Mos Def isn‘t a hip-hop artist, he‘s simply an artist, no other adjectives attached. The New Danger takes the history of American black music and makes it an indistinguishable collage. Alongside an incredible backing band (Will Calhoun, Doug Wimbish, Bernie Worrell, Dr. Know), Def perfects rock (“Zimallabim”) blues (“Blue Blue Jack”), soul (“The Panties”) and spirituals/funk (“Modern Marvael”). When he does dip into the rap game, he‘s as strong as ever: The tribal, percussive first single “Sex, Love & Money” and crackling, vintage sound of “Grown man Business” prove he hasn‘t gone anywhere-he‘s merely matured beyond recognition.