As the 20th century came to an end, hip-hop was dominating the U.S’s music sphere. The genre, which originated in 1973, spread across the country, far from the multicultural New York City from which it was born. By 1999, TIME Magazine reported that hip-hop had become the best-selling genre in the country, with 81 million CDs sold.
Yet, as the genre exploded to new heights, many felt there was something inauthentic in its popularity. Long gone was the genre’s rebellious nature, which fueled the politically conscious lyrics that defined some of its earliest works. With artists like Jay-Z and P. Diddy on the rise, hip-hop in mainstream media was characterized by bars of extravagance. It was out of a resentment toward this state of rap music that inspired the release of “Black on Both Sides” by Brooklyn rapper Yasiin Bey, then known as Mos Def.
Released on Oct. 12, 1999, Bey’s first album was both commercially successful, charting first on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums chart, and critically acclaimed, receiving high scores from publications such as Pitchfork, The Rolling Stone and Spin.
The album’s beats were handled by various producers, ranging from renowned local New York hip-hop producers such as DJ Premier to jazz keyboardist Weldon Irvine. The diverse set of producers is reflected in the tracklist. Tracks like “Know That” and “Do it Now” feature more aggressive sounds, while one of the album’s singles, “UMI Says,” is a neo-soul inspired song where Bey displays his singing talent. Fellow New York rappers Busta Rhymes, Talib Kweli and Q-Tip each also provide great guest verses on the album.
The star of “Black on Both Sides,” though, is Bey himself. On the first full-length track of the album, aptly titled “Hip Hop,” Bey starts his verse by saying, “My restlessness is my nemesis / it’s hard to really chill and sit still.” The album shows his unrest as a rapper, with track after track of resonant lyrics. In “Love,” Bey expresses his love for rap and how it drives his art. The track “Got” serves as a warning against materialism and flaunting. Bey even includes an homage to his home borough on the track “Brooklyn.”
The political commentary embedded throughout the tracklist has really defined the legacy of “Black on Both Sides” over the last 25 years. “Rock N Roll” calls out how African American music has been exploited and appropriated without crediting its originators. “New World Water” uses the water industry to comment on the greediness of large corporations. The previously mentioned “UMI Says” touches on the importance of keeping hope in what can seem like an increasingly dark world.
Perhaps the most important track on the album is the closing song, “Mathematics.” Using various statistics and numbers, including black poverty and unemployment rates, Bey reflects on injustices towards African Americans. With black Americans still having the highest unemployment rates across the country, the observations and themes of revolution on “Mathematics” ring as true in 2024 as they did in 1999. Ending the record on such a powerful note speaks on the impact Bey wanted to have with his debut release.
After the release of “Black on Both Sides,” Bey’s career would never reach the same success. He would go on to release three more solo albums throughout the 2000s, but none were as well-received as his debut. He would largely abandon music altogether, instead having a relatively successful acting career, which included an Emmy nomination. Still, his influence can be seen in some of modern-day music’s biggest stars, with California rapper Kendrick Lamar and even British pop star Adele citing Bey as an inspiration.
A quarter of a century later, hip-hop has become an even bigger cultural force than in the 90s. Despite its popularity, a rapper with a level of penmanship as high as Bey has become increasingly rare. “Black on Both Sides” is a reminder of how lyricism and production can work together to deliver a powerful album experience.
Rating: ★★★★★
