Yasiin Bey, the artistic mastermind formerly known as Mos Def, has announced a reissue of his 2009 album, The Ecstatic, which returns to vinyl and all physical formats on August 14th. It is also now streaming exclusively via Qobuz.
This marks the first time that The Ecstatic will be widely available in more than 15 years. The deluxe edition comes pressed on 2xLP 180-gram black vinyl, which comes with a translucent red 7-inch single including the previously unreleased bonus tracks “The Size” and “The Tournament.” Pre-orders are ongoing.
The expanded release also comes with a 120-page hardcover book containing behind-the-scenes shots by official photographer Cognito, as well as lyric quotes and some of Bey’s handwritten notes from the era.
Originally released in June 2009, The Ecstatic stands as a defining
artistic statement from Mos Def (now known as yasiin bey) — a richly
textured return to form that reaffirmed his status as one of hip-hop's
most adventurous and intellectually engaged voices. Arriving a decade
after his celebrated debut Black on Both Sides, the album was widely
regarded as his strongest work in years, earning near-universal praise
for its lyrical breadth, eclectic production, and thematic ambition.
Musically, The Ecstatic weaves a global sonic tapestry shaped by an array
of forward-thinking producers including Madlib, J Dilla, Oh No,
Preservation, Mr. Flash, Chad Hugo (of The Neptunes), and Georgia Anne
Muldrow. The resulting soundscape is both rooted in hip-hop tradition
and unbound by genre, integrating elements of jazz, soul, West-Asian and
North-African inflection, and experimental sample work. Tracks like
"Supermagic" and "Twilite Speedball" establish a vibrant, restless
energy that mirrors the album's expansive creative scope.
Lyrically, yasiin bey traverses personal, political, and philosophical
terrain with characteristic incisiveness, confronting social inequality,
Western imperialism, and questions of cultural identity with poetic
urgency. Embracing risk and complexity rather
than nostalgia, The Ecstatic remains a mature, deeply felt body of work
whose ambition, depth, and enduring resonance have solidified its place
as a standout entry in yasiin bey (FKA Mos Def)’s catalog and in modern
hip-hop history.
Tracklist:
1. Supermagic
2. Twilite Speedball
3. Auditorium (feat. Slick Rick)
4. Wahid
5. Priority
6. Quiet Dog Bite Hard
7. Life In Marvelous Times
8. The Embassy
9. No Hay Nada Mas
10. Pistola
11. Pretty Dancer
12. Workers Comp
13. Revelations
14. Roses (feat. Georgia Anne Muldrow)
15. History (feat. Talib Kweli)
16. Casa Be
