "Mathematics" | DJ Premier | Mos Def |
| 17 | "May-December" | 88-Keys, Mos Def | Mos Def |
