True Magic

True Magic
Studio album by Mos Def
Released December 29, 2006
Recorded Toronto 2006
Genre Hip hop, funk, Contemporary R&B
Length 52:37
Label Geffen
Producer The Neptunes, Rich Harrison, Minnesota, Preservation, Mos Def
Mos Def chronology
The New Danger
(2004)		 True Magic
(2006)		 The Ecstatic
(2009)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic45/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[2]
Allmusic[3]
Boston HeraldA−[4]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[5]
Los Angeles Daily News[6]
NOW[7]
Pitchfork Media(4.5/10)[8]
RapReviews(7/10)[9]
StylusD[10]
Tiny Mix Tapes[11]

True Magic, initially set to be titled as Tru3 Magic,[2] is the third studio album by American hip hop artist Mos Def, released December 29, 2006 on Geffen Records in the United States.[3] Following an online leak of the album,[11] it featured limited release, with distribution in only the United States and France through Geffen.[12] The album's CD release was issued with a clear plastic case without a booklet, cover art, lyrics, or credits.[13][14] Upon release, True Magic received generally mixed or average from music critics, based on an aggregate score of 45/100 from Metacritic.[15]

Background

Mos Def's last album on Geffen Records and was released on December 29, 2006. True Magic features production from The Neptunes, Rich Harrison and Minnesota, among others. The album was released in a clear-case with no cover art. The song "Crime & Medicine" samples GZA's 1995 single "Liquid Swords", while the song "Dollar Day" uses the same beat as Juvenile's "Nolia Clap".[16] Also, the track "Undeniable" samples a version of the Barrett Strong/Norman Whitfield composition "Message from a Black Man". MTV reported that this album isn't a full version, but a teaser/promotional debut. A new version of the album would be released spring 2007, with updated songs and cover art. On October 17, 2007, Okayplayer reported, through discussions with Mos Def's management, that these rumors were unsubstantiated. The CD was intended to be released without promotion or cover art, as per Mos Def's request. There would be no future re-release.

Track listing

No. TitleProducer(s) Length
1. "True Magic"  DJ Epik & Mark Knoxx 2:51
2. "Undeniable"  Rich Harrison 4:16
3. "U R the One"  Minnesota 3:58
4. "Thug Is a Drug"  Minnesota 2:52
5. "Crime & Medicine"  Mos Def 3:08
6. "A Ha"  Minnesota 2:35
7. "Dollar Day"  DJ Khalil 5:14
8. "Napoleon Dynamite"  Preservation 2:01
9. "There Is a Way"  Preservation 3:27
10. "Sun, Moon, Stars"  Preservation 4:39
11. "Murder of a Teenage Life"  The Neptunes 3:25
12. "Fake Bonanza"  Preservation 4:11
13. "Perfect Timing"  Mos Def 4:14
14. "Lifetime"  Preservation 5:47
15. "History"     

Charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[17] 5
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[18] 2
US Billboard Top Rap Albums[19] 1
Singles
Year Song
2006 "Undeniable"

References

  1. ↑ Reviews for Mos Def New Album, True Magic (First Version). Metacritic. Retrieved in September 30, 2007
  2. 1 2 Rott, Ivan. "Mos Def - True Magic (Geffen)". About.com. Retrieved on 2009-09-25.
  3. 1 2 Kellman, Andy. "True Magic - Mos Def". Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-09-25.
  4. ↑ Carter, Lauren. "WHAT'S HOT, WHAT'S NOT (Arts and Lifestyle)". Boston Herald: January 6, 2007.
  5. ↑ Dombal, Ryan (2007-01-19). "True Magic Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-09-25.
  6. ↑ Cutler, Len. "Mos Def: True Magic (Geffen)". Los Angeles Daily News: March 16, 2007.
  7. ↑ Richards, Jason (December 21–28, 2006). "Mos Def (True Magic)". NOW. Retrieved on 2009-09-25.
  8. ↑ Fennessey, Sean (2007-01-04). "Mos Def: True Magic". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on 2009-09-25.
  9. ↑ Selbo, Jordan (2007-01-06). "RapReviews.com Feature for January 16, 2007 - Mos Def's 'True Magic'". RapReviews. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  10. ↑ Schwartz, Barry (2007-01-09). "Mos Def - True Magic - Review". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved on 2009-09-25.
  11. 1 2 Furman, Michael (2007). "Mos Def - Tru3 Magic". Tiny Mix Tapes. Archived from the original on 2007-10-23. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  12. ↑ True Magic (Album). Discogs. Retrieved on 2009-09-25.
  13. ↑ Benbow, Julian (2007-01-10). "Mos Def reappears with 'True Magic'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved on 2009-09-25.
  14. ↑ Sterdan, Darryl (2001-01-05). "Album Review: TRUE MAGIC". Jam!. Retrieved on 2009-09-25.
  15. ↑ "Critic Reviews for True Magic (First Version)". Metacritic. Retrieved on 2009-09-25.
  16. ↑ Mos Def - Tru3 Magic - Hip-Hop Album Review
  17. ↑ "Mos Def Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Mos Def Album & Song Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Mos Def Album & Song Chart History: Rap Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.

External links

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