25 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums Of All Time
22. Mos Def - Black On Both Sides
From politics to personal struggles, social issues to the hip-hop lifestyle, Mos Def's Black on Both Sides is a fascinating work from a rapper often cited as one of the genre's true greats. Mos Def uses his debut record to talk about everything from politics to what it's like living in Brooklyn, and does so with a furious, multi-syllabic flow that pulls no punches.
But Black on Both Sides isn't just a socially and personally conscious record, it's an insight into just how imaginative, strange and daring hip-hop could be. Mos Def doesn't just rap, he sings, talks and refuses to waste a beat on sloppy lyrics or half-baked messages.
This is Mos Def's best album because it's as honest as it is odd - and doesn't waste any time trying to convince you otherwise.