One of my favourite albums ever, and another classic to Mos Def's already impressive discography. How does this album rank in Mos Def's discography? ' A sonic fascination with life beyond the Western World' - do you like the globally influenced sound of this album? What do you make of the themes and issues Mos Def explores? How strong is the lyricism on this album? What are your thoughts on the predominantly sample-based production and its use of unusual time signatures and unconventional breakdowns? What is your favorite beat? What are your thoughts on this album now that it has been out for 10 years? Mos Def titled The Ecstatic after one of his favorite novels, the 2002 Victor LaValle book, believing its titular phrase evoked his singular creative vision for the album. Its loosely structured, lightly reverbed songs use unconventional time signatures and samples taken from a variety of international musical styles, including Afrobeat, soul, Eurodance, jazz, reggae, Latin, and Middle Eastern music. Mos Def's raps about global politics, love, spirituality, and social conditions are informed by the zeitgeist of the late 2000s, Black Internalionalism, and Pan-Islamic ideas. The album has been described as a conscious and alternative hip hop record with an eccentric, internationalist quality. The Ecstatic was a widespread critical success, viewed as a huge return to form for Mos Def and one of the decade's best hip-hop albums.

Today marks 10 years since the release of Mos Def's fourth album.

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