Legendary album. Around 2009 when I first got heavily into rap, I was initially just bumping the classics trying to get my knowledge up. Deltron 3030, Low End Theory, Paid In Full, etc. I was also listening to alot of Young Money artists, Ye. This album, though, really drew me heavily. This s*** is incredible. I know there’s the cliche of being into dusty s*** but this whole album and Mos Def’s sound in general are way ahead of their time. He incorporated elements of Rock, Jazz, Gangster Rap, Hip Hop, Spoken Word, seamlessly. Freddie Gibbs and Madlib’s efforts are probably highly influenced by the way Mos Def s***ted on Madlib beats. He was always fearless in his content, see “The Rapeover” for proof. God bless Yaasin Bey.

I wish this was on streaming

Auditorium one of the most underrated rap songs in history

If I had to choose this would be a contender for my favorite hip hop album

one my fav albums oat.

“
The way I feel sometimes it's too hard to sit still
Things are so passionate times are so real
Sometimes I try and chill mellow down blow a smoke
Smile on my face but it's really no joke
You feel it in the streets people breathe without hope
They going through the motion, they dimming down their focus
The focus get clear and the light turn sharp
And the eyes go teary, the mind grow weary
I speak it so clearly sometimes you don't hear me
I push it past the bass know nations gotta feel me
I feel it in my bones, black, I'm so wide awake
That I hardly ever sleep, my flow forever deep
And it's volumes or scriptures when I breathe on a beat
My presence speak volumes before I say a word
I'm everywhere penthouse pavement and curb
Cradle to the grave tall cathedral of a shell
Universal ghetto life holla black you know it well

Quiet storm vital form pen pushed it right across
Mind is a vital force, high level right across
Soul is the lion's roar, voice is the siren
I swing round ring out and bring down the tyrant
Shocked a small act could knock a giant lopsided
The world is so dangerous there's no need for fighting
Suckas tryna hide like the struggle won't find em
And the sun bust through the clouds to clearly remind him
Everywhere penthouse pavement and curb
Cradle to the grave talk'll cathedral of a shell
Universal ghetto life holla black you know it well
”

Painfully relevant!

I’d rate Black on Both Sides higher but this still great

Auditorium is so good

Love this album!

Fantastic record

Hot take but I tend to agree despite having listened to The Ecstatic way more. New World Water, Love, Umi Says, too damn good.

One of the best hip hop albums ever, only one of 3 physical CDs that I copped

It was for a tiny bit then got pulled again due to some kind of label dispute.

Classic album that still holds up. I actually like it more than Black On Both Sides.

Someone dm me with a download

"no hay nada mas" slaps in a whole different language

Pistola is soooo f***ing smooth and can't forget the outro

Most Def is in my top 3 dead or alive

Need them to put it back on streaming I didn’t even notice it wasn’t till like last week

Favorite album from him tbh, I miss bumping it

Black Star on a Dilla beat

his best album

wow what a goat

Boutta start my first listen

Why was this removed from streaming services?